Indian Insect Peds. [Vol. I. 



Aphid;e. 

 Cerataphis, sp. 



Plate I, fig. 2, enlarged. 



In August 1888, some leaves of cinchona infested by a new aphid were 

 sent to Mr. G. B. Buckton, who reports as follows : — 



"Although the specimens are in had condition, partly caused hy the spirit being so 

 strong that the contents of the insect are dissolved out of them, they prove to be very 

 interesting, inasmuch as they probably belong to the genus Cerataphis, Lichtenstein, 

 described by Mr. Buckton (British Aphides IV, 198, Eoyal Society). The disc of 

 white-wax is characteristic of this coccus-like aphis. Only one species of this genus 

 has yet been described, and this (Cerataphis latanice, Licht.) has been found to infest 

 the palm, orchis, calamus and other tropical plants in conservatories in Europe. I 

 believe that but three specimens of the winged form have been identified in Europe. 

 Before I can give an opinion as to the species on the cinchona, I should like to have 

 more examples preserved in, say, a 10 per cent, solution of alcohol, or even weaker than 

 this. Single leaves, folded in single pieces of tissue paper and packed separately be- 

 tween layers of cotton-wool, a little tightly pressed in a small box would be sufficient. 

 I have seen some very minute insects thus sent from Mexico." 



The figures show the larva and pupa, the latter enclosed in its sheath. 

 The larva seems to be almost blind, whilst the winged insect is well pro- 

 vided with eyes. Mr. J. Gammie of the cinchona plantation at Mung- 

 r,hu in Sikkim has kindly promised to send Mr. Buckton fresh specimens 

 when the seaon for them comes round, which will be about April. 



Pemphigus Cinchona, Buckton in litt. 



This aphis, together with the larva of a coccinella, was forwarded to 

 Mr. Buckton, who named it provisionally Pemphigus cinchona. Further 

 specimens are awaited before it can be formally described. 



Cocotdj:. 



Mr. Atkinson has recently described a new genus and species of 

 coccid (P seudopulvinaria sikhimensis) found on the cinchona in Sikkim. 

 It appears in the cold-weather in the form of a flour-like substance on the 

 underside of the leaves of oak, chestnut and cinchona, and matures about 

 April. It has not yet spread enough to do any considerable damage. 



Dactylopius adonidum, Linn., already described in the Journal of the 

 Asiatic Society (Part II, p. 288, 1886) has been procured from Mysore, 

 where it occurs on Cedrela sp., Acrocarpus fraxinifolius, Ficus mysor- 

 ensis, F. glomerata, F. usperrima, &c, and does considerable damage to 

 ohe coffee bushes. Mr. Anderson, of Barguai (Mysore), has sent some 

 remarkable examples of the curious black fungoid growth which seems 

 invariably to accompany this insect, and, covering the twigs, effectually 

 rottens and kills them. He describes it as a black, felted substance, 

 extremely like a fungoid growth : in appearance it is very like the sooty 



