THE COCCIDAE OF SOUTH AFRICA. 11 



204. Saissetia perseae, sp. n. 



Ova and larvae small, purplish red in colour, found beneath dry body of adult 5 

 attached to mid-rib of leaf. Larvae about 0'35 mm. long and 0"18 mm. broad, 

 almost oval, slightly broadest between the second and third pairs of legs, broadly 

 rounded in front and regularly cleft behind, with two caudal spines equal in length 

 to the greatest width of the body. The eyes are deeply pigmented. 



The antennae are six- jointed ; segment 2 a Uttle shorter than 1 ; 3 is long 

 (27-30/1), almost equal to 6 ; 4 and 5 are shorter and almost equal (13^a and 15//). 

 There is a distinct notch near the distal end of 3, and another at about the middle 

 of 5, from which points long hairs arise. The terminal segment has a long apical 

 spine, two others of about three-fourths its length, and several shorter hairs. Claws 

 simple ; upper digitules long, straight, with small globular knobs ; lower digitules 

 shorter, also with small clubs. Margin with thin short spines ; at level of spiracles 

 on each side there are two stout blunt spines, about 15// long, pointing obliquely 

 backwards. Anal bristles reaching level of hind-margin, or nearly so. 



Adult $ 4'2 mm. long, 3 mm. broad, pointed at each end, but more so in front 

 with the dorsum quite flat. In colour it is blackish brown, and of a dull matt 

 appearance, entirely without design or marginal appendages. The margin is 

 entire, with a very slight notch at the two spiracles on each side. Seen from below 

 the extreme margin is thin ; the legs and antennae pale, and there are four faint 

 Unes, two on each side, representing stigmatic bands. There is no trace of an anal 

 cleft when examined with a hand-lens. When crushed the body-contents are 

 purple in colour. Placed in hot KOH solution the body becomes hard and curls so 

 much that it is difficult to make a satisfactory mount. 



The integument on the dorsum is extremely dense, hard and brittle when cleared ; 

 that of the venter is thin, hyaline, and very delicate. The legs and antennae are 

 colourless. The anal cleft is entirely absent, with the exception of a very short 

 space posterior to the anal plates. Beyond this it is merely indicated as a hne 

 between the polygonal " cells " of the dorsum. Polygonal cells with straight sides, 

 each with a very small transparent spot appearing as a point under the microscope. 

 The space occupied by the anal plates is clear, faintly yellow, a striking contrast 

 to the deep brown of the remainder of the dorsum when cleared. The inner face 

 of the plates is straight ; the outer margin regularly curved to the tip giving them a 

 broad heart-shape. (Fig. 243). The polygonal cells are fairly uniform in size to 

 near the margin where they gradually disappear into the thin 4: structureless 

 marginal area. Eye-spots distinct. 



The antennae are 8-jointed. Joints 2, 4, 6 and 7 sub-equal ; 1 a httle shorter, 

 3, 5 and 8 longer. Measurements in /< : (1) 30, (2) 37, (3) 47, (4) 30, (5) 50, (6) 30, 

 (7) 27, (8) 47. 



Habitat : On upper side of leaf of avocado pear (Persea gratissitna), from Mrs. 

 Godwin, Durban, May 1916. 



Collection No. : 103. 



This species is remarkable for the hardness of the integument at maturity 

 and the fact that the anal cleft is obsolete in the later stages. It differs from 

 Hemiiecanium, however, in lacking the four perforate areas on the dorsum. 



