50 Iii(Uan Musevm Notes. [ Yol. III. 



eggs of the Coccid are elongated and rounded in shape, somewhat less 

 than a millimetre in length by about half this measure in diameter. 

 Two forms of larvaa were observed, the one as described and figured by 

 Douglas (Ent. M. M. March 1890, p. 79), which is somewhat rounded 

 in outline and characterised by the possession of six well marked poste- 

 rior bristles, the other more elongated in outline and characterised by 

 the possession of but two well marked posterior bristles which gradually 

 develope into rope like appendages as the creature advances in growth. 

 So far as was made out the form with six bristles develops eventually 

 into the wingless female. The development of the form with two appen- 

 dages was not completely traced and it is possible it may belong to some 

 other species. 



In close attendance upon the Icerya were found two species of 

 Coecinellidse. These were submitted to Mr. L. O. Howard, Acting 

 United States Entomologist, through whose kindness they have been 

 identified as Plati/naspis villosa, Mulsant, and Scymnus sp. respectively. 

 The larva of the Platynaspis is a brownish grub wliich moves openly 

 about amongst the Iceryas, and eventually transforms into a pupa upon 

 the same twig. The immature form of the Scymnus was not traced, but 

 a solitary larva was fouud, which may possibly have belonged to this 

 species. It was covered all over with white cottony appendages so as 

 very closely to mimic the Icerya, and its habit of keeping very still in 

 the corner of a leaf when disturbed further enhances the likelihood of its 

 being mistaken for this insect. It was unfortunately lost before it had 

 developed sufficiently for determination. 



Neither of the Coccinellidse were noticed as particularly active in 

 feeding upon the Icerya. They seemed also far too few in numbers to 

 have much effect in keeping down the insect. The Scymnus indeed was 

 so scarce that less than half a dozen specimens in all were discovered. 

 The Flatynaspis on the other hand, which was slightly more common, is 

 a native of Europe and therefore likely to occur in Egypt, for it is not 

 probable that an insect which occurs both in Calcutta and in Europe and 

 is able to withstand the enormous range of climate which this difference 

 in habitat involves would have failed to make its way into Egypt which 

 lies geographically between these two extremes. Some other agent would 

 therefore seem to be required to account for the failure of the Icerya to 

 multiply sufficiently to become destructive in India. The primary host 

 of the Tetraslichus, if such exist, may no doubt be the cause, but in this 

 case the prospect is not reassuring, for even if the primary host of the 

 Tetrastichiis is not exterminated by its minute enemy, a contingency 

 which would seem by no means impossible in view of the numbers in 

 which the Telradichus has apj.eared, it is likely to lead far too hunted 



