948 MR. R. NEWSTEAD ON A NEW SCALE-INSECT. [Dec. 4, 



6258 well-matured larvae were counted from the interior of a 

 single 2 • 



Hub. On an unknown tree, Zomba, Central Africa. Collected 

 by H.B.M. Commissioner A. Sharpe, C.B., 1900. 



This remarkable species is quite a giant among the Coccidae, 

 being one of the largest species known to me. 



The strength of the rostral apparatus must also be very great, 

 as I found it impossible to separate the insect intact from the 

 fragment of bark to which it was attached (see PI. LIX. fig. 3) 

 without previous immersion in caustic potash. 



The curious secretionary flap or valve which covers the large 

 ventral opening is, I believe, a unique feature. I also found a 

 very large and apparently pouch-shaped piece of epidermis in 

 the interior of the body, which I have little doubt in some way 

 intussuscepted the abdomen and formed a receptacle for the ova 

 and subsequently for the larva;, which undoubtedly mature within 

 the body of the parent. Mr. Claude Fuller (Trans. Ent. Soc. 

 Lond. 1899, pt. iv. p. 436, pi. xv. fig. 1 a) calls attention to the 

 existence in the genus Callipappus of a remarkable receptacle 

 in the interior of the body of the adult $ ; he says (I. c.) there is 

 a " complete intussusception of several of the abdominal seg- 

 ments of the mature $ 's in the form of a marsupium in which 

 the eggs are laid and incubated." And, further (p. 437), that the 

 sexual orifice and anus are situated at the back of the pouch. In 

 Callipappus the mouth-parts in the 2 are entirely absent, and 

 the larval antenna; are 6-jointed, which entirely precludes my 

 placing the insect in that genus. Of the family Monophlebidse, 

 to which this insect undoubtedly belongs, the characters of the 

 genus Walkeriana agree better than any other, but the abnormal 

 characters set forth may be considered of generic importance. In 

 view of this, I at one time thought the insect might form the type 

 of a new genus under the name of Aspidoproctus ; but in the absence 

 of Mr. E. E. Green's description of his Ceylonese species, I have 

 decided for the present to regard the characters as specific. 



EXPLANATION OF PLATE LIX. 



Walkeriana pertinax. 



Fig. 1 Adult 2 > actual size, dorsal. 



2. ,, actual size, profile. 



3. „ actual size, ventral ; with fragment of bark attached to ros- 



trum. Secretionary valve also shown in situ, immediately 

 below the insertion of the posterior legs. 



4. „ Portion of ventral epidermis containing ventral opening, which 

 in life is covered by a secretionary flap, or valve, extending approxi- 

 mately to the dotted line : a, a, glands which secrete the covering ; 

 b, posterior leg. 



5 & 5 a. Adult 2 , antennae. 



6.- Larva, dorsal, enlarged. 



7. „ ventral, enlarged. 

 8&8a. ,, antennae. 



9. ,, tarsus and claw. 



