10 Indian Museum Notes. [Vol. V. 



1 6. Eriochiton these, sp. nov. (Plate 2, figs. 16 23).— I have 

 received branches and twigs of a tea plant from Darjeeling closely 

 encrusted with the waxy tests of the female insect (fig. 16), while 

 the smaller more glassy scales of the male are disposed upon the 

 undersurface of the leaves, the upper surfaces of which are densely 

 coated with sooty fungus. This pest would probably be a serious 

 one, if allowed to increase. 



Female test (fig. 17) completely enclosing the insect, oblong 

 oval, broadest behind, rather strongly convex : compact and closely 

 felted : with a small circular aperture at the hinder end. There is 

 a very indistinct median longitudinal ridge, on each side of which 

 are numerous transverse ridges and furrows, suggesting the con- 

 fluence of stout waxy processes. On some examples small waxy 

 points can be detected on the median ridge. The examples under 

 examination are not in good order, and it is possible that these waxy 

 points originally supported brittle curling filaments similar to those 

 on the male scales. Length 5 mm. Breadth 2\ mm. 



Male test (figs. 18, 19) glassy ; oval ; with an indistinct double ridge. 

 Posterior extremity with two hinged plates forming a valve 

 through which the adult insect escapes. From the median ridge 

 (in fresh examples) proceed long curled opaque white filaments. 

 These filaments are brittle and easily dislodged, and many of the 

 scales show no trace of them. Length 3 mm. Breadth 1 mm. 



Adult $ not observed. 



Adult $ (fig. 20) oblong oval ; moderately convex above ; reddish 

 brown. Margin closely set with finely tapering pointed spines in 

 a single row. A dense group of about 15 stout pointed spines on the 

 dorsal surface above each stigmatic cleft (fig. 22). After maceration 

 two median longitudinal densely crowded series of minute dots can be 

 distinguished by transmitted light, commencing above and slightly in 

 front of the rostrum and terminating a little anterior to the anal scales. 

 Under a high power these dots are seen to consist of two kinds of 

 spinnerets ; the larger in the form of broadly conical perforate spines, 

 each sunk in a pit-like invagination of the derm (fig. 23) ; the smaller, 

 simple narrow cylindrical ducts. Antennae distinctly 8-jointcd (^g 

 21) ; 3rd longest, equal to 7th and 8th. The antennal formula usually 

 3) 4> (5) 8)> (2, 6), (1, 7): 5 sometimes equals 4, or occasionally exceeds 

 it. Legs rather stout: tarsus about §rds k length of tibia. Foot 

 with 4 digitules ; (tarsals longish stout capitate hairs ; unguals broad 

 and spatulatc). Anal cleft broad. Anal ring with six stout longish 

 hairs. Anal plates rather widely separate. Length 3*25 mm. Breadth 

 175 itfro. 



