Lecaniince. 189 



Habitat on leaves and young branches of tea, Citrus, Ivy, Begonia, 

 Ainaranlhus, various palms, and probably on many other plants. Punda- 

 luoya, Watagoda, Dickoya, Kandy, Kurunagalla, Balangoda. 



This species, though a troublesome pest in many parts of the world, seems 

 to do little harm in Ceylon. I have found it in small colonies only, and 

 always severely infested with hymenopterous parasites. As the insect occurs 

 not uncommonly on the tea plant, we should congratulate ourselves upon its 

 being so effectively kept in check by its natural enemies. 



Lecanium hesperiduin is widely distributed throughout the world. It occurs 

 commonly throughout Southern Europe, both in plant-houses and in the 

 open. In England typical examples are confined to plant-houses ; but the 

 form lauri — which is morphologically indistinguishable from hesperidum — 

 occurs in the open. The species is a pest of oranges in South Africa ; it is 

 recorded as common in Australia and the Sandwich Islands, and is well known 

 in the United States of America and the West Indies. It is recorded also 

 from Mexico. Lee. alieiium, Dougl. {^Ent. Mo. Mag. Sept. i865) is with 

 difficulty separable from hesperidum, and may perhaps be merely a colour 

 variety. 



EXPLANATION OF PLATE LXIII. 



Lecanium hesperidum. 



Fig. 8. Adult ?, dorsal view, x 12. 

 9, 10. Antenna, x 150. 



11. Anal operculum, x 150. 



12. Stigmatic clett and spines, x 650. 



