218 CHAS. K. BRAIN. 



Habitat : On twigs of Rhus sp., Kenilworth, C.P. ; collected by the writer, 

 August 1914. Also on Rhus sp. in association with Aonidia marginalis, sp. n.„ 

 at Zeerust, Tvl. ; collected by A. Kelly, 29th May 1915. 



Collection No. : 291. 



Genus Gymnaspis, Newst. 



Scale of the adult $ variable, but most often reminding one of that of Aonidia,. 

 consisting chiefly or entirely of the black hardened second stage skin. In some 

 cases, at maturity, the dorsal scale and first exuviae are lost, so that these hardened 

 skins remain naked. The adult $ remains enclosed in this hardened cyst-like 

 skin. In one Brazilian species (Gymnaspis aberemoae), described by Lindinger in 

 1910, there is a definite dorsal scale much like the second stage of some of the 

 Selenaspidxis spp. 



The second stage female in Gymnaspis has lobes and plates, but in the adult $ 

 the pygidium is rudimentary and is not provided with definite lobes or plates,, 

 but usually has ordinary spines or protuberances which are either teat-like or 

 bottle-shaped. 



It is usual for the adult $ to be viviparous and without circumgenital glands, 

 but G. aberemoae is apparently an exception to this rule. 



The males of only a few of the small number of species of Gymnaspis are known- 



120. Gymnaspis faurei, sp. n. (Plate xiv, fig. 140). 



Scale of adult $ consisting entirely of the hard, thickened, dull black second, 

 stage skin, with a thin, .but hard covering, which is black and dense below and 

 greyish and flaky above. Larval exuviae generally absent ; when present, as 

 in younger specimens, black. Skin of second stage about 1 mm. to 1*2 mm. in. 

 length, rather longer than broad and moderately convex. 



The body of the second stage $ becomes very hard and is dull black. Even. 

 after soaking in hot KOH for hours it is entirely piceous, except the two median 

 lobes, when they persist, and these are brown. In shape the body is broad pear- 

 shaped, but very irregular at the anterior end. The pygidium and free abdominal 

 segments are more constant in form. The latter are prominently rounded and 

 bear a few stout conical projections. . The characters of the posterior margin of 

 the pygidium are illustrated in fig. 140. 



The adult $, when mounted, often contains several well-developed larvae. The 

 body is long, somewhat oblong in front and suddenly narrowed to the hind extremity. 

 Segmentation is not pronounced at the margin, but a few segments are strongly 

 indicated in the abdominal region. The pygidium is very simple, without lobes, 

 or plates, but with a few very strong stout spines. The chitin is often thickened 

 at the extreme margin and much wrinkled posterior to the vulva, which is Yeny 

 wide. Its characters are illustrated in fig. 140. Circumgenital glands 0. 



Habitat : Clustered on stems of " karree " bush (Rhus sp.), Bloemfontein, O.F.S. ;. 

 collected by J. C. Faure, November 1914. 



I have pleasure in associating Mr. Faure' s name with this interesting species. 



Collection No. : 288. 



