82 LECANIUM HESPERIDUM. 



kind of false hermaphroditism ; they might even be 

 represented in the lowest degree by undifferentiated 

 elements, but which, nevertheless, come into connec- 

 tion with the ovules ; it may thus happen that the 

 so-called pseudova may be identical, in their evolution, 

 with ordinary eggs, and, as in the known hypothesis 

 in connection with agamic Aphides, that the develop- 

 ment of the ovules was determined by the hermaphro- 

 ditism of the females. Be this as it may, as the males 

 escape observation in every case, one cannot fail to 

 infer that parthenogenesis or pedogenesis, which is a 

 form of it, exists. In fine, we conceive that these 

 reduced males may be able, in certain seasons and 

 under certain influences, in consequence of a more 

 retarded evolution of the genital products, to acquire 

 a perfect development and exhibit normal charac- 

 teristics. 



" ' It appears possible to apply these considerations, 

 until there is proof to the contrary, to the various 

 parthenogenetic animals, with the exception, perhaps, 

 of certain Hymenoptera among which the phenomena 

 are more complicated. Parthenogenesis constitutes a 

 peculiar fact which hitherto has not received sufficient 

 explanation, and it may be that, like many other facts 

 apparently aberrant, it will one day come under the 

 general law of sexual reproduction.' 



" The discovery of the male of Lecanium hesperidum, 

 although the mode of action or influence of this sex 

 has yet to be elucidated, is of itself of very great 

 interest, and in the inferences and suggestions arising 

 from it, with respect to the recondite subject of 

 parthenogenesis in general, has a significance and 

 importance not exceeded by any revelation of modern 



science." 



I cannot help thinking that M. Moniez was mistaken 

 in his identity of the unborn males of Lecanium 

 hesperidum, and that what he actually saw were the 

 immature males of one of the Chalcidid parasites 

 which universally infest the females of this species. 



