94 



Habitat : Beneath the sheathing bases of leaves of sugarcane 

 {Saccharum officinale) in association with Aclerda japonica^ Newst. 

 Collected by Dr. Geo. Watt (Reg. No. 11830-9). No locality given. 



Lecanium imbricans, sp. nov. 



Adult 9 ( pi. xviii, hg. 2 ) very irregular in form owing to the 

 crowded habit of the insects. When separate and examined under 

 pressure, the form appears to be irregularly deltoid, the anterior 

 extremity narrowest. Marginal area flattish : median area irregu- 

 larly convex. The derm is so densely chitinous that it is extremely 

 difficult to make out the charicters. Margin with a close series of 

 pointed spines. I have been unable to detect any stigmatic clefts or 

 stigmatic spines, unless three of the marginal spines grouped together 

 at one point (fig. 2, a) represent the latter. 



Derm with moderately large polygonal or rounded cells on dorsum, 

 and many conspicuous oval translucent cells on ventral surface, 

 especially towards the dense median area. There are four remark- 

 ably large depressed glandular patches on the dorsum, at about equal 

 distances from each other : each patch (fig. 2, d) surrounded by a 

 densely chitinous ring, within which is a mass of minute circular 

 pores similar to those composing the circumgenital glands in the 

 Diaspidinde. Anal scales (fig. 2, c) with outer edge convex, longer 

 than base, which has a concave outline. Antenna (fig. 2^d) apparently 

 7-jointed, with one or more incomplete joints in the 7th : ist shortest, 

 7th longest : formula, 7, 3, 4, 5, 2, 6, 1. Legs small and slender. Foot 

 with 3 simple hair-like digitules, i on claw, 2 on tarsus. Length of 

 largest example examined, 12 mm. Breadth, 11 mm. 



Habitat'. On stem and branches of Ficus mysorensis \ Nilgiris 

 (coll. Dr. Geo. Watt, No. 14675). Received also from Mr. L. de 

 Niceville, who quotes, as follows, from his correspondent. Dr. 

 Lehmann, of Mysore : , ..." so far as I have been able to 

 find out, it has only been found on a tree locally known as the 

 * red cedar ' (probably trocar pus fraxinifolius) which is used as a 

 shade for coffee." 



A very distinct and interesting species : the comparatively great 

 size (nearly half an inch in diameter) far exceeding that of any other 

 known species. The marginal spines and glandular pits suggest 

 affinity with L. mirificimi. Mask. The function of these glandular 

 patches is obscure. My specimens do not show any definite waxy or 

 other secretion at these points 



