No. 2.] Original Communications. 37 



3.— DESCRIPTION OF A NEW SPECIES OF RIPERSIA 

 DESTRUCTIVE TO SUGARCANE. 



By E. E. Green, F.E.S., Government Entomologist, Ceylon. 

 Mipersia sacchari, n. sp. 



Plate VI. figs. 5, 6. 



Adult ? pinkish, the colour more or less concealed by a white 

 powdery waxy secretion which is collected more particularly round 

 the margins of the insect. Form elongate ovate, more or less flat- 

 tened from its position beneath the sheathing leaves of its food plant. 

 Legs and antennae comparatively small but well formed. Antennae 

 of six joints only (fig. 6), sixth always the longest, rather longer than 

 the second and third together ; fourth always shortest ; relative 

 lengths of other joints slightly variable; average formula 6 (i, 2, 3), 

 5, 4 ; sometimes 6 (i, 2, 3, 5), 4, or 6, 3 (1, 2), 5, 4. Foot with appa- 

 rently only two digitules, fine pointed hairs without knobs, 1 on 

 claw and 1 on tarsus; occasionally a second still finer hair on 

 tarsus ; tarsus shorter than tibia, the two together shorter than com- 

 bined femur and trochanter. Anal ring with six stout hairs arising 

 from a compact circumscribed patch of glandular cells (fig. 5). Anal 

 lobes obscure ; scarcely— if at all — prominent ; the usual caudal setae 

 scarcely longer than the hairs of the anal ring ; without groups of 

 conical spines or definite patches of spinnerets. The whole derm 

 dotted with circular spinnerets of two forms which are more crowded 

 on the posterior segments, where they are also mingled with a few 

 stout pointed hairs. The larger spinnerets have a simple circular 

 pore. The opening of the smaller spinnerets is 3 or 4 foliate. 



Length 3*25 to 5 mm. Breadth 1*75 to 3 mm. 



Habitat.— At the base of the sheathing leaves of sugarcane, from 

 the Gorakhpur district. 



The specimens having been preserved in alcohol, the waxy 

 secretion has become sodden and decomposed ; but from the distri- 

 bution of the spinnerets on the surface of the body of the insect, 

 it is probable that there are no definite waxy appendages. The 

 species is distinguished by the unusually compound character of 

 the anal ring and by the large size of the insect, which is only 

 equalled by that of R. montana, Newst ; but that species is of 

 a more or less globular form, secretes a thick felted ovisac and 

 has caudal setae twice the length of the hairs of the anal ring. In 

 general structure and habitat R. sacchari approaches most nearly 



