166 



C. B. WILLIAMS. 



wing rudiments are noticeable at the hind margin of either the rneso- or meta-thorax. 

 Owing to the misplacement of my preserved specimens of this stage, it is not figured. 



Stage II (fig. 2, A). Total length, 3-3'5 mm. Yellowish brown in colour, thorax 

 and head slightly darker than the abdomen. Head less than one and one-half times 

 as long as broad, longer than the prothorax. Hind angles of the meso- and meta- 

 notum very slightly acute, indicating the wing rudiments. Antennae six-segmented ; 

 length of segments in millimetres :— 1, Oil ; 2, 0'08 ; 3, 0*11 ; 4, 0'07 ; 5, 0-05 ; 

 6, 0'06 ; total length of antenna, 0"50 mm. 



Stage III (fig. 2, B). Total length 4-5-5 mm. Colour as before, but the thorax 

 and head are more distinctly darker than the abdomen. Head more than one and 

 a half times as broad as long and about equal in length to the pronotum. Hind 



Fig. 2. Head and thorax of nymph of Tomaspis flavilatera ; 

 A, stage ii. ; B, stage iii ; C, stage iv. 



angles of the meso- and meta-notum produced into wing rudiments, which are about 

 as long as wide at the base. Antennae seven-segmented ; length of segments in 

 millimetres :— 1, 019 ; 2, 0-13 ; 3, 016 ; 4, 010 ; 5, 010 ; 5, 010 ; 6, 0-06 ; 7, 010 ; 

 total length of antenna, 0'85 mm. 



Stage IV (fig. 2 C). Total length 7-8 mm. Head and thorax much darker than 

 the abdomen, wing rudiments still darker. Head more than/twice as broad as long 

 and shorter than the pronotum. Wing-rudiments reaching to the hind magrin 

 of the second abdominal segment. Antennae eight-segmented ; lengths of segments 

 in millimetres :— 1, 019 ; 2, 018 ; 3, 0"27 ; 4, 018 ; 5, 0"21 ; 6, 0-08 ; 7, 013 ; 

 8, 010 ; total length of antenna, l - 35 mm. 



The nymphs in all stages are found in their masses of frothy secretion on the 

 roots of grasses or sugar-cane on or just beneath the surface of the ground. If the- 



