ASPIDIOTUS OSTEE^FOEMIS. 103 



short period. The appearance of the little shrivelled 

 skin is a sure sign the perfect male will appear in a day 

 or so. A fine sunny day brings them out almost directly 

 after the moult, but cold retards their emergence. In 

 1896 the males were most abundant during the third 

 week in April. 



Shortly before the emergence of the males the females 

 effect their final moult, and, although small, possess all 

 the anatomical characters of the adults. 



I have not observed the period of egg-laying or of 

 the hatching of the Iarva3. But this is very probably 

 completed before the end of June, as the new scales 

 are well formed by October, and the second stage of 

 both sexes is then completed. The species is cer- 

 tainly not double-brooded in the open air in this 

 country. 



EXPLANATION OF THE PLATES. 



PL V, fig. 1. Puparium of adult female from currant 



(typical form). X 25. 

 Fig. 2. Puparium of immature female from currant 



(typical form). X 25. 

 Fig. 3. Puparium of adult female from peach, partly 



buried beneath the epidermal layer. X 25. 

 Fig. 4. Puparium of immature female from peach. 



X 25. 

 Fig. 5. Parasitised female, showing hole through 



which the parasite has escaped. X 35. 

 Fig. 6. Puparium of male on Calluna, sp. X 25. 

 Fig. 7. Puparium of male on peach. X 25. 

 Fig. 8. Male. X 50. 



Fig. 9. Apical joint of male antennae. X 600. 

 Fig. 10. Tarsus and claw of male. X 600. 

 Fig. 11. Male pupa, dorsal aspect. X 50. 

 Fig. 12. Male pupa, ventral aspect, x 50. 

 Fig. 13. Insects natural size in situ on branch of 



currant. 

 Fig. 14. Insects natural size in situ on branch of 



