16 NATURAL PRODUCTS OF THE COCCID J]. 



NATURAL PRODUCTS or THE COCCIDJ:. 



The "cochineal insect" (Coccus cacti), which is a 

 typical Coccid, has been met with in this country on 

 certain species of cultivated cacti. Before the discovery 

 of aniline dyes this species afforded us a most valuable 

 dye product, which, although superseded to a very 

 great extent, is still largely imported for use in dyeing 

 valuable fabrics such as silk ; and it is, I believe, used 

 exclusively as a crimson dye for colouring sweetmeats 

 and confectionery. A species of Kennes, in shape 

 remarkably resembling a large crimson holly berry, is 

 also imported for the value of its dye, for which pur- 

 pose it has been used from time immemorial. Eric 

 pe-la is a Coccid of some value to the Chinese. This 

 insect, like many others (including British species), 

 secretes a pure white wax, which in China is collected 

 and made in to candles for special use. In India similar 

 use is also made of a wax obtained from a species of 

 Ceroplastes (C. ceriferux). 



In South Africa the remarkable subterranean M<n-- 

 garodea frimeri, Giard., is extensively collected and 

 made up as personal ornaments. Quite recently Mr. 

 C. P. Lounsbury, Government Entomologist at Cape- 

 town, kindly sent me a necklace composed of about 

 700 of the outer pearly shells of this Coccid, which 

 he says "are sold locally as native curios under the 

 name of ' ants' eggs.' The shells are found in the 

 mountains about one hundred miles from here. The 

 living insect is rare, but I have found a few on the 

 roots of a R-hus after long searching. New shells are 

 clear yellow." Margarodes is also met with in other 

 parts of the world, and is occasionally sent to this 

 country in collections of shells under the name of 

 " ground pearls." 



Tachardia lacca furnishes us with the invaluable 



