204 GYMNOCOCCUS. 



are cliaracteristic o the DactylopiinaB ; and the insect 

 hereafter described is, I think, correctly placed in this 

 division of the Coccidae. 



Gymnococcus agavium, the type of the genus, was 

 first referred to Coccus, but, owing to certain im- 

 portant discrepancies, Mr. Douglas * " at one time 

 thought it might constitute the type of a new genus, 

 under the name Qywvnococcus." This name has since 

 been adopted, and the genus is now a well-established 

 one. Two species only are known ; the one hereafter 

 described was probably introduced from the Southern 

 States of North America, which is also the home of 

 G. ruber, Parrot and Ckll.,t where, in New Mexico, it 

 was discovered "in clumps of grass hidden at the base 

 of the stems." 



GYMNOCOCCUS AGAVIUM (Douglas). 

 (Fig. 6, a-d.) 



Coccus agavium, Douglas ; Ent. Mo. Mag., vol. xxv, 



p. 150, figs. 1-4 (1888). 

 Coccus (Gymnococcus) agavium (Doug.), Newstead; 



Ent. Mo. Mag., s.s., vol. viii, p. 12, figs. 1-4 



(1897). 



Adult female " short rounded-oval, a little narrower 

 in front, smooth, without mealy or cottony covering ; 

 very convex and firm on upper side ; pinky-yellowish, 

 with some light brown specks on the back, somewhat 

 in two longitudinal rows ; beneath very soft and tumid ; 

 segmentation visible above and beneath. . . . After 

 full gestation the insect becomes covered with loose 

 cottony material copiously exuded from its body; 

 under this the ovoviviparous parturition takes place as 

 stated below " (Douglas, 1. c.). Antenna3 (Fig. 6, ) of 



* ' Ent. Mo. Mag./ vol. xxv, p. 150. 

 t ' The Industrialist/ 1899, p. 162. 



