184 INSECTA. 



epoch, however, soon arrives in which all these individuals expe- 

 rience singular changes. They then become fixed ; the male larvae 

 for a determinate period, requisite for their ultimate metamorphosis, 

 and the females for ever. If wc observe the latter in the spring, we 

 shall find that their body gradually increases to a great volume, and 

 finally resembles a gall-nut, being sometimes spherical, and at others 

 reniform or scaphoid. The skin of some is smooth and level, that of 

 the remainder presents incisures or A'estiges of segments. It is in 

 this state that the females receive the embraces of their males, soon 

 after which tliey produce a great number of eggs. They slip them 

 between the skin of their venter, and a white down which covers the 

 spot they occupy. Their body then becomes desiccated, and forms a 

 solid crust or shell which covers their ova. Other females protect 

 theirs by enveloping them with a white substance resembling cotton. 

 Those which are spherical form a sort of box for them with their 

 body. The young Cocci have an oval body much flattened and fur- 

 nished with the same organs as that of the mother. They spread 

 themselves over the leaves, and towards the end of autumn approach 

 tlie branches, on which they fix themselves to pass the Avinter. The 

 females prepare to become mothers on the return of spring, and the 

 males to transform themselves into chrysalides under their own 

 skin. These chrysalides have their two anterior legs directed 

 forwards, and not backwards like their remaining four, and the whole 

 six in those of the other sex. Having acquired their wings, these 

 males issue backwards from the posterior extremity of their domicil, 

 and proceed immediately in search of their females. They are mucli 

 smaller than the latter. Their copulating apparatus forms a recurved 

 kind of tail between the two terminal setas of the abdomen. Reaumur 

 saAV two granules resembling simples eyes on that part of their head 

 which corresponds to their mouth. I have distinguished on the 

 head of the male, C.ulmi, ten similar bodies, and two species of halteres 

 on the thorax. Geoffroy says the females liave four white threads at 

 the posterior extremity of their abdomen, which are only visible by 

 so pressing that part of the body as to make them protrude. 



Dorthez has observed a species on the Euphorbium characias 

 which appears to differ in form and habits from the others. This in- 

 duced his friend, the late M. Bosc, to convert that species into a 

 genus which he named Dorthesia. The antennse consist of nine joints, 

 those of the male being longer and more slender than in the female. 

 The latter continues to live and run abovit after laying her eggs. The 

 posterior extremity of the male's abdomen is furnished with a tuft of 

 white threads. This insect is consequently more nearly allied to the 

 Aphides than to the Cocci *. 



The Gallinsecta appear to injure trees by a superabundant sudo- 

 resis through the punctures they make in them, and of course those 

 who cultivate the Peach, Orange, Fig, and Olive, are particularly on 

 their guard against them. Certain species fix themselves to the roots 



* M. Carcel, a zealous and learned entomologist, has lately confirmed these ob- 

 servations by new investigations. See the Nouv. Diet. d'Hist. Nat., 2d edit., article 

 Dorthes. 



