486 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE. 



external of the band, in this species forms part of the band; the two black spots on 

 a transverse line with anal angle are always present, thongli the posterior one is 

 sometimes more or less obliterated; these spots are generally relieved posteriorly by 

 a patch of paler scales, while posteriorly and exteriorly of tliis pale patch the black 

 scales are sometimes increased so as to resemble a transverse posterior band with a 

 pale interruption. Under surface uniformly gray, with slight brassy reflection. 

 Secondaries pale gray above, glossy below, with brassy reflection, fringes of all 

 wings still paler, with a yellowish, silky luster. Legs pale gray, the anterior or ex- 

 ternal surface yf the front and middle legs, including cox«!, being in some speci- 

 mens dark gi-ay or almost black, while in others there is only a slight sprinkling of 

 darker scales. In one specimen there is noticed a quite dark band near the apex of 

 the middle tibias; hind legs whitish, sonietimes with a faintly dusky, longitudinal 

 streak externally on the tibiae; abdomen of a hghter or darker silvery gray, gener- 

 ally somewhat darker towards the end, the anal tuft of the male more or less yel- 

 lowish. 

 Described from four ^ s and one $ reared from Icerya-f eeding larvae. 



We have not seen good specimens of this larva, and may therefore 

 quote Mr. Koebele's brief description, drawn np from fresh specimens : 



The larva while young is of a reddish-white color, with a narrow, deeper red dorsal 

 Ime. The piliferous warts are prominent, whitish, with rather stiff' white hairs. 

 The head and prothoracic shield are light yellow (testaceous), and bear also a few 

 hahs. The full-grown larva is from 5™'" to 6°'"' long and brownish in color. The 

 narrow, whitish dorsal line is bordered with a mottled liver-brown, and the whitish 

 line beneath tliis again with a heavier brown subdorsal Une. The under side and the 

 feet are still reddish-white, while the head and prothoracic shield are pitch black. 



This species is closely related to Blastohasis chalcofrontella, and 

 also somewhat to Blastohasis quisquiliella, from both of which, 

 however, it may at once be distinguished by the blackish band of the 

 front wings, which in them is wanting or only indicated by a small 

 dusky shade at the costa. The head of B. chalcofrontella is also 

 broader and of a yellowish-white color, and the palpi and legs more 

 concolorous with the body, and the general tint of the wings more 

 yellowish. 



In B. quisquiliella the head, palpi, and legs are more rufous and 

 the general aspect more like B. chalcofrontella. 



With B. nribiliella and glandulella it cannot be confounded, as 

 both are generally larger and darker, though some specimens of 

 nubiliella are larger than the smaller specimens of iceryccella. The 

 band on primaries of nubiliella instead of being linear broadens 

 towards the costa so as to form a transversely elongate, triangular 

 spot, which in some particularly well-marked specimens is quite con- 

 spicuous. 



In B. glandulella. the band is not indicated or but faintly indicated, 

 and it is at once distinguished by the much lai'ger size and uniformly 

 darker coloration. 



A common Tenebrionid beetle {Blapstinus brevicollis Lee, Plate 

 III, Fig. 2) was found by Mr. Koebele to occur abundantly among 

 tlie rub])ish at the foot of the trees infested by Icerya. Egg-sacs 

 which had been completely eaten out and the eggs devoured were 

 found in close conjunction with several of these beetles, and in con- 

 sequence a few beetles were placed in a pill-box with female scales 

 and large egg-masses. In a few days the eggs were all eaten, but the 

 insects themselves vrere not disturbed. It is probable that this is not 

 the normal habit of this beetle, yet it may without much question be 

 put down as an occasional destroyer of Icerya eggs. The habits of 

 the allied Epitragus tomentosus, as described by Mr. Hubbard in 

 his report on Insects Affecting the Orange, p. 75 (Fig. .36), render 

 this all the more probable. The Epitragus was observed to feed upon 



