1898.] 



95 



lateral plates (six in number) are flat, and slightly reflexed at the extremities ; an- 

 terior pair short and broad, lateral pair largest, posterior pair much the smallest. I 

 can find no trace of neuclei in the plates, but there is a single neueleus on the low 

 convex dorsum. Long, 3 mm. ; wide, 3'50 mm. 



Adult ? short-ovate; derm, after treatment with potash, transparent, is thickly 

 set with triangular spinnerets, bearing markings 

 which give them the appearance of miniature gro- 

 tesque masks (fig. 4) ; there ai'e also many small 

 circular spinnerets. Antennse (fig. 3) of six joints ; 

 the third joint very long, forms nearly one-half of the 

 whole antennse; formula 3216 (45). Legs ordinary. 

 Rostral filaments short. Anal dorsal lobes flat and 

 triangular, as in Lecanium ; apex with a single short 

 hair, and just within the apex a very long one. Anal 

 ring with six long stout hairs. Stigmatic area (fig. 5) 

 above with a large, blunt, bidentate spine ; extreme 

 margin with a series of short spines ; and on the 

 ventral area a group of spinnerets extending to the 

 spiracles. Long, 2 mm. ; wide, 1'25 mm. 



Hah. : Lagos, "West Africa. Collected 

 by Mr. Cyril Punch and kindly forwarded to 

 me from Kew by Mr. W. F. H. Blandford. 



Mr. Puncb says the insect is " not very prevalent ; nor does it 

 increase greatly as the Lecanium and *Pseudococcus. Mostly attaches 

 itself to the midribs and secondary nerves on the upper surface of the 

 leaves. Its presence is accompanied by some TriphospJiorum ? on the 

 leaves, but not in damaging quantities. Ants do not affect its com- 

 pany ; trees do not suffer apparent weakening from its presence. Also 

 seen in Liberia." 



The ? of this species may be readily distinguished by the flat 

 form of the waxy covering ; by the large, bidentate, stigmatic spine ; 

 and the curious mask-like spinnerets. Only two examples were sent ; 

 but the characters are so well marked that T do not think I have erred 

 in describing it as new. 



Fig. 3. 



Fig. 4. 



Pig. 5. 



Lecanium vieide. Green. 



var. africanum, n. var, 



? adult differing from the type in having very broad, unequal digitules to the 

 claw, and eight jointed antennse, of which the third is the longest. Mr. Cyril Punch, 

 who collected the specimens, says the insect is " green in colour," and that it is a 

 " blight which does considerable damage all the year round." 



Mr. Punch probably refers to Dactylopius longUpinut. 



