SCALE-INSECTS. 71 



colour, which is not clue to fungoid growths, although these, as 

 usual, accompany it. 



86. CTENOCHITON HYMENANTHER^E, Maskell. 



N.Z. Trans., Vol. XVII., 1884, p. 25. 

 (Plate VIII., Fig. 1.) 



Test of adult female waxy, circular, convex, dirty-white, 

 yellow, or brownish, formed of a number of hexagonal or octa- 

 gonal segments, which are also convex, giving it a rough appear- 

 ance. Fringe not very conspicuous. Diameter of test, about 

 T Vm. 



Test of male glassy, dirty-white, oval, segmented, slightly 

 convex, segments of fringe small. Length, about j^in. 



Adult female yellowish-brown, filling the test. Antennae of 

 six joints, of which both the second and third seem sometimes 

 double. Foot normal ; upper digitules long fine hairs, lower 

 pair broad. The spiracular spines are strong and conspicuous. 

 The skin is divided into segments corresponding with those of the 

 test, the divisions being marked by lines of spinneret orifices 

 which are small and simple. 



In the second stage the usual wavy edge of the genus is not 

 generally apparent. 



Adult male somewhat thick and short. Antennae of nine 

 joints, the first short and thick, the remainder long and nearly 

 equal ; each joint after the first has many nodosities, from which 

 spring longish hairs. Foot long and slender, especially the tibia. 

 Digitules fine hairs. Thoracic band inconspicuous. Abdominal 

 spike short and blunt. 



This species is usually accompanied by a great quantity of 

 very black fungus covering and rendering unsightly the whole 

 plant on which it lives. 



Habitat On Hymenanthera cmssifolia, Evans Bay, Wel- 

 lington. 



This insect seems to be intermediate between C. piperis 

 and C. depressus, differing from both in the rugose female test 

 and the distribution of the spinneret orifices. 



