INSECTS IN COMMERCE 139 



male does not feed at all, its suctorial proboscis 

 being quite rudimentary : its life, in consequence, 

 is probably a short one, and its mission in life of 

 propagating its species being accomplished, it 

 soon dies. 



The metamorphosis of the male Coccus is 

 very extraordinary, and unlike that of any other 

 species of insect. The larva when about to 

 change to the adult state becomes passive, and 

 the transformation takes place beneath the scale- 

 like larval skin, so that during the time it is a 

 resting pupa its outward appearance is not 

 altered in any way. When the metamorphosis 

 is complete, the two long tail-hairs protrude 

 from the hind part of the scale-like covering, and 

 the insect emerges backwards with its delicate 

 wings pulled up over its head. In a short time 

 it adjusts its wings and flies away, leaving its 

 old skin intact upon the plant. 



The female, without moving from her chosen 

 spot, lays a quanity of eggs between her body 

 and the plant to which she is fixed. As they are 

 deposited her body gradually dries up, and 

 finally becomes a mere shell completely filled 

 with eggs. The insect then dies, and the young 

 are hatched under the covering of her dead 

 horny body, which serves them as a shelter 

 until they are ready to fare forth into the world. 



C. cacti, the species that produces the 

 cochineal dye, is so called because it feeds upon 

 the cactus plants. It is a native of Mexico and 

 other warm parts of America, but has been 

 successfully introduced into the Canary Islands, 

 Java, Algeria and Australia, where the cochineal 



