IJOi I. ] Descriptions of Neio Coccida. 59 



V.-DESCRIPTIONS OF NEW CO00ID.E. 



By W. M. MASKELL. 



{With one plate.) 



[ Note. — The first insect described below has recently been found attacking tea in 

 Assam and the Kangra valley. The second has been found on the leaves of tea in the 

 Kangra valley. The third has been found destructive to the plant Cajunus indicus in 

 Madras.—^. C. C. ] 



Group — Biaspidince. 

 Genus — Asjjidiotut, Bouehe. 



Female puparia circular; pellicles usually in the centre. Male 

 puparia slightly elongated, not carinated ; pellicle at one end. 



The absence of carination in the male puparia distinguishes this 

 genus from Diaspis. The pellicles of the female are not always in the 

 centre, and when this is the case an examination of the male puparinm 

 is necessary for certitude. 



Aspidiotns thea, Maskell, sp. nov. 



{Plate I; fig. 1 a, h, c, d, e.) 



Female puparia clustered thickly on twigs, as nearly circular as their 

 numbers and position will permit : slightly convex: colour light-brown, 

 covered with a very thin coat of white gxcretion : pellicles yellow, very 

 small, situated near the margin : the fibrous portion of the puparium 

 rather solid. Diameter averaging yL inch. 



Male puparium elongated, not carinated : pellicle at one end : colour 

 similar to that of the female. 



Adult female brown peg-top-shaped, the cephalic segment rather 

 large, the pygidium comparatively small. The abdominal segments 

 shrink up more and more as the female approaches gestation. Abdomen 

 ending in two median lobes with a smaller lobe on each side : a few 

 spines and small hairs on the edge. Pygidium on the ventral surface, 

 exhibiting four large " spinneret-groups '•' : the upper pair with from 30 

 to 40 orifices, the lower pair 15 to 'lb. On the dorsal surface are a 

 number of tubular spinnerets, and a large patch divided into an irregular 

 lattice-work, the spaces of which are not large, and not constant in 

 shape in different specimens, although the size and position of the whole 

 patch is quite constant. 



Larva when just hatched bluish, flat, active, length about -Jy inch. 

 The antennae appear to have six joints, sub-equal, the last widely dilated 

 at the tip and bearing two longish hairs. 



Adult male unknown. 



Hahitat. — On tea-plants in India : — (Assam, Kangra valley, &e.) 



