28 Transactions. — Zoology. 



and conspicuous. A double or triple row of minute circular spinnerets 

 marks the divisions corresponding to the segments of the test. Colour of 

 the insect greenish, turning brown after gestation. The abdominal lobes 

 are brown. 



In the second stage the female resembles generally the adult ; but the 

 antennae have six joints, and amongst the marginal spines are some very 

 much larger than the rest. 



The young larva is flat and oval, and at the margin shows a 

 fringe of long glassy pointed tubes (fig. 20), springing from the marginal 

 spines. 



The adult male is about -^ inch in length (exclusive of the wings), 

 brownish or reddish yellow in colour, the wings hyaline and iridescent, 

 with red nervures. Antennae (fig. 22) of ten joints, on the last of which 

 are, amongst others, three long knobbed hairs. Foot with a spine at the 

 extremity of the tibia; digitules fine hairs (fig. 21). At each side of the 

 abdominal spike springs a strong seta, from which extends a white cottony 

 pencil, as long as the body of the insect. The penis is as usual a long soft 

 cylindrical tube covered with minute recurved spines. Thoracic band 

 short and narrow. 



From Elaocarpus (hinau) and Leptospermum (manuka), but apparently 

 the former is the principal habitat. I have only found it as yet in the 

 North Island, sometimes on twigs in great numbers. 



This is a peculiarly elegant insect, the beautifully coloured and striated 

 tests both of males and females forming an interesting object under a 

 lens or the microscope. It cannot be mistaken for any other species that I 

 know of, and the curious horn of the test, especially when double, is quite 

 characteristic. 



Subsection II. — Lecanie^:. 



Genus Lecanium, Illiger. 



1. Lecanium olece, Bernard. 



Fi». 24. 



I find that this insect is becoming very common throughout this 



country, especially in the North Island. I have specimens from several 



plants in gardens and orchards ; it is abundant on Cassinia leptophylla, the 



useless and noxious shrub which is covering the hills near Wellington ; 



and Mr. Alderton informs me that it is spreading on the native trees near 



"Whangarei. It may be readily recognized by the large size and black 



colour of the semi-globular adult females, and the one longitudinal and two 



transverse keels on the young insects. It is usually known in California 



and elsewhere as the " black scale," 



