138 CHAS. K. BRAIN. 



The ^ puparium is small, linear, tapering slightly to the posterior extremity, brown,, 

 with the exuviae at the front end and the hind end paler. Length about 1.2 mm. 



Body of adult $ dark purple, almost black when alive, deep purple brown when 

 dry. When cleared and mounted the body is broadly oval, hyaline, except the 

 mouth-parts and pygidium, which are yellow. The abdominal segments are not 

 produced, and are merely indicated, being + rounded at the margins. The 

 antennae are represented by a low tubercle and about 5 curved spines. The anterior 

 part of the body is supplied with a sub-marginal series of long hairs, and there is 

 a ventral series of four to six stout conical spines on each side, each of which arises 

 from a conspicuous circular disc. These extend at intervals from the level of the 

 mouth- parts to the region of the pygidium, those of the thoracic area being the smaller. 

 Circumgenital glands 0. Pygidium as illustrated (fig. 110). 



Remarks : This species was first described — in a few words — as Lecanium capense 

 by Walker. This description was copied by Signoret in his Essai. Nothing further 

 was done until Mr. Green worked over the material and published his description, 

 in 1904. The bark mentioned in these descriptions must be the dry withered aloe 

 leaf, which could be easily so mistaken. 



In the New Zealand Transactions, 1890, p. 75, Mr. Maskell described a Coccid 

 on Cladium from Australia under the name of Aspidiotus cladii. This species has a 

 stout circular scale with central exuviae. It is rich dark brown with paler reddish 

 margins and red exuviae. In this respect it resembles the scale of capensis, but hem 

 the similarity ends, for cladii is more like a Chrysomphahis from its pygidial characters 

 (fig. 112), although the shape of the lobes and the thickened margin of the pygidium 

 remind one slightly of capensis. In 1895 (Trans. N.Z. p. 385) Mr. Maskell writes 

 as follows : — 



" I have lately received from Mr. A. Cooper, of Richmond, Natal, some pieces 

 of aloe having on them several specimens of an Aspidiotus which is very clearly 

 A. cladii. I have never before seen this insect from any place outside Australia,, 

 in which country it seems to be widely spread, as I have had specimens from nearly 

 every portion of the continent. The species must have been taken to South Africa 

 (I suppose) in some ship, perhaps on decorative plants for the saloon, or in a Wardiam 

 case. Mr. Cooper tells me that the aloe in question seems to be not seriously 

 damaged ; and I have not heard that A. cladii is injurious in Australia, although 

 common enough." 



In 1899, d'Emmerez de Charmoy recorded Aspidiotus cladii on palms from 

 Mauritius (Proc. Soc. Amic. Scien. p. 22, 1899). This insect forms a yellow-brown, 

 to dark brown scale, often tinged with a greenish colour. It is quite distinct from 

 cladii and capensis and is usually somewhat elongate, with exuviae curved over- 

 to one side. Its pygidial characters may be seen from fig. Ill and I suggest that 

 this insect should now be known as Furcaspis charmoyi, sp. n. 



Habitat : On aloe (leaves) Eastern Province, Cape, common. On aloe, Rosebank, 

 Cape ; collected by the writer, July 1914. On aloe, Pretoria, Transvaal. On 

 Aloe rupestris, Namaqualand, sent by I. B. Pole Evans, Chief of Division of Plant- 

 Pathology. 



Collection Nos. : 194 and 235. 



