No. 2, ] The Mango Shoot Psylla. 91 



THE MANGO SHOOT PSYLLA. 



By G. B. Buckton, F.R.S. 

 Psylla cistellata( l ) n. sp. 



Head small. Eyes globose and prominent. Vertex nearly straight 

 with a fine vertical sature. Tumid behind the eyes. Antenna? about 

 J th the length of the insect, each springing from the face near to the inner 

 margin of the eye. The 4th, 6th, and 7th joint cylindrical, and nearly 

 equal in length. The apical joint terminated by two strong and long 

 setae. Combined pio-meso-and meta-notum large. Abdomen deeply corru- 

 gated and ringed. The dorsal part much raised. Apex of the female 

 terminated by a sharp cauda, composed of genetal plates, saws and rasps 

 not unlike those seen in the Tettigidse. The genitalia of the male s 

 complex. Legs stout and rather short. Tarsi with two distinct joints 

 terminated by blunt claws and two fine hairs. 



Membranes of the fore- wings furnished with a large, darkish, long, 

 stigmatic cell, from and below which runs the strong cubital nervure 

 which furcates at about two-thirds of its length. This furcation forms 

 the subcubital nervure, and shows two forks, the outer of which runs to 

 the margin, and the inner one nearly so, it being interrupted only by a 

 curved inter-marginal vein. The lower wings are very delicate, and the 

 neuration faint and difficult to trace. 



Colour of the body shining pitchy-black, except the fore-edi^e of 

 the pronotum which is rufous yellow. The underside also is black 

 except the three last abdominal segments, the legs and the cauda, which 

 are feruginous yellow. Membrane of the wings fuscous. Antenna? 

 fuscous, except the two apical joints which with the tarsi are black. 



This insect attacks the mango {Mangifera indica) and causes the 

 terminal shoots of the tree to assume the form of imbricated pseudo-cones 

 of a bright green or yellow colour. When cut open they show a central 

 pillar, from which septa or curved walls proceed and form chambers 

 which appear to have free communication one with the other. I could 

 find no external openings to the two cones submitted to my inspection, 



(') A note on this species appeared on page 13 of No. 1 of this volume. The insect 

 damages mango trees in Dehra Dun, North- Western Provinces, by aborting the young 

 shoots. The specimens were furnished by the Director of the Forest School. Mr. Buckton 

 writes that it may prove hereafter necessary to erect a new genus for the reception of this 

 species; for the present, however, he includes it in the genus 1'sylla, to which it is most 

 nearly related. 



