DIASPIS CALYPTROIDES. 161 



Dorsal tubular spinnerets very numerous, occupy- 

 ing almost the whole of the dorsal area ; those at the 

 margin with their projecting pores are much the 

 largest, and of the same character as those occupying 

 a similar position in other species of Diaspis. The 

 median lobes have both margins free, are widely 

 rounded, slightly divergent, and without serrations ; 

 the second and third pairs are divided, and appear as 

 two lobes ; the anterior lobule in each case being much 

 the smallest. Plates simple and spine-like, of which 

 the second, third, and fourth are longest ; there are 

 two short ones between the median lobes; the two 

 next are placed between a lobe and a long, pointed, 

 projecting spinneret or pore ; five or six others are 

 placed at intervals along the rest of the margin, and 

 gradually diminish as they approach the segment. 

 There is a strong spine over each anterior lobule, and 

 two or three beyond. Of the marginal pores or 

 tubular spinnerets there is one median and usually 

 seven others. The chief salient characters of the 

 female are the abundant dorsal tubular spinnerets, 

 and the non-serrate form of the median lobes. 



Puparium of the male white ; flat and faintly tri- 

 carinate, but sometimes the caringe are entirely wanting. 

 Exuviae dusky ochreous brown. When large colonies 

 are crowded together, a few short woolly filaments are 

 secreted, but to a very much less extent than in D. 

 boisduvalii ; isolated examples do not appear to secrete 

 them. 



Male. Although the male puparia usually occur in 

 predominating numbers, I have never been able to 

 obtain a perfect male ; and I am obliged to refer to 

 Signoret's ' Essai ' for a description of it, which he says 

 is " d'un jaune orange, avec les elytres d'un blanc rose." 



Habitat. I have only met with this insect at the 

 Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, where it is a recognised 

 pest on the various species of Gacti in the Succulent 

 House. 



Distribution. Occurs in the open air in the south of 



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