EIPEESTA FILICICOLA. 185 



is thickly set with hairs and spinnerets, and there are 

 two or three pairs of spines at the margin. Spiracles 

 (fig. 8) rather long, with the flange comparatively 

 small. 



Long, 1-2 mm. 



Sac of the female (fig. 12) narrowly elongated and 

 much attenuated at the extremities; composed of 

 rather loose but toughish white fibres. The iridescent 

 filaments at the sides change in time to a delicate pale 

 blue colour. The early stage of the ovisac is shown 

 at fig. 9, with portions removed revealing the sub-lying 

 insect. 



Long, 2-2 '50 mm. 



Puparium of the male (fig. 11) similar to that of 

 the female, but attenuated only at the posterior ex- 

 tremity. A quantity of delicate pale blue glassy 

 filaments project from the sides. It is much smaller 

 than the sac of the female. 



Pupa (fig. 10) slightly active. Colour yellowish- 

 pink, or bright flesh-colour. Eyes black. Wing- 

 sheaths long and as fully developed as those in the 

 corresponding stage of Dactylopius citri. 



Habitat. On fronds of a West Indian filmy fern 

 (Trichomanes spicatuni). It was discovered by the 

 Director of the Royal Gardens, Kew, on the 27th of 

 January, 1897, since which time it has not been 

 observed, nor has it been recorded from any other part 

 of the world. 



This species is remarkable for the singularly beau- 

 tiful iridescent filaments secreted by the adult female, 

 and the delicate pale blue glassy filaments secreted by 

 the male, previous to the formation of the ovisac and 

 puparium respectively. 



Fragments of a male were found, but these unfor- 

 tunately were too much broken to serve any scientific 

 purpose, which is much to be regretted. 



With the exception of the six-jointed antennae there 

 is nothing in either of the stages of this coccid which 

 differentiates it from a true Dactylopius. 



