436 



Mr. A. Sidney Olliff's notes on the 



will prove to be common to all the larvae of the genus 

 Porphyraspis, as I have in my possession nests very like 

 those of the two above-mentioned species, which were 

 received from Brazil in a dried condition with numerous 

 specimens of P. rugosus, Boheman. 



The covering of the larva of P. tristis is composed of 

 a number of filaments greatly resembling vegetable 

 fibres ; it is broadly oval in form, varying from 4 — 9 mm. 

 in breadth according to the size of the larva, and is of a 

 dirty reddish brown colour. This structure is carried 

 on the back of the insect, and is supported by a forked 

 anal appendage such as is found in the larvae of the 

 genus Dolichotoma and other Cassididce. Candeze failed 

 to detect an appendage of this kind in the larva of 

 P. palmarum, but says tbat in that species the filaments 

 composing its covering are firmly attached to the upper 

 surface of the 8th abdominal segment. 



The following is a brief description of the larva of 

 Porphyraspis tristis : — 



Ovate, sti'ongly convex above, flattened below, considerably 

 broader in front tlian behind, pale yellowish white. Head vertical, 

 moderately large, rather longer than broad when viewed from 

 above, slightly emarginate in front, furnished with a few long 

 bristly hairs near the anterior angles, the median hue strongly 

 impressed. Antennte very short, 3-jointed ; the two basal joints 

 transverse, the apical much narrower, and provided with two or 

 three bristly hairs. Ocelli six on each side ; four near the base of 

 the antenna, forming an oblique series, and two just behind these 

 a little nearer the lateral margin. Labrum rather large, transverse, 

 bilobed. Mandibles rather short and robust, obtusely bifid at the 



Lakva of Porphyraspis tristis. 



apex. Thoracic segments broad, clothed with mmute hairs near 

 the sides. Abdominal segments much narrower than those of the 

 thorax, all of about eqiial length, but gradually decreasing in 

 breadth towards the apex ; segments 1 — 5 with a moderately large 



