105 



^ inch. The aggregated mass is so thick that on cutting a 

 vertical section it appears like a honeycomb of cells (b), each 

 containing an insect. At the summit of the convex sac is a 

 very minute orifice (not apparent in every instance). This orifice 

 {shown in fig. a) is probably intended to give access to the male 

 insect, specimens of which may sometimes be found inside the 

 •cellular sacs with the females. The sac is so closely fitted that it 

 has quite the appearance of being waxy instead of cottony, but a 

 little pressure with the point of a pencil makes an impression in 

 it as if it were leathery ; and on boiling in potash it becomes dis- 

 solved, which is not the case with any waxy coccid test, as far as 

 I know. The spinnerets and threads described below are also 

 evidences that the sac is really felted, though very closely. 



The sac of the male (c and d) is reddish-yellow, narrow, elon- 

 gated, convex above and flat beneath ; after its last metamorpho- 

 sis the male escapes by an orifice at one end. 



Adult female (e) somewhat pegtop-shaped, the cephalic region 

 large and smooth, the abdomen small, segmented and tapering to 

 the two anal tubercles, which are prominent, and bear each a long 

 seta. Colour dark reddish-brown ; length, exclusive of the 

 tubercles, about -^ inch. On maceration and boiling in 

 potash the anatomical details can be made out. On the cephalic 

 region, as shown in the diagram (/), there are four bands of very 

 small, circular spinneret orifices (shown enlarged in fig. g); these 

 bands correspond with the position of the four stigmata of the 

 body. On the abdominal segments there are rows of double, or 

 figure-of-eight, spinnerets (fig. h, and enlarged fig. i); many of 

 these also are scattered over the cephalic region. From these 

 double spinnerets spring long white curling threads (k, I), which 

 form the felted sac. The rostrum (m) is conical, and the mentum 

 (n) is bi-articulate. The antennae (o) are atrophied and very 

 short ; the number of joints cannot be clearly made out, owing to 

 compression, which confuses them ; but the normal number in the 

 genus is six, and probably this is the case here also. The tip 

 bears a few strong short hairs. The feet are entirely absent. 



The second stage of the insect has not been observed. 



The larva, just after leaving the egg, is of the normal shape of 

 the genus (jj) — elongated, fiattish, tapering slightly posteriorly ; 

 exhibiting the anal tubercles. Colour reddish ; length about 

 one-fortieth of an inch. Antennae (q) of six sub-equal joints, all 

 slightly dilated at the end except the last, which is irregular and 

 pointed, and bears some hairs ; all the joints appear to be 

 numerously ringed. Feet normal. On the body there are four 

 longitudinal rows of figure of eight spinnerets (r). The anal 

 tubercles bear long seta3. 

 i^ Adult male (s), red ; somewhat short and squat ; the thorax 



