54 



REMARKS. 



This insect was first found in New Zealand from which country 

 Maskell originally described it. Cockerell has frequently recorded 

 it from the West Indies and I have also published its occurrence in 

 Panama and Florida. The species is very common in the West 

 Indies and it is probable that these islands are its original home. 



Maskell has taken the insect on Parsonia, Rhipogonum sc'andens 

 Cockerell on Hibiscus, Capsicum, Pelargonium, " Cotton," " Pep- 

 per," u Cocoanut-palm " and I have recorded it on Melia azedarach 

 also. 



Of its destructiveness Cockerell says, " From its frequent abund- 

 ance, it becomes quite troublesome on garden plants." I have been 

 informed by Prof. Quaintance that the species severely attacks the 

 " China-trees " (Me/la azedarach} at Braidentown, Fla. and many 

 trees were said to have been apparently killed by it. From what we 

 know of the species it must be considered a very injurious one. 

 From the above list of food plants it will be seen that the insect has 

 been known to attack cotton plants and should it become established 

 in the cotton fields of our southern states it might prove a serious 

 pest. 



Cockerell's unpublished variety timida I believe to be a synonym 

 of minor for reasons given in the remarks under Chionaspis furfura. 

 Green's species albizziae to the best of my knowledge should also be 

 placed as a synonym of minor, as I am unable to separate the two. I 

 have had for examination specimens of albizziae received direct from 

 Mr. Green. I regret that I was unable to inform him of my conclu- 

 sion regarding this insect before his manuscript on the species for 

 Part II., of his "Coccidae of Ceylon " had gone to press. I think it 

 probable that Mr. Green has never had specimens of minor for 

 examination. 



Mr. Green states that albizziae is extensively preyed upon by the 

 Coccinellid beetle, Chilocoms circumdatus and is also parasitized by 

 the hymenopterous insects, Prospalta aurantii and Aphelinus 

 diaspidis. 



HEMICHIONASPIS MINOR STRACHANI n. var. 



This variety differs from typical minor in having the exuviae of 

 the female scale rather darker and contrasting more strongly with 



