THE COCCIDAE OF SOUTH AFRICA. 39 



" These insects occur underground on the roots of grape vines, living in galls 

 which are more or less globular, 4 to 5 mm. diameter, dark, rough and often nodulose 

 on the outside, often aggregated together in numbers, or even coalescing, so that the 

 root presents a nodulose thickening 6 or 7 mm. in diameter and over 20 mm. long. 

 On breaking open the galls, which are quite hard, one finds a cavity containing the 

 Coccid. Small stones are frequently embedded in the sides of the galls. 



" Hob. Constantia, Cape Colony, at the roots of Stein and Reisling grapes (Vitis 

 vinifera). Mr. Chas. P. Lounsbury, sending the specimens, says ; * None were 

 observed more than eight or nine inches from the surface, and all were on fibrous roots. 

 As you will observe from the specimens, they are somewhat gregarious ; ofttimes 

 one or two rootlets will be quite covered, while all the others are free. Most of the 

 infested vines were backward in growth — some almost dead ; but their condition, 

 I think, is due to other causes than the attack of the insect. Some apparently 

 healthy vines were noticed to be affected." (Ckll.) 



This species has not been re-discovered. 



Collection No. : 105. 



Genus Parafairmairea, Ckll. 



Female scale divided by a longitudinal, median suture into two halves, each with 

 minute grooves radiating from its apex but not striated with air cells. Legs and 

 antennae well developed, the latter 7 or 8-jointed. 



243. Parafairmairea patellaeformis, sp.n. (Plate iv, fig. 250). 



Adult 2 dull brown, 9 mm. long and 5 mm. broad, covered above by a stout shield 

 which is divided longitudinally into two halves. This shield has the wavy lines and 

 exact appearance of one of the common shells of the more elevated " Patella " type. 



With the covering removed the insect is glossy brown with wrinkles and ridges 

 radiating from a two-fold dorsal peak to the margin. 



Antennae 7 or 8-jointed ; range in /i : — 



I. II. III. IV. V. VI. VII. VIII. 



20-31 20-24 41-68 34-41 20-27 14-24 20-34 

 20-31 20-24 44 17-34 27-34 17-20 14-20 24-34 



Leg I : coxa 88-102 ; femur + trochanter 187-238 ; tibia 160 ; tarsus 90 ; claw 

 approximately 20jn. 



Anal plate about 160// long. The integument is thin and hyahne, without con- 

 spicuous hairs or glands. The margin has a single row of short, conical spines of the 

 Inglisiaty-pe, amongst which are inbermingled, at intervals, smaller spines of a thinner 

 type. The stigmatic clefts are obsolete, merely indicated by a scant series of small 

 circular, simple glands extending inwards from the margin towards the spiracle. 



Remarks : This is the third Parajairmairea to be described. The other two were 

 described on grass, one from France and the other from Surrey, England. 



Habitat : On stems of Acacia karroo ; collected by A. E. Kelly at Port Alfred, 

 C. P., March 1915. 



Collection No. : 98. 



