Lecaniince. 223 



LECANIUM CAUDATUM, Green. 



(Plate LXXXI.) 



Lee. caudatiim, Green, ' Catalogue of Coccidas,' Tnd. Mus. Notes, Vol. IV. 



No. I (1896). 



Adult ? {figs. I to 4) oval, narrower in front, broadly rounded behind ; 

 strongly convex above, with slightly flattened margin. Faint median longi- 

 tudinal ridge and transverse corrugations. Colour bright castaneous, with a 

 broad marginal zone of a deeper tint ; usually a dark median fascia and several 

 irregular transverse dotted bands ; older examples deep castaneous. Early 

 adult (fig. 4) greenish yellow to bright orange yellow ; a pale reddish marginal 

 zone enclosing paler specks ; a deep red-brown median longitudinal stripe, and 

 transverse dotted bands of same colour, those on the thoracic area more con- 

 spicuous—the first band curving forwards towards the eyes, the second directed 

 towards the anterior stigmatic cleft, the third and fourth meeting near the 

 posterior stigmatic cleft. Eyes black, submarginal. Anal valve black. The 

 malpighian tubes sometimes visible through the derm as a looped chain of 

 dark spots (Jig. 2). Examples living under shelter secrete three or four long 

 white waxy threads from the anal aperture {figs. 2, 4), extending — in the earlier 

 stages — for more than twice the length of the body of the insect ; but, where 

 the insects are in exposed situations or are attended by ants, these filaments 

 are lost as fast as they are formed. Derm with numerous oval or subglobular 

 translucent cells {fig. 11), more conspicuous near the margin, each surrounded 

 by a darker areola ; many irregular deep-seated oblong spots which are pale 

 near the margin, but become darker than the surrounding parts towards the 

 median area. Under favourable conditions of illumination, a faint hexagonal 

 reticulation can be demonstrated on the median dorsal area {fig. 10). Stig- 

 matic cleft {fig. 12) with three small stout spines, the median about twice 

 length of laterals, scarcely projecting beyond margin. Marginal hairs {figs. 

 II, 12) broadly dilated and irregularly dentate. No submarginal tubercles. 

 Scales of anal operculum {fig. 7) with outer edge sinuous, only slightly longer 

 than base ; apex narrowly truncate. Antenna {fig. 5) seven-jointed, third 

 longest ; antennal formula very constant : 3, 4, (2, 7), i, 5, 6. Foot {fig. 6) with 

 stout claw and strongly dilated ungual digitules. Anal ring {fig. 9) with six 

 long stout and deeply coloured hairs. The parts of the anal ring and its 

 connection with the anal valve can be more readily demonstrated in this 

 species than in any other Lecaniutn with which I am acquainted. Length 

 3 to 4 mm. Breadth 2 to 3 mm. 



Male unknown in any stage. 



Young larva (fig. 8) very pale pink. 



Eggs pale pink ; deposited beneath the body of the .ent, which dries up 

 and forms a protective covering for them. 



Habitat on upper surface of leaves of Passifiora, Coffea arabica, Loranthus, 

 Memecylon umbellatum, Pergularia odoratissima, Pavetta. Pundaluoya, 

 Kandy. 



Known only from Ceylon. 



