130 GYMNASPIS. 



GYMNASPIS (Newstead). 



The adult female puparium of this genus is without 

 larval exuvia3 or secretion, and is composed entirely of 

 the naked moulted skin of the second- stage female. 

 Up to the second stage of its existence it resembles 

 that of a Diaspis in having larval exuviae, and a broad 

 secretionary margin, which completely covers the soft 

 tumid body of the female up to the penultimate period 

 of its life (PI. XXXIV, fig. 10). The dermis then 

 begins to harden at the margins, and eventually be- 

 comes highly chitinised and opaque, which character 

 extends over the dorsal and ventral parts. During 

 this process the insect becomes highly convex, and the 

 whole of the puparium is cast off, leaving the insect 

 perfectly nude (PL XXXIV, figs. 13). The final 

 change is effected in the same way as in Aonidia and 

 Fiorinia, and, like the members of these genera, the 

 adult female remains hermetically entombed in the 

 skin of the previous moult in which she apparently 

 brings forth her young alive. In the numerous speci- 

 mens examined I found no trace of eggs, but fre- 

 quently a single larva fully formed, but very sluggish, 

 and remarkable for its great size. The absence of 

 circumgenital glands also suggests a viviparous habit. 

 How the larvas escape from the thick walls of the 

 puparium is a mystery, but this is probably effected 

 through the anal opening on the dorsal area ; but this 

 orifice is so minute as to be only visible to the high 

 power of the microscope. 



The puparium of the male resembles those of certain 

 species of Aspidiotus (ficiis, personatiis, etc.), but the 

 larval exuvias is much larger. 



