,244 



SUCKING INSECTS. 



observation. It flies in search of a female, mates and dies. Sooner or 

 later the female produces eggs in turn and dies. 





FIG. 293. 

 The Red-spotted Scale (left) and Black Shield Scale (right). 



The whole life history may be very short or the adult female may 

 live for many months before producing- eggs. 

 In some cases the egg's remain unhatched for 

 a long* period, awaiting favourable conditions. 

 A curious feature of these insects is the frequent 

 absence of males altogether; there may 

 be none for many generations and in some 

 species no males have yet been found. In 

 others there are as many or more males than 

 females. 



Food-plants. There are many species in 

 India which attack a variety of plants. The 

 coffee plant suffers from the notorious Brown 

 Bug, 1 the Green Bug 2 and a Mealy Bug. 3 

 The first of these is scattered almost through- 

 out the coffee districts of Southern India, and causes a large amount 

 of damage. It has been successfully treated by spraying, and 



1 Lecanium hemixphcericum. T. T. 2 Lecanhim viride. Gr. 



8 Dactylopius citri. K. 



FIG. 294. 

 Scale Insects on a leaf. 



