MAY 14 1888 



May, 1898.] 97 



always a broken, jagged edge ; the caudal appendages are about three times the 

 length of the marginal plates, and rather stout. Derm thickly set with short 

 tubular spinnerets, more numerous at the extremities and the margins. Space be- 

 tween the antennae with many very long hairs, and at the margin two groups of 

 short, stout spines. There is also a group of spines at the margin of each segment. 

 Anal lobes rather strongly chitinized, bear several spines, 2-3 short hairs and one 

 very long one, and tubular spinnerets. Anal ring with six hairs, slightly longer than 

 the caudal setae ; both margins of the ring with cell-shaped pores, similar to those 

 in Dactylopius longijilis, T. T. Antennae (fig. 10) of sis joints, of which the sixth 

 and third are longest ; formula 6321 (45). Legs are without clubbed hairs to the 

 tarsi and claws ; hair on coxa apical is nearly as long as the femur. Mentum bi- 

 articulate, attenuated, apical joint twice the length of the first, has many fine hairs 

 at apex and margins ; filaments a little longer than the mentum. Long, I'lO mm. 



Immediately prior to the formation of the sac the $ secretes a quantity of long, 

 straight, glassy, irridescent filaments, which radiate from the margin, but are not 

 attached to the body. These filaments are very characteristic and beautiful objects 

 under the microscope. Sac of the ? narrowly elongate and attenuated at the ex- 

 tremities, is composed of a rather loose but toughish fibre, somewhat resembling the 

 silken cocoon of Cemiostoma laburnella. In the old weathered sacs the iridescence 

 disappears, leaving the filaments a delicate pale blue. Long, 2-2'50 mm. 



Sac of the $ similar to that of the $ » but much smaller. 



Pupa yellowish-pink or bright flesh colour ; it is semiactive and shaped as in 

 Dactylopius citri. Wing cases long, and extending to first abdominal segment. 



Sah. : on fronds of Trichomanes spicatum, a West Indian filmy 

 fern. Received from the Director of the Rojal Gardens, Kew ; Janu- 

 ary 27th, 1897. 



The species may be recognised at a glance by the iridescent 

 filaments which surround the sac. 



I found a portion of a male, which unfortunately was much too 

 imperfect to serve any scientific purpose. This is to be regretted, as 

 we know so little of the cT o^ this genus. But, judging from the 

 character of the pupa, I am convinced this insect is much more closely 

 allied to Dactylopius than is Ripersia fraxini, Newst. In the latter 

 the pupa is quite of a different form and absolutely inactive ; and the 

 larva is abnormal in the genus. I think, therefore, this insect may 

 form the type of a new sub-genus under the name of Apterococcus . 

 I shall state my reason for doing so in a later communication. 



ElPEESIA. MONTANA, n, sp. 



? adult elongate-ovate. Antennae (figs. 11, 12) stout, of six or seven joints 

 (usually six) ; all with many sliort, stiff hairs ; the formula for the six-jointed ex- 

 amples is 6321 (45), for the seven-jointed 721 (316) 5. In fig. 2 the hairs are broken 

 away. Mentum biarticulate, apex widely rounded, bears a few fine hairs; filaments 



