Maskell. — On Zealand CoccidcB. 223 



I obtained my specimens from the rata tree (Metrosideros) at Milford 

 Sound. Being in tlie Somid only a few hours on my way from Melbourne, 

 I was unable to make as full a collection as I should wish, nor could I find 

 a male. 



Lecanocliiton is the only genus of Leeanidse, as far as I know, which 



makes use of the pellicle of its second stage. In the Diaspidse the pellicles 



always form part of the test. This new genus supplies an extra link 



between the two groups, as the genus Kermes, where the young insect has 



the anal tubercles whilst the adult has the abdominal lobes, is the link 



between the groups Leeanidse and Coccidae. As mentioned by me (Trans. 



vol. xii., p. 291) there is a very close gradation between all the genera of 



the Homoptera, at least as far as concerns the Monomera. 



3rd Group.— COCCID^. 



(Trans., vol. xi., p. 216.) 



1st Subsection. — Lecano-coocid^, sec. nov. 



Insect possessing the anal tubercles of Coccus in all stages ; covered by a 

 test ; mentum monomerous. 



As observed in my first paper (Trans., vol. xi., p. 217), the general 

 characteristics of the group Coccidae are, a pair of anal tubercles, and a 

 mentum bi- or tri-articulate. I have, however, lately met one of those 

 puzzling forms which possess characters apparently of two groups. The 

 articulations of the mentum are in most cases very difficult of detection ; 

 and, as it seems to me, the only sure guide to the grouping of a species is 

 the presence of anal tubercles (in which case it is a Coccid), or of ahdominal 

 lobes (in which case it is a Lecanid). As a rule, a Lecanid has not more 

 than eight, and almost always seven, joints in the antennaj. But in cases 

 where, as in the following species, the antennae are lost in the adult stage, 

 this can clearly not be made a guide. 



In the genus Kermes the young insect has the anal tubercles of Coccus, 

 the adult the abdominal lobes of Lecanium : and this genus has been, in 

 late works on the Homoptera, considered as a link between the two groups 

 on that account. The insect which I have to describe has the anal tubercles 

 in aU stages, and if the mentum were not uni-articulate I should have placed 

 it amongst the group Coccidffi, in the subsection Coccidse proper. As it is, 

 I am compelled to create a new subsection for it. 



Genus Planchonia, Signoret. 



Insect enclosed in a hard, smooth, test, completely surrounding it ; test 

 convex above, flat below. Adult female apodous. Anal tubercles present 

 in all stages. Test surrounded by long fringe. 



M. Signoret, following Professor Targioni-Tozzetti, includes the genus 

 Planchonia amongst the Lecanio-diaspidffl, but himself remarks that on 



