158 ASTEROLECANIUM VARIOLOSUM. 



yellowish-green, darkening with age. On the dorsal 

 surface are, usually, five longitudinal series of widely 

 separated, thin, waxy plates, representing the early 

 larval secretion which has become fissured and sepa- 

 rated along the lines of growth by the accretion of 

 fresh material. At this stage the marginal fringe is 

 in its most perfect condition. 



Adult female, after treatment with potash (PI. LXII, 

 fig. 1), approximately circular; anal extremity faintly 

 produced. Rostral filaments about twice the length of 

 the mentum, the latter short and broadly rounded. Spi- 

 racles rather large ; parastigmatic glands extending in 

 a narrow band to the margin. On the ventral surface of 

 the last three or four abdominal segments (PL LXII, 

 fig. 2) are a number of circular spinnerets and a few 

 minute spines. Anal orifice (PL LXII, fig. 5) ex- 

 tremely minute, being scarcely larger than the figure- 

 of-8 spinnerets at the margins, and bearing two 

 minute spines. Dorsal tubular spinnerets (PL LXII, 

 fig. 4) very long, numerous, and scattered over the 

 whole of the dorsal area. Marginal spinnerets (PL 

 LXII, figs. 3, 3 a) shaped like the figure 8, arranged in 

 a single series all round the body. Rudimentary antennae 

 (PL LXII, fig. 5 a) usually with one long and one short 

 spiny hair. 



Long, 1-1*25 mm. 



Secretionary covering of the second-stage female 

 (PL LXI, fig. 14) elongate -ovate. Colour sap-green 

 or yellowish-green, and so closely resembling the colour 

 of the young branchlets of the oak that it is very 

 difficult to detect the insect without the aid of a lens. 

 Fringe (PL LXI, fig. 15) consisting of opaque, glassy- 

 white rods arranged in pairs, with the ends curving 

 outwards and inwards and thus forming two lateral 

 loops, each loop reaching the succeeding loop on either 

 side, so that the whole forms a complete series round 

 the entire margin of the secretionary covering. 



The gall-pits of the adult female are very deep, 

 -completely enclosing the highly convex ventral surface 



