138 Transactions. — Zoology. 



Genus, Dactylopius, Signoret. 

 (Trans., vol. xi., p. 218.) 



1. Dactylopius alpinus, sp. nov. 



Figs. 39, 40. 



Adult female dark purple in colour, the body thick and fat, inactive, 

 enclosed in a mass of white closely felted cotton. When immersed in 

 alcohol it produces a rich red tint. Length sometimes as much as £ inch. 

 The internal substance is very oily. The body is normally segmented ; 

 anal tubercles inconspicuous. Anal ring large, with six hairs. Antennae 

 normal of the genus, with eight joints (fig. 39). The feet are normal ; the 

 two upper digitules are long fine hairs, the lower pair are somewhat 

 broader. Mentum di-merous. All over the body there are a number of 

 tubular projecting spinnerets, and many others circular ; and on the three 

 posterior segments are three rows of large conical spines, similar to those 

 of Rhizococcus. Although the anal tubercles are not as prominent as in 

 some of the Dactylopii, they are somewhat thick, with broad bases. 



Young insect dark brown in colour, of generally normal form, about Co- 

 rnell in length. Antennae (fig. 40) of six joints. Feet normal. Anal tuber- 

 cles thick and broad, and rather more prominent than in the adult. There 

 are a few small spines on the body. 



In the second stage the insect generally resembles the young larva, but 

 is larger, and the body is covered with a great number of small circular 

 spinnerets intermixed with others which have a bulbous base and fine hair- 

 like tubes. Anal tubercles inconspicuous, bearing the usual spines. A few 

 conical spines appear on the posterior segments. Antennae of six joints. 



I have not seen the male. 



On a species of Veronica, sent me by Mr. J. D. Enys, from the upper 

 valley of the Waimakariri, in the Southern Alps, near the glaciers. 



The large conical spines, or spinnerets, on the posterior segments, dis- 

 tinguish this species, besides its size and very deep purple colour producing 

 a rich tint in alcohol. The thick sac of white cotton in which it envelopes 

 itself may probably be also an important character : in no stage, I think, is 

 it hke the ordinary " mealy bug," the type of Dactylopius. 



2. Dactylopius calceolaria), mihi. 



(Trans., vol. xi., p. 218.) 

 Since first describing this insect I have received specimens from the 

 forests of Stewart Island, in the extreme South of New Zealand, on a 

 native grass, Danthonia, and on a leaf of Phormium. As Stewart Island 

 is almost destitute of cultivation, and is certainly the last part of the colony 

 where one would expect to find in the forests a new importation from other 

 countries, I take it that D. calceolaria is undoubtedly indigenous. 



