Amorphococcus. 343 
AMORPHOCOCCUS MESUZ, Gvreen. 
(PLATE CXXXI.) 
Amorphococcus mesue, Green, Ent. Mo. Mag., Vol. XXXVIII. p. 261 
(1902). 
Insects occupying rounded or conical ligneous galls on the slender branches 
of the tree (zg. 1). There is a minute aperture at the apex of the gall, leading 
into a sharply conical chamber (jigs. 2, 3) at the base of which the insect rests — 
either naked (fg. 2) or enveloped in the nymphal pellicle (fig. 3). In the latter 
case, the pellicle forms a lining to the cavity. The floor of the cavity, after 
removal of the insect, shows a white X-shaped mark—due to waxy secretion 
deposited from the stigmatic areas. An isolated gall measures 4 to 5 mm., 
long diameter. 
Female insect bright yellow; soft and fleshy ; irregularly globular, with 
indentations at the stigmatic areas (7zg. 4); dorsum slightly concave; venter 
and sides strongly rounded; anal segment narrowed, flattened, tapering, 
directed upwards towards the aperture of the gall (jzg. 2). Antenna consisting 
of a minute tubercle, with a few stout bristles at its apex. Limbs completely 
wanting. Spiracles well developed, the stigmatic areas with straggling groups 
of parastigmatic glands. Anal segment (jg. 5) slightly notched at extremity ; 
the anal tube somewhat densely chitinous on the dorsal aspect ; a pair of very 
stout short setze lying transversely across the aperture ; anal ring with eight 
hairs ; a series of small hair-like spines on the submarginal area. Derm very 
thin and delicate, with a few minute simple circular glands. Diameter approxi- 
mately 1°25 mm. 
Nymphal female pale yellow ; slightly larger than the adult insect. Form 
conical, with rounded base ; the apex of the cone occupied by the anal seg- 
ment ; other characters similar to those of adult. After the final ecdysis, the 
nymphal pellicle encloses the adult insect and the ova. Diameter 1°5 mm. 
Male unknown in any stage. 
Embryonic larva (fig. 7) with well-developed antennz and limbs. A 
marginal series of twenty-eight 8-shaped glands, and two subdorsal series of 
ten each. The larvee wander on to the younger twigs of the tree, where the 
bark is still smooth and soft. After attachment, they become gradually 
imbedded by a hypertrophied growth of the surrounding cortical cells. 
The later larva (jig. 6) develops a marginal series of paired crook-shaped 
filaments, of which those springing from the thoracic margin are widely diver- 
gent. Two pairs of strongly curling filaments spring from each side of the 
dorsum, on the thorax. 
On the terminal twigs of the ‘ironwood’ tree (Weswa ferrea). Peradeniya. 
Where two or three of the insects have established themselves close 
