Si INSECTS NOXIOUS TO AGRICULTURE. 



SUBDIVISION III. LECANO-COCCID^E, Maskell. 



N.Z. Trans., Vol. XVI., 1883, p. 128. 



Female insects covering themselves with a secretion of 

 cottony or felted matter, forming more or less complete sacs. 

 Male insects (where known) covered with similar secretion. 



Genus : ERIOCHITON, Maskell. 



Secretion white, felted, formed of threads issuing from 

 prominent spiny spinnerets ; inconspicuous or absent on adult 

 female, thicker on male pupa. Abdominal cleft and lobes 

 present in all stages of female.* 



[This genus contains the insect named hitherto Cteriochiton 

 spinosus.'] 



51. ERIOCHITOX HISPIDUS, Maskell. 



N.Z. Trans., Vol. XIX., 1886, p. 47. 



(Plate XIII., Fig. 1.) 



Secretion of female white, thin, felted, formed of thin 

 threads excreted from the numerous prominent spiny spinnerets, 

 the threads becoming more or less matted over the dorsal 

 surface. At the edge each thread corresponds to a spine, but 

 lias not the feathery form exhibited in the next species, E. 

 spinosus, being more tubular. On the adult female the covering 

 is often not to be detected, or presents only fragmentary por- 

 tions ; it is best observed on the female of the second stage. 



Secretion of the male pupa white, felted, thick, covering the 

 insect all over, and exhibiting at the edge a small fringe. At 

 first sight the test, being obscurely segmented, presents some- 

 what the appearance of a Dactylopid. Length of the felted 

 mass, about T V n - 



Larva normal, flat, elliptical, active, exhibiting the usual 

 abdominal cleft and lobes. Dorsal surface covered with spines, 

 excreting a thin white mass of tubes and a tubular fringe. 



* In both of the species here described the adult female has the tibite shorter 

 than the tarsi. The author has hesitated to found a generic character on it 

 until the discovery of other species ; the character is quite exceptional in the 

 family, occurring (besides) only in some species of Acantlwcoccidcc. In all others 

 a tibia shorter than the tarsus would indicate an immature insect. 



