26 • tJ"'y' 



du Lecanium hesperidum et la partheuogenese," by M. E. Moniez. 

 The author premises that sexual dimorphism is ordinarily present in 

 the Coccidce, the males, contrary to the females, being winged and 

 undergoing complete metamorphoses, yet that in many species they 

 are hitherto unknown, although the females are continually repro- 

 ductive. Among the species having this character Lecanium hesperidum 

 is always cited, and Leydig and Leuckart are specially mentioned 

 among those who have in vain sought for the males. Then he con- 

 tinues : — 



" But this species is by no means partlienogenetic ; at least, I have found males 

 in abundance in nearly all the numerous females from different localities tliat I have 

 examined. I liave always found each one isolated in an ovarian cul-de-sac, those 

 containing males appearing to be mixed with those containing larvse of the females." 



The author then states that he observed several stages of develop- 

 ment. In the first there are no external organs, the body appearing 

 to be entirely occupied by the "follicules testiculaires," as yet not 

 differentiated, the integument very thin. The second stage is dis- 

 tinguished by having five or six folds of the enveloping membrane, 

 which doubtless correspond to the segments ; the evolution of the 

 spermatozoids is effected, the testicles are clearly distinguished, com- 

 pressed by the development of the rudiments of the organs. At the 

 third stage, which represents the perfect insect, all the salient organs 

 which characterize the adult are present. But the young male has no 

 trace of eyes, and its skin remains very tender, strongly contrasting 

 with the chitinous integument and the well-developed eyes of the 

 young females, which are found at the same time in the body of the 

 mother. 



The summary of these observations is thus given : — 

 " The male of Lecanium hesperidum, among all those hitherto known, is there- 

 fore characterized by its minute size, the form of the penis, the absence of eyes and 

 wings, the character of the integument, and the development of the spermatozoids 

 before the appearance of members, at a stage which doubtless corresponds to that 

 of pupa." 



Then follows a statement of the progressive development of the 

 organs, leading to the conclusion that — 



" The organization of the male does not permit a doubt that there is pairing, 

 but I have not been able to decide if it takes place within or without the body of 

 the mother. I could not find a male outside of the mother, not even under her 

 body, but its imperfect condition rather induces me to suppose that the females are 

 fecundated within the maternal organization. 



" If, however, we consider that the spermatozoids are mature in Lecanium 

 hesperidum at the time when the males are yet without relative organization, we 



