Masxetu.—On some Coccidæ in New Zealand. 215 
specimens which I have obtained from Canterbury, Wellington, and Auck- 
land, although taken at different seasons, in October, J uly, February, March, 
and April, show only two forms. The one is the young insect before it 
becomes covered by the test; the other is apparently an intermediate stage 
prior to appearance as a perfect insect. In July, on fronds of Polypodium 
billardieri, I have collected great numbers of empty tests, and intermixed 
with them tests with enclosed insects. It might be assumed that this fact 
points to the emergence of insects in the perfect state leaving their pupa- 
eases behind them. But so many of these cases contained the pupe or the 
remains of the pupe of parasitic flies, that it is equally probable that the 
scale-insect had been devoured. I hope to obtain, ere long, specimens of 
other stages of this insect; meanwhile, as there is no doubt that, in the 
stages whieh I have observed, it differs considerably from any other genus, 
I shall proceed to describe it. 
In the Lecanio-diaspide the test does not entirely enclose the insect, 
which is, on the underside, free. Ctenochiton viridis, which I described in 
my last paper, becomes in its later stages closely attached to its test, and 
in its last form of all enveloped inacottony mass. But this last takes place 
when the insect is practically dead, or dying ; indeed, I am inclined to think 
that the white mass is not the usual cottony web of the Coccide but 
fungoid.  Asterochiton, on the other hand, in the specimens I have seen, is 
entirely shut up in its test ; even the feet are useless to it, being enclosed. 
All that emerges is the mentum with its suctorial sete ; and it is this which 
prevents me from considering the insect as being in a pupa state. If it 
were a pupa I imagine that it would not require to feed, and the mentum 
would be enclosed like the other organs. 
This genus, I may observe, cannot well belong to any of those described 
by M. Signoret, under his subdivision Lecanio-diaspide, such as Pollinia, 
Asterolecanium, as in those the young insect has the abdomen ending in 
two protruding tubercles, which in this genus is not the case, 
I have two species of the genus. 
1. Asterochiton lecanioides, sp. nov. 
Plate VII., fig. 17. 
Common near Christchnrch, on Pittosporum eugenioides and Polypodium 
billardieri. 
The young insect is extremely minute, and requires great care to mount, 
It is oval (plate VII, fig. 17a), greenish gray in colour, the outline smooth, 
with the four spiracular spines of the Lecanidz; at the posterior end are 
six long hairs, of which the two middle ones are the longest. The eyes are 
red, comparatively large, granular, and set somewhat far back; the anal 
marks resemble those of the adult, I have not been able to make out the 
&ntenne and feet, 
