192 
now more or less prevalent throughout the Colony. Mr. Roland Trimen, 
F.R.S., states that (in 1887) “the orange industry of the western districts 
* (of Cape Colony) has suffered most severely ; scarce, very inferior, and 
“ exceedingly dear fruit being now only obtainable where it used to be 
* abundant, good, and cheap." He further remarks, “the ‘bug’ has 
* spread to Natal irs the last few years, and last year I received 
* speeimens from there found on the common Wattle (Acacia). 
* Only yesterday (7th February 1887) I was sorry to receive a | 
* found there on the ora 
In New Zealand jn Paea is described as “ having papato 
* whole orchards of orange s in Auckland; and in Nelson a 
* Hawke’s Bay it is a dreaded pest on all kinds of plants.” 
I libel, Mr. Maskell states that it “is so voracious and universal a 
** feeder, so repulsive in its aspect, and so destructive in its effects that, 
* in spite erosene mixtures which uated destroy it, the most. 
* drastic empl: is the best. Anyone, therefore having a tree, espe- 
“ cially an ornamental or a fruit tree, “hicdoked by Icerya Purchasi, is 
* strongly recommended to make n o delay, but to cut down and burn 
** every stick of the tree as soon as possible." 
Professor Riley received the first American specimens in 1872 from 
* on Acacia latifolia.” It is now “a formidable pest, and has gained 
* such hold on the orange groves in California in spite of the most 
** strenuous efforts, that the people find it impossible to keep it down.” 
Before proceeding to give a general account of Icerya Purchasi, and 
the various steps that have been taken to deal with it, it may be well in 
the first place to quote Mr. Maskell’s description as given in An Account 
of Insects noxious to Agriculture and Plants in New Zealand, 
pp. 
Genus: Zcerya, Signoret. 
Adult females having antennz of 11 joints; covered with thin e 
secretion or with cotton ; stationary; with or n ous ovisac. Rostru 
and mentum present. Segmen ntation inconspicu 
Adult males utc tassels on the Ru n antennae with two 
mer on each j 
species aces of this genus are at present known, the on 
described below A another, /. Auges ds infesting sugar-canes in 
male of the latte unknown. ossibly researches 
in Tiria nea b in the bords of others 
Icerya Purchasi, Maskell. 
(The ** Cottony Cushion-scale.") 
N.Z. Trans., vol. xi., dm vn vol. xvi., 1883, p. 140; vol. xvii., 
1884, p. 30; vol. xix., 1886, p 
ity 
wot nearly etA filling d the spac 'e beneath it with thick white 
i lly exten i ind it i 
‘longated white ovisae, longitudinally corrugated; ovisac often much 
longer than the insect, and becom ing filled with oval red eggs. I 
of female about ! in., reaching sometimes nearly 4 in. Body previous to 
