269 



"1. Genus Braciiyscelis. Where the females have six legs 

 completely, but short and unfit for use. 



" 2. Genus Opistiioscelis. Where they have only two long- 

 posterior legs. 



" 3. Genus Ascelis. Where there are no vestiges of legs. 



" The galls of the insects of the genus OpistJioscelis are often 

 found male and female under the same leaf (plate v., n). The 

 female gall is in the shape of a pea, but somewhat larger ; the 

 male galls very small and conical. 



"The female 0. subrotimdata (iii., n) is of a crimson colour, 

 nearly round, but the terminal segment of the abdomen very 

 mach tapered ; it has very long posterior legs, but no traces of 

 the anterior and intermediary legs. In another species, 

 0. gracilis, the ovipositing female is rather slender, and the legs 

 still longer and thinner, and the male has no anal setje. 

 The larviv resemble those of J^rachyscelis, but have very short 

 anal seta?. 



"In Ascelis the female larvje alone form galls. The male 

 larvte undergo metamorphoses in the gall of the female. This is 

 of pale-yellow colour, and loses nearly all traces of articulation. 

 Only dark spots occur in place of the feet. On the back the 

 animal has a horny instrument with three points, always holding 

 some gum between them, which seems to serve for closing up the 

 hole. The opening of the gall is not at the top, as in BracJty- 

 scelis, but on the other side of the leaf. The larva (plate iii., n) 

 is flat, and transparently yellow, resembling that of Braciiyscelis, 

 but is never pointed at the apex, has shorter antennae and setje, 

 and not as nmch frinyino- hair." 



All the larvjie of the three genera have six short legs. 



In 1891 Mr. W. M. Maskell (Trans. N.Z. Institute. Zool, 

 1891, pp. 39-45, and pp. 52-60) added the genera Frencltia, (on 

 Casuarina) and Carteria (on Melaleuca) to the Bkaciiyscelid.Ii:, 

 and described and figured Sjthcerococcus and Cylindrococcus (also 

 on Casuarina) as of uncertain position (but has lately formed a new 

 sub-family, Idiococcin^, for their reception). On account of a 

 general similarity of habit, I consider that they should also be 

 included in the family. The first and two last form woody galls 

 similar in structure to those of Braciiyscelis (on Eucalypts and 

 Beyeria): the second forms only thick waxy tests. 



The adult female of Frencliia is tad23ole-like, the abdominal 

 portion being very long and slender, the thoracic very thick, 

 circular, disk-like. Antenna? and legs absent. Colour reddish- 

 yellow to dark brown. Larva- elongated, Hat, subelliptical, with 

 legs and antennte (I.e., pi. xiii.). 



Of Sphrfrococcns the adult female is globular, grey in fr(»nt, 

 dark behind, with very small antenna', Imt no feet. Larvje 



