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ON A NEW COCCID PEST OF CACAO FROM TRINIDAD. 



By E. Ernest Green, F.E.S., F.Z.S. 



Philephedra theobromae, nov. 



Adult female broadly oval, convex above. Body soft (not rigidly chitinous as in 

 most Lecaniinae). Colour of examples preserved in alcohol, whitish to brownish 

 ochreous ; wdth two median longitudinal series of small depressed dark spots and 

 transverse series of similar spots radiating from the median series to the margin. 

 Photographs of the insect in alcohol (fig. 1) show the marginal area to be rather closely 

 coated with white pulverulent secretion, with traces of a lamellate marginal fringe of 

 waxy matter ; in some examples there are irregular flecks of secretion on the dorsum. 



Fig, 1. Philephedra theobromae, Green, sp. n., on a cacao pod 

 photographed in alcohol. X 2*7. 



In the photograph the body of the insect appears to be dark-coloured. Limbs and 

 antennae rather small in proportion to the size of the insect (fig. 2, a). Anteima 

 normally 8-jointed (fig. 2, b) ; occasionally 7-jointed (fig. 2, c) ; in a single example 

 the antenna on one side shows 9 joints, apparently through a duplication of the 5th. 

 The 3rd joint is considerably the longest ; the 4th, 5th and 8th are approximately 

 equal ; average antennal formula — 3, 2, (4, 5, 8), 6, 7 ; the first joint being of 

 irregular form is invariably distorted by compression and is not included in the formula. 

 Each joint, except the 4th, bears one or more hairs at its distal end, that on the 2nd 

 joint being exceptionally long. Legs small but moderately robust. Tarsus more 

 (C221) £ 



