ASTEROLECANIUM BAMBUS^E. 153 



Ova (PI. LXI, fig. 3) pale yellow. 



Habitat. On various species of bamboo (Bambusa) 

 at the Royal Gardens, Kew, where I discovered it in 

 July, 1896. It was most abundant on Bambusa mil- 

 garis, many of the leaves and stems being almost 

 covered with the insects. Their presence on the 

 leaves is marked by yellow stains. 



Habits. During the early period of gestation the 

 female fills the ovisac, but as parturition advances her 

 body shortens, thus making space for the ova at the 

 posterior extremity. After death the body of the 

 female changes to a dark brown colour. A number of 

 overlapping broods are produced in the summer 

 months eggs, larvae, and both old and young adults 

 occurring at the same time. 



Distribution. Found originally on cultivated bam- 

 boos in Algeria (Boisduval). It is common at Assouan, 

 Upper Egypt ; the West Indies (Cockerell, Maxwell- 

 Lefroy) ; Brazil (Hempel) ; and Ceylon (Green.). I 

 can find no records of its occurrence in any part of 

 Europe besides Britain ; but I am under the im- 

 pression that it has been met with in Italy. 



EXPLANATION OF THE PLATES. 



PL LXI, fig. 1. Insects natural size in situ on por- 

 tion of a leaf of bamboo. 



Fig. 2. Ovisac of adult female with ventral portion 

 removed, revealing the female at period of gesta- 

 tion. X 15. 



Fig. 3. Another example with a portion of the 

 ventral part of the ovisac removed, revealing the 

 female at period of parturition and the cavity 

 behind her filled with the yellow ova. X 15. 



Fig. 3 a. Ovisac of adult female with the crimson 

 blotches of the sub-lying insect showing through. 

 X 15. 



. 4. Ovisac of old adult female after the death 

 of the insect. X 15. 



