THE COCCID^ OF WESTERN INDIA. 135 



control. It was discovered quite accidentally when examining the rhizomes 

 for another fly pest. 



Chionaspis dilatata, Green.— There are few scale insects more common than 

 this on mango and banyan trees in Poona, where it occurs on both the 

 upper and lower surfaces of the leaves. The females are rarely found, and 

 when found they are always on the lower surface. The insect is known on 

 palms in Calcutta, but its occurrence in Western India has not previously 

 been noted. 



Chionaspis decurvata, Green. — This scale occurs on bamboos in Poona, and 

 so far has been noticed on no other plant. It was first described by Mr. 

 Green from specimens occurring on rice from Calcutta. 



Hemichionaspis aspidistrce, Sign. — This insect was first noticed on the 

 Loranthus which so commonly attacks the mango tree {bandc/ul). It never 

 occurs on the mango tree itself. It is also found occasionally on the 

 banyan tree. 



Parlatoria proteus, Curtis. — Has already been mentioned as occurring 

 along with Asjndiotus Jiczis on the tree Garcinia indica in the Konkan. 



Another species of Parlatoria has been found on Micheha cliampaca which 

 Mr. Green thinks is likely to be a new species. 



Fiorinia frontecontracta, n. sp. — This occurs on Garcinia i^idica along 

 with Aspidiotus /icus, Parlatoria proteus and Vinsonia stelliftra It has 

 been provisionally named as above by Mr. Green, who will publish a techni- 

 cal description of it. 



Fiorinia sapindi, n. sp.— Is another species of Fiorinia occurring on 

 Sapindus trifoliatus described as new by Mr. Green. 



Diaspis eckinocacti, louche. — Occurs as a fairly common parasite of Opuntia 

 (prickly pear) in Western India, and when the attack is serious it covers 

 all the green parts of the stem. It has been noticed on Loranthus from 

 Tanjore (Madras), but not on this plant in Bombay. 



Diasjns barberi, Green.— Is a species very closely related to the last, and 

 this does occur on the leaves of Loranthus in Poona. 



Leucaspis indica, Marlatt. — This scale occurs commonly on mango trees, 

 but does not seem to have been noticed in India previously. It was first 

 identified in America on mango saplings introduced from India. The 

 scales are completely hidden under the black mould so common in con- 

 nection with scale insects but under this covering the scales completely 

 encircle the tender branches. It may become a serious pest if not care- 

 fully watched. 



Sub-family. — Lecaniin^e, 



Lecanium hemisphericum, Sign. — This is one of the most widely distributed 

 scale insects in the tropics and is the famous ' brown bug ' of coffee. In 

 Western India, it was first observed in an ill-kept garden, infesting crotons 

 of many kinds. The way it covered the stems, leaves and tender branches 

 showed it to be very destructive in this case, and the plants were in a 

 dying condition. The plants were treated by severe pruning and burning 

 all the prunings covered with the pest. 



The same insect was found infesting vines of Coccinia indica at Thana. 

 It is also a somewhat serious pest of pomelo plants in the Konkan, where 

 it was found by Dr. H. H. Mann doing very considerable damage at 

 Rajapur in the Ratnagiri district. 



Lecanium nigrum, Nietner. — Is a black scale found in Poona and the neigh- 

 bourhood on Canna, the castor plant and many others. Though it seems to 

 have a large number of food plants, I have not come across it as a pest of 

 any importance. It is curious to know that it has been found on cotton at 

 Pusa (Behar). 



