244 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONEPw OF AGRICULTURE. 



states tliau D. coccidivora, I propose tlie name D. pallida, or the pale 

 Dakruma. 



I first found tlie larva of this insect living within a spherical gall-like 

 bark-louse {Kennes), on oak near Sanford, Fla. Other specimens were 

 received later, which were feeding upon the eggs of another species of 

 bark-louse (also a iCermes), collected by Dr. E. S. Turner at Fort George, 

 Fla. 



The larva of this species is readily distinguished from that of D. 

 coccidivora. It is of a light-gray color above, and white beneath ; the 

 head is brown, sometimes varying to reddish. When full grown the 

 larva leaves the Coccid which it infested and makes a cocoon, which is 

 attached to the outside of the coccid or to a neighboring twig. 



The adult insect resembles to a great extent in its markings I>. 

 coccidivora; but is easily recognized by its lighter color, and by the 

 absence of rust red scales. The discal spots are distinct in all of my 

 Bi)ecimens. 



DESCKIPTIVE. 



Dakkuma pallida n. sp. 



Male, female. — Expanse, IS"""; length of body, 8""". Head dark gray; eyes black 

 and quite coarsely faceted; antennae pale brown; labial palpi light gray; thorax 

 and abdomen above dark gray. Fore wings light ash-gray with black markings, and 

 with the portion along the inner margin clouded ; near the base of the wing there is a 

 black spot ; the wing is crossed at one-third of its length from the base by a dark 

 band, the posterior part of which is obsolete, and the anterior part termLnates ia a 

 narrow oblique line, directed inwards; two distinct discal spots; near the apex of the 

 wing are two transverse, wavy, black bands ; and on the outer marj^in sis or seven 

 black spots. Hind wings dark gray, with apex and posterior margin still darker. 

 Lower surface of both wings dark gray. The lower surface of body silvery gray. 

 Described from six specimens, two males and four females. 



THE OAK COCCID BLASTOBASIS. 



(Blastohasis coccivorella Chambers [new species].) 

 Order Lepidopteea; family Tineidae. 



At Cedar Keys, Fla., I found many specimens of a large Coccid* 

 upon oak, some of which were pierced with a round hole and were en- 

 tirely eaten out, having evidently maintained "some parasitic insect. 

 TJpon cutting into other apparently sound specimens a few of the para- 

 sitic larvae were discovered, which were evidently lepidopterous. Those 

 v.'hich appeared full grown were S'"'" (.31 inch) in length, and were very 

 I)lump in figure, the 4th and 5th abdominal segments being widest. The 

 general color was milk white, the head being light brown and the mouth 

 parts dark brown. The prothoracic plate was narrow, divided longitu- 

 dinally in the middle, and was also light brown in color. They possessed 

 sixteen feet— six thoracic and ten abdominal— all quite well develoi)ed. 



A number of specimens were sent to Washington, where, on March 

 15, the larvae commenced to pupate. A round hole was first cut through 

 the exterior of the Coccid, which, up to this time, had been intact, and 

 a comparatively compact cocoon was spun outside, attached, however, 

 to the edges of the circular hole. On April 1 the first moth was found, 

 and on April 10 another emerged. " From these two specimens Mr. Cham- 

 bers has described the new species Blastohasis coccivorella. His descrip- 

 tion is appended : 



*An nndescribed epecies of Kernies, closely allied to K. palUdus, K6aumur, 



