SCALE-INSECTS. 73 



38. CTENOCHITON PIPERIS, Maskell. 



N.Z. Trans., Vol. XIV., 1881, p. 218 ; Vol. XVII., 1884, 

 p. 25. 



(Plate VIII., Fig. 3.) 



Test of adult female circular, convex, regularly tessellated in 

 hexagonal segments ; fringe not very regular, sometimes almost 

 or quite absent ; waxy, somewhat thick ; diameter, about -j^g-in. 

 Colour variable ; outer parts white, yellow, or greenish- white, 

 central segments purplish. 



Test of second stage of female waxy, very thin, flat, with 

 fringe of broadly triangular segments : no air-cells. Length, 

 about ^jin. 



Test of male elongated, convex, glassy, segmented. Length, 

 about ^yin. Slightly coloured like that of the female. 



Adult female filling the test. Colour corresponding with that 

 of the test. At gestation the under-side becomes hollow, and 

 the young are sheltered beneath it for awhile. Antennae seven- 

 jointed; on the last joint several hairs. Feet normal; lower 

 digitules rather broad. Round the dorsal surface, half-way 

 between the centre and the edge, is a row of swellings*" or 

 tubercles. 



Female of second stage elongated, the cephalic portion 

 narrower than the abdomen ; flat, thin ; edge wavy ; stigmatic 

 spines rather stout ; a few small spines on the edge. Antennae 

 six- jointed ; feet normal. 



Young insect of normal form, but with numerous minute 

 wrinkles on the edge of the body. 



Adult male greenish-yellow ; antennae nine-jointed. Foot 

 normal, with somewhat thick tarsus. Penis ending in a round, 

 somewhat large knob. 



Habitat On Piper excelsum (kawakawa) ; Auckland, Hawke's 

 Bay, Wellington. 



The regularly-circular form and coloured segments of the 

 female test, and the tubercles of the dorsum, distinguish this 

 species. 



* Possibly spiracular. 



