LECAN1UM OLE.E. 129 



several enemies. Mr. Cockerell * says : " It is known 

 to be attacked by a fungus in Australia ; in California 

 a species of Gapnodium .... was found on dead 

 scales, and it was surmised that it might attack living 

 ones. 



" The larva of a moth, Erastria scitnla, Rambur, 

 preys on it in Europe ; while in Australia it is simi- 

 larly attacked by the larva of Thalpochares coccophaga, 

 Meyrick. 



" A beetle, Rhizobius v entrails, Er., was found useful 

 as an enemy of the black scale in California ; this beetle 

 is a native of Australia, whence it had been introduced 

 to feed on scale-insects. 



" A chalcidid parasite, Tomocera calif ornica, Howard, 

 destroys it in California ; .... in 1889 it was observed 

 that 80 per cent, of the scales were destroyed by this 

 parasite." 



It is a very general feeder, and almost universally 

 destructive. 



Distribution. Common in Southern Europe ; a pest 

 in the United States of America ; abundant in the 

 West Indies, Ceylon, New Zealand, Australia, and 

 Hawaii. It appears also to occur throughout Europe 

 on cultivated plants, presumably under glass. 



EXPLANATION or THE PLATE. 



PL LVII, fig. 1. Insects natural size in situ on branch 



of Spathelia simplex. 



Fig. 2. Old adult female, typical form, x 10. 

 Fig. 3. Adult female (comparatively flat, brown 



form), x 10. 



Fig. 4. AntennaB of the adult female. X 140. 

 Fig. 5. Leg of the adult female. X 140. 

 Fig. 5tf. Claw with digitules of same. X 300. 

 Fig. 6. Marginal spines of the adult female. 



X 600. 

 Figs. 7, 7 a. Polygonal derm-cells, x 300. 



* ' Bull. Bot. Dept. Jamaica/ n. s., vol. i, p. 72 (1894). 

 VOL. 11. 9 



