l894-] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 203 



4. Mellinns pygmaeas Handl. 



M. Pygmams Handlirsch, 1. c. p. 289, pi. ii, fig. i, $c^. 



Mexico. Easily distinguished by the paucity of maculations. 



5. Mellinns alpestris Cam. 



M. alpestris Cam., Biol. Centr.-Am. Hym. ii, p. 85, pi. v, fig. 6, $. 



Mexico. Not seen. 



I 



DESCRIPTIONS OF NEW COCCID>E. 



By T. D. A. COCKERELL. 



So far as the material permits, specimens of the species de- 

 scribed under the above head will be sent to the U. S. National 

 Museum and coll. American Entomological Society. 



I. Lecanium nricM n. sp. — Red-brown, very shiny, nearly circular, mod- 

 erately convex, the segments marked on upper surface by black or black- 

 ish transverse lines interrupted at regular intervals. Posterior incision 

 nearly i mm. long, with contiguous sides. The two anal plates together 

 forming a practically equilateral diamond-shaped quadrangle. Length 

 4% mm., breadth 4X mm., alt. nearly 2% mm. 



I found no trace of legs or antennae after boiling in soda, nor could I 

 detect them by examining the underside of an untreated specimen with 

 a lens. The mouth-parts were distinct, as usual. The lateral incisions 

 are very deep and large, bulbous, with the margin of the bulb thickened 

 and appearing dark brown. This appearance is very different from that 

 in any other Lecanium I have seen. Margin with extremely small, but 

 moderately stout spines, fairly numerous. Derm not tessellate, but 

 crowded with very large gland pits, which by transmitted light appear 

 dark brown on a light brown ground. 



Hab. — Trinidad, West Indies, in a nest of the ant Cremasto- 

 g aster brevispinosa Mayr. var. sent by Mr. Urich, September, 



1893- 



I was not able to study this species at the time it was received, 

 and until I made a careful examination of it recently, I did not 

 realize its interesting character. It is the first Lecanium known 

 to live in ants' nests, and is, besides, a very peculiar form, per- 

 haps subgenerically distinct from the rest of the genus. Its shape 

 and appearance somewhat recalls L. begonice Douglas, but it is 

 widely different from that in important characters. It is also ap- 

 parently the first Coccid found in the nest of any Cremastog aster, 



