SUBFAMILY TACHABDIINAE 



153 



female is always provided with three openings, one the anal 

 aperture, is slightly larger than the other two, the stigmatic 

 apertures. The apertures are arranged in the form of a triangle, 

 the anal aperture located at the apex of the triangle. The 

 stigmatic and anal processes fit into their respective apertures. 

 The position of the anal spine between these processes would 

 suggest that its function may be to hold the processes in place in 

 the apertures. The wax lining each aperture is different in 

 appearance and consistency and is undoubtedly excreted by the 

 cerores of the stigmatic and anal processes. The spiracerores 

 excrete a fine pulverulent wax or tufts of filaments of wax which 

 extrude from the stigmatic apertures sometimes almost closing 

 them. Green has suggested that this wax may function to prevent 

 the entrance of moisture. 



The test of the male is oblong oval in outline, slightly 

 constricted near the oval caudal aperture and the dorsum is 

 supplied with a distinct median carina. The aperture is closed 

 during the quiescent stages with wax. The wax or lac of the male 

 is similar in appearance to the lac formed by the female. The 

 male tests are always formed by single individuals. 



The nymphal stages of the male have not been described. 

 The adult male is ordinary in form, some individuals are winged 

 while others even in the same species may be wingless. The caudal 

 end of the abdomen bears a pair of long opaque filaments, which 

 are probably formed of wax. The head is provided with four 

 ocellanae, two dorsal and two ventral. The antennae of the 

 winged forms are provided with ten segments and of the wingless 

 forms with nine. "The genital sheath is elongate, slender, and 

 sharply pointed, rather more than half as long as the abdomen. ' ' 



This subfamily contains three genera, two of which werp 

 originally described as subgenera, which can be separated by 

 means of the following table : 



GENERA OF TACHARDIINAE 



a. Insects enclosed in masses of wax surrounding twigs, never in indi- 

 dividual tests; body of female elongate and vasiform; abdomen with 



anal spine. Tachardia Sign. 



aa. Insects enclosed in small masses of wax, not completely surround- 

 ing twigs, individuals may form separate test; body of adult female 

 more or less globular. 



b. Abdomen of the adult female with anal spine; wax reddish or of 

 resin color. . Tachardiella Ckll. 



