192 CHIONASPIS BICLAVIS. 



female as " varying with age. At first creamy-white ; 

 median dorsal area afterwards suffused with pinkish 

 purple ; later with chestnut-brown, by the deposition 

 of chitinous matter which first appears in definite 

 transverse plates across the meso- and meta-thorax 

 and first two abdominal segments, but afterwards 

 extends over the whole dorsal surface as far as the 

 second abdominal segment. Under surface of older 

 examples dull purplish ; the second and third abdo- 

 minal segments and base of pygidium whitish. In- 

 conspicuous eye- spots can be distinguished in the early 

 adult." 



Larva. Antennae of six joints, of which the last is 

 as long as 2, 3, 4, and 5 together. The first and fifth 

 bear one or two short hairs ; the last 7 8 very long 

 ones. Formula 6, 2, 1, 3 (4, 5). 



Male unknown in any stage. 



Habitat. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, on Annona 

 muricata (Douglas) ; Royal Botanic Society's Gardens 

 on A. c/ierimolia. Mr. Green says " specimens have 

 been found in the conservatories of Ireland." 



Distribution. Prof. Comstock's types were from 

 leaves of plants in the conservatory of the U.S. 

 Department of Agriculture. Mr. Koeble has collected 

 it in the Sandwich Isles ; it is injurious in Ceylon 

 (Green) ; and with the exception of the records from 

 this country I believe it has not been met with else- 

 where. 



Many species of Diaspinaa possess the power of 

 cutting away the epidermal layer of hairs, woolly fila- 

 ments, scales, etc., of the plants upon which they live, 

 but the burrowing powers of this species are most 

 remarkable, and I believe not equalled by any other 

 known species. 



I have not seen living examples of this insect, and 

 am considerably indebted to Mr. Douglas for his 

 valued gift of British specimens. My series, however, 

 was much too limited for thoroughly illustrating this 

 remarkable species, and I have been obliged to fall 



