224 CHAS. K. BRAIN. 



Antennae consisting of low tubercles, each with one comparatively curved spine. 

 Parastigmatic glands few in number, usually 2 or 3 at each anterior spiracle. 

 Circumgenital glands in 5 distinct groups : — ■ 



9—14 

 12—23 12—23 

 11—20 11—20 

 Adult $<$ were emerging from material received from Pearston, C.P., 27th May 

 1916. 



Adult <J deep orange in colour, with legs and antennae and posterior portion 

 of abdomen paler. The wings are cloudy white and slightly iridescent. The genital 

 sheath is very long, the comparative measurements being : — 



Length of body, without antennae or spike . . 6 mm. 



Width of body -2 „ 



Length of wings . . . . . . . . . . "78 „ 



Length of antennae . . . . . . . . . . - 64 ,, 



Length of genital spike . . . . . . "26 „ 



The antennae are 10-jointed, the two basal joints very short and together 

 forming a + globular tubercle ; the remaining 8 + subequal, and supplied with 

 the usual hairs. 



Remarks. A recent report from Mr. Palmer of Pearston, C.P., that this species- 

 is killing off his Burbank prickly pears reminds me of a fact mentioned by Mr. 

 Lounsbury that years ago single leaves heavily encrusted with D. echinocacti were 

 sold at two shillings each to infest plants in other localities and so kill off the host- 

 plant. 



Habitat : On Opunlia sp., G-raaff Reinet and Pearston, C.P. (Cape Accession No. 

 1622). 

 Collection No. : 156. 



127. Diaspis newsteadi, Leonardi (Plate xxv, fig. 147). 



Diaspis newsteadi, Leonardi, Boll. Lab. Zool. Portici, p. 190, 1914. 



Scale of adult $ large, to 2 - 6 mm. diameter, almost circular to somewhat elongate,, 

 very convex, rounded or + conical, white, with the sulphur-yellow exuviae forming- 

 a distinct cap at or near centre of scale. In old specimens the second exuviae 

 are dark, often grey in colour, in which case they are generally surmounted by 

 a small yellow prominence which represents the first exuviae. The secretionary 

 portion of the scale is compact and dense and often has its white colour obscured 

 by fragments of the reddish bark of its host-plant. The $ scales are often clustered 

 on the stems of the host-plant in enormous numbers. 



Puparium of <$ comparatively large, white, non-carinate, with bright exuviae. 

 The male puparia are clustered together, usually away from the $ and generally 

 project from the stem amidst a large collection of fluffy white secretion. 



The colour of the adult $ and of the ova is pale lemon or sulphur-yellow. Body 

 broadly oval, not much narrowed to the pygidium, thin, hyaline, except the 

 mouth-parts and a median longitudinal patch of the pygidium, which are yellow. 

 The median lobes are very strongly chitinised, the dense area extending slightly 



