188 Mr. E. E. Green on 



XV. — Ohservatiomt on some Species of CoccicIa3 of the Genus 

 Ceroplastes in (he Co/lection of the British Museum. By 

 E. Ernest Green, F.E.S. 



[Plate IV.] 



In the collection of the British Museum at South Kenslnii^ton 

 are specimens of a large Ceroplastes recently received from 

 Cape Colony. Other examples were subsequently received 

 from Egypt, through tiie Royal Gardens, Kew. In size and 

 external appearance these insects may be readily mistaken for 

 Ceroplastes ceriferus^ Anders. There is the same coating of 

 dense whitish wax of irregular form, and the individuals are 

 similarly massed upon the twigs of the plants. But after 

 removal of the waxy coat the form of the insect itself is found 

 to differ completely from that of ceriferus. The accom- 

 panying figures will best show the distinguishing characters. 

 In C. cerijeras (PI. IV. tigs. 3, 3 o) the anal aperture is at 

 the extremity of a long chitinous horn- like extension of the 

 abdomen, while in the species from the Cape this part is 

 mounted on a short chitinous tubercle (tigs. 1, la, 1 />). 



The species, which appears to be new, is here described 

 under the name of 



Ceroplastes ofricanus^ sp. n. (PI. IV. figs. \~\ f.) 



Insects crowded on the stems of the plant (fig. 1), so much 

 so that the waxy covering of adjacent individuals becomes 

 more or less continent and the normal form of the test is diffi- 

 cult to determine. The tests appear as rounded masses of 

 cream-coloured wax, each with a niore or less distinct nipple- 

 like prominence at the apex bearing a small spot of whiter 

 substance. 



The usual opaque white bands from the spiracular regions 

 are present, but very inconspicuous, scarcely extending beyond 

 the margin. In some specimens a series of impressed arches 

 on the sides of the test marks the position of the marginal 

 plates. The waxy coating being thinner on the impressed 

 parts, the arches appear darker, the colour of the body of the 

 insect showing through the covering-matter. An isolated 

 lest averages 7*75millim. long, 6*50 millim. broad, 5-75millim. 

 liigli. 



Female, denuded of wax (figs. 1, 1 a, 15), reddish brown 

 to dark brown, the whole surface strongly chitinized; irregu- 

 larly globose ; apex often with an oblong scar corresponding 



