3 



lood-jplants. — It lives in great numbers on various cultivated plants, forming immense colonies 

 easily visible from several yards away. I have seen it on Prosopis j uliflora, Acalypha, sweet sop, Tri- 

 bulus cistoides, cotton, violet, Colocasia esculenta, coco-nut palm, &c. 



Distribution. — At present only known from Jamaica ; anyone wishing to obtain specimens can 

 hardly fail to find some if he will examine the trees and shrubs along East Street, Kingston. 



Enemies. — The little fly which I described as Diplosis coccidarum was observed in Dr. Q-rabham's 

 garden apparently depositing its eggs in a colony of Dactylopius viryatus on a Colocasia. I have no 

 doubt that it breeds among the mealy bugs and destroys them. 



Destructiveness. — This is one of the very worst Coccidae we have, as it infests so many different 

 plants, doing much injury to them. In Kingston, it cannot possibly be con- trolled unless by some 

 united action ; for although it would not be difficult to destroy it in one place hy insecticides, efforts of 

 this kind would be futile while it was swarming in the land adjoining. A tree hanging over the road 

 in East St. was at one time almost covered by them, and had reached such a stage that it seemed only 

 fit to be cut down and burned. 



On Colocasia this mealy bug is very annoying, but it seems usually to infest only one or two leaves on 

 a plant, at least at first. These leaves can easily be cut off and destroyed. On sour sop and allied 

 plants it could only be reached by spraying. On coconut palm it does no great ham, so far as I know ; 

 I found it on this tree only at the Marine Gardens in Kingston, where the specimens were immature. 



(4) Dactylopius longifilis, Comst. (The Long-tailed Mealy-bug.) 

 Diagnosis. — Similar to the last, but the " tails" are much more slender, and there are many short 

 white filaments along the sides. There is also no banding on the back. It is a pretty species, very easily 

 recognised. 



Food-plants. — I have found it on various plants, including Ficus, Adiantum, Jamaica plum, guava, 

 mango, star-apple, and palm. It is rather singular that although this and the last each infest many 

 plants, they seem as a rule to infest different kinds. 



Distribution. — In the "West Indies only known from Jamaica. It was first found on hothouse 

 plants in the United States. 



Destructiveness. — It is a troublesome garden pest on ferns and small plants in pots ; it also attacks 

 the fruit of the mango in such a way as to make it presumably unsaleable. 



(5 ) Dactylopius brevipes Ckll. (The Pine-apple Mealy-bug.) 

 Diagnosis. — A small pink species with filaments along the sides, like the last, but without any 

 distinct " tails." 



Food-plants. — Found inside the natural cavities in the fruit of the pine-apple. 

 Distribution. — Only known from Jamaica. 



Destructiveness. — It does no appreciable damage, but may be looked for as a curiosity on the dinner 

 table. 



(6) Dactylopius citri, Bdv. (The Citrus Mealy-bug.) 



Diagnosis. — Much like the last, but pale brownish or brownish-yellow. It is a small species with 

 the lateral filaments but without tails. 



Food-plants. — In Jamaica it has been found on coffee and Croton. In Europe, Signoret relates that 

 he found it in great numbers on citron trees at Mentone. In Florida, it has been found on orange and 

 coffee ; and it has been found on orange trees from the Sandwich Islands. 



Distribution. — In the West Indies, only known from Jamaica. "Widely distributed elsewhere, being 

 doubtless spread by human means. 



Destructiveness. — Not noticed as particularly injurious in Jamaica ; but in Florida it is a well- 

 known orange pest. It is liable to be troublesome on the orange and coffee in our island. 



Enemies. — In the United States it is known to have several parasites, which might be introduced 

 nto Jamaica if the insect became seriously destructive. 



Synonym. — Comstock has given a good description of this species under the name Dactylopius 

 destructor. 



(7) Dactylopius simplex, Ckll. (The Pancratium Mealy-bug.) 



Diagnosis. — A very small brown species, with neither lateral filaments nor tails. It lives in scat- 

 tered patches of white secretion. 



Food-plants. — Found on the upper side of the leaves of Pancratium. 



Distribution. — Only known from specimens discovered by Dr. Strachan in his garden in Kingston, 

 Jamaica. 



Destructiveness. — It is likely to prove moderately harmful to liliaceous plants in gardens. 



(8) Dactylopius calceolarice, Mask. (The Sugar-cane Mealy-bug.) 

 Diagnosis. — This has characters similar to the last, but is larger and pink in colour. It lives in 



cottony masses. 



Food-plants. — The name associates it with Calceolaria, but in the Fiji Island and in Jamaica it in- 

 fests the sugar-cane, living within the sheathing bases of the leaves. 



Distribution.— -First found in New Zealand, afterwards in Fiji, and more recently in Jamaica. It 

 has probably been introduced into Jamaica with sugar-canes. 



Destructiveness. — A comparatively unimportant pest of the sugar-cane. 



