\^ol. xxix] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS 349 



in the long-winged form this margin is clearly bisinuate, as 

 in most Tettiginae. The further assertion in the key that 

 the tegmina in the female are hidden nnder the pronotum is 

 also true only of the typical form of the species. The last 

 diflferential character mentioned in the key, namely, the strong- 

 ly arcuate and sublamellate form of the pronotal median cari- 

 na applies to both the typical and the long-winged form. To 

 the mind of the present writer the most reliable and con- 

 venient character for separating Neotcttix proavus from other 

 members of the same genus is the form of the frontal costa, 

 which appears to be quite constant in all the specimens ex- 

 amined and has been fully and clearly described by the authors 

 named. 



The Alleged Occurrence of a Seasonal Dimorphism 



in the Females of Certain Species of Mealy 



Bugs (Hemiptera ; Coccidae). 



By G. F. Ferris, Stanford University, California. 



It has been asserted by various authors that the females 

 of certain species of Phenacoccus and Pscndococcus are sea- 

 sonally dimorphic. It is said that in these species the winter 

 female is viviparous and possesses a smaller number of anten- 

 nal segments than does the summer female, which is oviparous. 

 As far as I am aware, these claims have not been questioned 

 by any one and Brain^ has even been led into a generaliza- 

 tion to the effect that "I am inclined to associate the smaller 

 number of antennal segments in these cases with retarded 

 metabolism, as this is always found in the winter forms." 



It is the purpose in this paper to show that in certain of 

 these cases this alleged dimorphism does not exist. Further- 

 more, it is the intention to question that it ever exists in this 

 group, at least as far as any morphological features are con- 

 cerned. 



We may first consider the case of Pseudococcns agrifoliae 

 Essig, in which the evidence is sufficiently complete to leave 



iBrain, C. K. The Coccidae of South Africa. In Trans. Royal See. 



S. Africa, vol. i, pt. 2. (1915)- 



