1894.] 57 



have been naturalized in these intermediate countries before reaching 

 New Zealand, but I have no data bearing on the question. Perhaps 

 some resident entomologist at the Cape or Hobart can enlighten us on 

 the subject. There would, however, be no difficulty in the fly travelling 

 the whole voyage, which lasts about six weeks. It is of paramount 

 importance to record the introduction and rate of increase and dis- 

 persion of exotic species in any zoological region. 



After two days' warm rain, yesterday being calm and hot, I again 

 visited the plant of Buddlea globosa. The magnificent shrub, 10 ft. 

 high, and 12 ft. in diameter, in full flower, swarmed with Diptera. 

 Along with other species, four or five individuals of M. vomitoria 

 occurred on a single flower all over the shrub, all busy extracting the 

 nectar. Are the flowers of this shrub so attractive to Diptera in 

 England ? 



Ashburton, N. Z. : 



November 25th, 1893. 



WHAT AEE THE SPECIFIC LIMITS OF ASPIDIOTUS DESTRUCTOR, 



SIGN. ? 



BY T. D. A. COCKEEBLL. 



There is a puzzling group of supposed species of Aspidiotus found 

 in tropical countries, mostly on palms, of which Aspidiotus destructor 

 is one. In my list of West Indian Goccidce, lately published in the 

 Journal of the Institute of Jamaica, I have separated three forms, as 

 A.palmarum,^ouc}xG,A.nerii, Bouche, var.,and A.fallacc, n. sp. Having 

 lately examined more material, I have come to the conclusion that all 

 these, and also A. cocotis, Newst., must be included in a single species, 

 namely, A. destructor ; unless, as seems very probable, this falls before 

 the earlier A. palmarum of Bouche. Further, I do not think that 

 any of the forms are correctly referred to A. nerii. 



These somewhat startling conclusions may well be disputed, and 

 no one will be better pleased than I if the validity of destructor, fallax, 

 and cocotis as distinct species can be established ; but I think the 

 evidence given below indicates clearly that there is more variability in 

 certain characters held to be specific than is commonly estimated for. 



The specimens examined by me are as follows : — 



(1) On cocoanut, Laccadive Islands, sent by Mr. Maskeil : == destructor. 



(2) On banana, Port of Spain, Trinidad, from Mr. F. W. Uricli : = destructor. 



(3) On mango, Antigua, from Mr. Barber : =fallax. 



(4) On Terminalia catappa, Antigua, from Mr. Barber : ^=fallax. 



(5) On Cinnamotnum campJiora, Antigua, from Mr. Barber : =J'allax. 



