86 INSECTS NOXIOUS TO AGEICULTUEE. 



52. ERIOCHITOX SPINOSUS, Maskell. 



Ctenochiton spinosus, Maskell, N.Z. Trans., Vol. XI., 1878, 

 p. 212 ; Vol. XII., 1879, p. 292 ; Vol. XIV., 1881, 

 p. 218; Vol. XVII., 1884, p. 25. 



(Plate XIII., Fig. 2.) 



Test of female white, thin, formed of felted threads excreted 

 from spiny spinnerets ; inconspicuous at all stages, and often 

 absent on the adult, Imt distinguishable on the larva and the 

 second stage. The excreting spinnerets are almost all at the 

 edge of the body, and the fringe is formed of featherlike seg- 

 ments, each segment corresponding to a spine. 



Test of male white, thick, felted, oval, and convex; length, 

 about T V m - Fringe as in the female. 



Adult female dark-brown, sometimes almost black ; slightly 

 elongated, convex, affecting almost altogether the twigs and 

 branches in preference to the leaves. Average length, about Jin. 

 Antennae of seven joints : 011 the last joint some hairs. Feet 

 with the tibia about half as long as the tarsus (see note above, 

 under the genus) . On the edge of the body is a row of con- 

 spicuous spines, subcylindrical or subconical, with tubercular 

 bases ; and on the dorsum, in some specimens, may be seen a 

 few others on the median region. 



Female of second stage brown, elongated-elliptical, slightly 

 convex. Antennae six- jointed. Marginal spines as in the 

 adult, but no dorsal spines. Length, about aVin. 



Larva red, flattish, elliptical; marginal spines as in adult, 

 conspicuous. Antennae of five joints. Abdominal lobes large. 



Adult male brown, rather more slender than in E. hispidus. 

 Antennae of ten joints, all hairy; the second joint much thicker 

 than the rest. The last three joints are not so globular as in E. 

 hispidus. On the last five joints are several knobbed hairs. 

 Feet slender, hairy ; digitules fine hairs. Abdominal spike 

 shortish, broad : at each side of the base a tubercle bearing a 

 pair of longish setae enclosed in a long filament of white cotton. 

 Eyes four ; ocelli two. Length of body, exclusive of spike, 

 about ^5 in. 



Habitat On Atherospcrma Novce-Zcelandia, Mclicope ternata, 

 Elaeocarpus dentatus, Wellington ; Muhlenbeckia adspersa, Sumner 

 "Road, Lyttelton ; Port Hills, Christchurch ; and Wellington. 



Distinguished from E. hispidus by the feather-like segments 

 of the fringe, and by the almost complete absence of dorsal 

 spines on the female. The male is apparently almost identical. 



