Mr. T. D. A. Cockerell on some Mexican Coccida3. 47 



XIII. — Notes on some Mexican Coccidse. 

 By T. D. A. Cockerell. 



Having recently had occasion to travel through Mexico, I was 

 naturally anxious to collect as many Coccidse as I could, 

 having paid much attention to that group of late. The Coccidae 

 of Mexico, so far as I can find them recorded, number fourteen 

 species, and to these twelve more can now be added, making 

 twenty-six altogether. 



Ai'riving at Vera Cruz on May 7, the first Coccid T saw 

 was Aspidiotus Jicus on an orange on the table at the hotel. 

 In the hotel were several plants growing in large pots, and an 

 examination of these yielded Aspidiotus Jicus, Lecanium 

 hesperidum, L. terminalice, and PlancJionia pustulans. To- 

 wards evening I had an opportunity to go out into the plaza, 

 and almost immediately came across a beautiful bright yellow 

 Pulvinaria, a new species, on Croton. Further search led to 

 the discovery of Orthezia insignis and Aspidiotus articulatus. 

 The next day we took the train to the City of Mexico. 

 While the train stopped at Soledad, in the State of Vera 

 Cruz, I ran out and picked a few leaves, on which I found 

 Aspidiotus articulatus and an interesting new species of the 

 same genus. It was quite evening when we arrived at 

 Mexico City ; but, strolling out, a few small specimens of a 

 Dactylopius were found on a tree in one of the streets. The 

 next day the same species occurred on two or three trees in 

 front of the cathedral, and I was so fortunate as to get adults, 

 both male and female, which on examination showed the 

 species to be undescribed. At the same place Lecanium olece 

 was common on many trees, and in the gardens of the public 

 library I found Lecanium hesperidum. 



The two following days were spent in travelling, and, 

 although a good look-out was kept at tlie stations, no Coccidte 

 were found. At about 2 A.M. on May 12 we were suddenly 

 awakened by a sharp shock, and the train came to a stand- 

 still. It proved that the engine and freight cars in front had 

 left the rails, owing to a " wash-out," and consequently we 

 had to spend many hours in the middle of nowhere, six miles 

 north of Montezuma R. R. Station, in the State of Chihuahua. 

 This was a desert spot, unfavourable for collecting ; but a 

 search revealed an undescribed Ceroplastes on Artemisia. 

 Later, while the line was being mended, they took us back to 

 Montezuma, and here I found another Ceroplastes, also new. 



Thus, out of twelve Coccidse found during the journey 



