14 SCALE INSECTS OF SANTA CRUZ PENINSULA 



Genus EHRHORNIA Ferris. 

 Ehrhornia cupressi (Ehrh.). 

 1918. Ehrhornia cupressi (Ehrh.) ; Ferris, Can. Ent., 51 :326. 



A serious pest on Cupressus macrocarpa and C. guadelupensis, which 

 are extensively grown as ornamentals throughout this region. It also 

 occurs on Libocedrus decurrens on the campus of Stanford University. 



Ehrhornia graminis Ferris. 



1918. Ehrhornia graminis Ferris, Can. Ent., 51 : 326, fig. 12. 



Within this area this species has been taken only from the root- 

 stocks of an undetermined perennial grass growing in the brush on the 

 hills above Scott Creek, Santa Cruz County. 



Genus PALUDICOCCUS Ferris. 

 Paludicoccus distidium (Kuwana). 

 1918. Paludicoccus distidium (Kuwana) ; Ferris, Can. Ent., 50:327, fig. 13. 



Known only from a grass, Distichlis spicata, in the salt marshes 

 about San Francisco Bay. 



Genus ERIOCOCCUS Targ. 



The present author has had the opportunity of examining specimens 

 of nearly all the species of this genus that have been recorded from North 

 America. In the course of this study it has become apparent that most 

 of the existing descriptions of species are quite inadequate, owing to the 

 fact that too much attention has been paid to characters of but little im- 

 portance, while those of genuine value have been quite consistently 

 ignored. 



The character of the sac is in a few cases of some value, but in 

 general has little significance, there being practically no difference be- 

 tween the sacs of widely differing species. In only a few extreme cases 

 is it important. The character of the legs likewise is of but little use, 

 except in some extreme cases. The antennae are undoubtedly worthy of 

 some consideration, although the antennal formulas that have been so 

 extensively used are probably of no special value. The most distinctive 

 characters are to be found in the form, number, and distribution of the 

 spines with which the body is generally more or less thickly beset. In 

 a few cases it appears that the form of the wax ducts may be of some 

 slight use. 



Even with the aid of these characters it is often difficult to decide as 

 to the proper disposition of specimens. The amount of material at present 



