COCCIDAE FROM LOWER CALIFORNIA 



Genus ACLERDA Sign. 



87 



Aclerda attenuata n. sp. 



Fig. 11. 



Type from Distichlis spicata on the beach at the Eureka ranch near 

 La Rivera. Also from bamboo or Arundo at the same place and at Todos 

 Santos. 



Habit. Concealed beneath the sheathing bases of the leaves. 



Fig. 11. Aclerda attenuata n. sp. : A, type of duct; B, posterior portion of ab- 

 domen, left half dorsal, right half ventral ; C, anal plate ; D, types of 

 marginal spines. 



Morphological characteristics. Adult female varying greatly in 

 length and width, the largest examples attaining a length of 7-9 mm. In 

 the specimens from the type host (the stems of which are very slender) 

 the body of the insect is usually much attenuated, while in those from the 

 other host it is usually relatively much broader, although it is always 

 distinctly elongate. In practically all of the specimens examined, the 

 posterior extremity is turned to one side as in Aclerda distorta Green. 



In old specimens the body becomes very heavily chitinized except the 

 median and extreme anterior portions, but in immature examples of the 

 last instar the chitinization is confined to the posterior portion of the 

 abdomen. This posterior area (Fig. 11B) is beset both dorsally and ven- 

 trally with numerous shallow furrows. Margin of the body with a narrow 

 zone of small, tubercle-like spines, some of which (Fig. 11D) are almost 

 spherical, others somewhat elongate, this zone extending entirely about 

 the margin of the body except for a short distance on each side of the 



