J 88 Lecaniince. 



LECANIUM HESPERIDUM, Lin. 



(Plate LXIII.) 



Coccus hesperidum, Linn. Syst. Nat. II. 1735. 

 Caly7nmatus hesperidzim, Costa, Nuovo Osserv. 1835. 

 Calypticus iixvis, Costa, Faim. Ins. Nap. Gallius, 1837. 

 Lecanhun hesperzdutn, Blanchard, Hist. Nat. Ins. 1840. 

 Calypticus hesperidum, Lubbock, Proceed. Roy. Soc. 1858. 

 ? Lee. laicri, Boisd. Ent. Hort. 1867. 



Adult 9 {Jig. 8) bright yellow or greenish yellow, minutely specked with 

 red-brown, the specks sometimes agglomerated into transverse bars, especially 

 on the median abdominal region : in other parts tending to form dotted lines 

 radiating from centre to margin. In older examples the ground colour may 

 be ochreous or pale fulvous ; and the maculation may form a broad median 

 fascia. Under surface of older examples with a deep purple-brown or red 

 patch covering the median abdominal area, becoming concave and forming 

 a shelter for the young larva;. Dried specimens straw-coloured and much 

 wrinkled. Form oblong-oval, often very irregular in outline ; narrowest in 

 front : more or less convex above, according to age. In some few individuals, 

 generally on those protected by some shelter, I have noticed a double median 

 dorsal longitudinal series of raised glassy points ; but they appear to be very 

 brittle and easily lost. Eyes minute, black, marginal. Stigmatic cleft {fig. 12) 

 with three spines ; the median one very long and pointed, projecting well 

 beyond margin. Marginal hairs simple, pointed : rarely a few — more par- 

 ticularly at posterior extremity, divided or frayed at tip. Submarginal 

 tubercles, four to five on each side. Scales of anal operculum {Jig. 11) with 

 outer edge slightly longer than base ; the latter shghtly concave in outline. 

 Derm cells scattered, small, circular, inconspicuous. Antenna {figs. 9, 10) 

 with seven joints : third and seventh usually equal and longest, but fourth some- 

 times as long as, or longer than, third ; average formula (3, 7), 4, 2, i, 6, 5. 

 Legs normal. Anal ring with eight stout hairs. Length 225 to 3'5o mm. 

 Breadth f25 to 2'5o mm. 



The insect is ovoviviparus ; living larvae are usually found beneath the 

 body of the parent. 



The male has not been definitely recognised in any stage, though the 

 species has been studied by entomologists all over the world. It is true 

 that a supposed male insect was reputed to have been discovered by Mons. 

 R. Moniez,* existing as a kind of internal parasite within the ovaries of the 

 female ; but this observation has never been confirmed and there is some 

 doubt of its accuracy, t 



* Moniez, R., ' Les males du Lecanium hesperidum.' C. R. Ac. Sci. (Paris), t. civ. 1S87. 

 See also Enfomologist's Monthly Magazine, xxiv. p. 25, and Jonr. R. Micr. Soc, 1887, p. 383. 



•\ Mr. R. Newstead has recently reported {Entomologist's Monthly Magazine, March, 1903) 

 the discovery of the male insect, undergoing the normal transformations. 



