THE COCCIDAE OF SOUTJI AFRICA. 33 



"Ce sont ces sept cordons eleves qui, specifiant bien I'espe e, nous empechcnt de 

 I'attribuer aux nombreux individus que nous possedons et decrivons sous le nom 

 de C. Vinsonii.'' (Sign.) 



Myrica quercifolia, Linn. (Myricaceae) is a near relative of the waxberry 

 plant which is common on the Cape Flats. Mr. C. W. Mally, the Entomologist 

 for the Cape Province, has recently kindly examined a large number of plants in an 

 endeavour to re-discover this species of Ceroplastes, but as yet without success. 



234. Ceroplastes pallidus, sp. n. 



Test of adult $ to 8*5 mm. long, 6 mm. broad and 4-5 mm. high ; very much 

 Uke a large C. rusci in form, with 8 lateral plaques and median dome. The lateral 

 plaques, however, are without " nuclei " and are a little more perpendicular. In 

 old specimens the waxy covering is pale, semi-transparent, yellowish, or having 

 an indistinct greenish tint. The central dome is moderately elevated, somewhat 

 tapering, slightly glossy, with longitudinal and concentric striae. The central 

 *' nucleus " is elongate, glossy and a little darker in colour. Stigmatic clefts 

 indicated by small white dots. 



When cleared and mounted the integument is all thin and hyaline, without anterior 

 or marginal thickenings and with only a small area surrounding the anal lobes chiti- 

 nised. 



Stigmatic clefts shallow, not chitinised, with short, conical, pointed spines which 

 are in a single row for a short distance on each side, but broaden out to form a small 

 triangular patch opposite the spiracle ; at no point, however, are there more than 

 5 rows. Within this series is a compact group of simple glands like the circum- 

 genital glands of the Diaspinae and also a few smaller glands and short simple hairs. 

 The remainder of the margin has a scattered, single row of short, slender, sharply 

 pointed spines. 



The antennae are 8-jointed ; range in ju : (1) 37-44, (2) 37-47, (3) 44-52, (4) 

 34-44, (5) 51-56, (6) 27-32, (7) 27-34, (8) 35-47. 



Legs well developed, normal; tibia long, with a constriction at about the middle. 



The caudal tubercle is comparatively small, a mere plate with the chitin appearing 

 ± streaky and somewhat perforate. 



Habitat : On fig. Church Square, Pretoria. 



Collection No. : 102. 



235. Ceroplastes quadrilineatus, Newst., var. simplex, nov. 



Adult $ $ clustered in large masses on the twigs of the host plant. ? test about 

 5 mm. long, 4*5 mm. broad and 3 mm. high, very dark in colour, almost black, with 

 the thinner parts of the wax appearing reddish. Marginal fold corrugated, Hghter 

 and more transparent in colour than the central dome, with two very distinct lines 

 of opaque white on each side. The central portion is comparatively flat and trun- 

 cate, separated from the marginal fold by a deep furrow in dry material, with the 

 apex hoUowed into a shallow cup containing an opaque white ridge. The ridge 

 of this cup-Uke depression is not regular but consists of an anterior transverse ridge 

 and two posterior lateral spurs, and the floor usually slopes gently forward. The 

 (681) c 



