99 



readily reconcile with the aid of our very abundant material in the latter 

 genus. The eye structure to which he gives such particular weight as 

 a distinguishing character, is common to I. purchasi^ I. sacchari, and I. 

 rosce. The proportions of the antennal joints are identical with those of 

 Icerya, and the '' subpyriform " appearance of joints 4 to 10 is one which 

 is often perceptible in /. piirchasi, and, in fact, is much as we have 

 shown it at Fig. 3a of Plate II of our Annual Heport for 1886. The 

 single exception to the similarity of characters is the disposition of the 

 waxy secretion, and this as it seems to us is a matter wholly of specific 

 and not at all of generic importance. In Mr. Douglas's species the ovisac 

 is of about the same relative size as that of I. purchasiy and of about 

 the same shape. "It curves under the abdomen and completely covers 

 the underside of it, closely attached thereto at the edges, forming a 

 capacious receptacle, quite smooth externally, but with the faintest in- 

 dication of longitudinal striae." The most characteristic features of the 

 secretion are described by Mr. Douglas as follows : 



In the first stage of adultness tlie whole smooth surface has a pellicle of white, 

 waxen matter closely adherent, but easily detached, and often more or less easily 

 rubbed off; eventually, as the ovisac is developed, exudation of waxen and cottony 

 matter obscures the segmentatiou. At first there is a narrow, well-defined marginal 

 rim all round the body, afterwards there is a flattened area exterior to this ; from 

 just below it, on each side o± the abdomen, is a projecting fringe of seven to eight dis- 

 tinct, contiguous, stout, sinuate, tapering, waxen, snow-white, opaque, fragile pro- 

 cesses, 3 to 5™"^ long, much curved round at the pointed ends, all as a rule tending 

 downwards. In one specimen sheltered within a curved leaf, a similar but thicker, 

 straighter, obtuse, upturned, or horizontal appendage also proceeds from the sides of 

 each of the thoracic segments, and two from the head; the latter close together, the 

 others wide apart. This is the most perfect example, and I regard it as typical of the 

 species ; in the other specimens these appendages, which are very fragile, have been 

 more or less broken off by the incidents of the position of the insects on loose leaves 

 during transit. 



We have thus given Mr. Douglas's exact description of the arrange- 

 ment of the secretion for tbe purpose of comparing it with the next 

 species which we shall consider, and we reproduce his figures for the 

 same purpose. Reverting to Mr. Blunfield's statement that '• a breeze 

 sends the cottony pest down in all directions," it is at once evident that 

 it is these fragile, waxy processes which are thus broken off and fall, 

 and that the insects themselves are not so dislodged. 



Pending the finding and comparison of the males, therefore, we shall 

 be obliged to consider Crossotosoma cegyptiacum as a true Icerya^ differ- 

 ing from I. purchasi chiefly in the possession of the long waxy processes. 



THE MONTSERRAT ICERYA. 

 (Icerya montserratensis n. sp.) 



Under date of May 10, 1890, we were written to by the Montserrat 

 Company, of Birmingham, England, asking that specimens of Vedalia 

 cardinalis be sent to the attorney of their company at Montserrat, West 



