No. 1.] Original Communication. g 



Under the name of C, rub ens Maskell describes a red species 

 from New Zealand, but states that the apex of the waxy test is 

 broadly depressed which is not the case with these Indian insects. 

 It is possible that rubens may be only a variety of myricss. 



It may be as well to supplement the above brief diagnosis by a 

 more detailed description of the species as represented in India. 



Test of adult $ approximately hemispherical : margin with seven 

 rather obscure rounded prominences (fig. 9). An examination of 

 the earlier stages shows eight distinct areas giving rise to the margi- 

 nal prominences, one anterior, one posterior, and three on each side. 

 During subsequent growth the posterior prominence is often obli- 

 terated by the confluence of the third lateral prominence on each 

 side. The waxy envelope is very thick on the margins. In old ex- 

 amples the body of the insect shrinks inwards and the cavity is 

 occupied by the numerous eggs (fig. 10). Apex of test with a slight 

 depression containing the larval pellicle. Colour pale translucent 

 pink ; margins whitish. Two irregular opaque white waxy bands 

 on each side, starting from the stigmatic clefts and curving upwards 

 over the sides of the test, the anterior pair sometimes almost meet- 

 ing in front. Inconspicuous white points above the cephalic area 

 and from the anal orifice. A well developed example measures 4*50 

 mm. by 3*50 mm., with a height of 3 mm. But the size varies 

 greatly and some (apparently mature) individuals are less than half 

 these dimensions. 



After removal of the waxy test the insect appears of a very dif- 

 ferent form (fig. 13). It is of a simple oval outline ; strongly 

 convex above, but not approaching the hemispherical. The anal lobes 

 are situated upon a prominent chitinous tubercle which often becomes 

 detached in a single piece during the process of maceration (fig. 15). 

 A definite semicircular area on the anterior margin is also strongly 

 chitinous, of a darker colour, and dotted with numerous translucent 

 dark rimmed pores. Stigmatic clefts each with a single stout (often 

 bifid) spine set at some distance from the margin on the dorsal 

 surface ; and between it and the margin numerous rounded dome- 

 shape spines, smaller as they approach the margin (fig. 12). In 

 examples from Cycas the dome-shaped spines are not so numerous, 

 forming only a single line along the edge of the cleft. Antennae of 

 six joints (fig. 14) ; third joint very long, almost equal to the sum of the 

 other five joints : terminal joint very short and wrinkled, with several 

 longish stout hairs. Legs short and stout, the tibia and tarsus fused 

 together, with scarcely a trace of any division (fig. 11). Foot with 

 4 digitules. Length of body varying from 2 to 3*50 mm. 



