8 



COCCHXE OR SCALE INSECTS.— VIII. 



By T. D. A. Cockerell, Professor of Entomology at the New Mexico 



Agricultural College. 



Genus Asierolecanium ; the Fringed scales. 



Small round, oval or elongated scales, with a microscopical fringe of 

 fine threads. This includes the genus Planchonia, which does not suffi- 

 ciently differ from Asterolecanium. 



(43) Asterolecanium pustulans, Ckll. (The Akee Fringed-scale.) 



Diagnosis. — Small round scales, about the size and shape of a pin's- 

 head, greenish yellow with a pink fringe. They look like little pus- 

 tules, and are found, not on the leaves, but on the twigs and stems of, 

 plants infested. Somtimes they are on the leaf-stalks. 



Distribution. — Common in Jamaica ; also found in Eritish Guiana 

 Me ntserrat, Grenada, Antigua, .A uguilla, Brazil Mexico, Florida and 

 the Sandwich Is. 



Food-plants — In Kingston, Jamaica, any one may find it by searching 

 on the akee trees. It also infests oleander, pigeon-peas, custard-apple, 

 mango and other plants. Mr. .Barber (Insect Life, vi., p. 51) reports 

 it as on perillea — which is, I suppose, a misprint for Fevillea. In Gre- 

 nada, Vi r. W. E. Broadway has found it in the Botanic Gardens on 

 Leuccena glauca. 



Destructiveness. — It is quite a pernicious species, especially on oleander. 

 Enemies. — It has a Chalcidid parasite in Montserrat. 



(44.) Asterolecanium oncidii, Ckll. (The orchid Fringed-scale.) 



Diagnosis. — Like the last but a little smaller, and bright yellow. 

 Found on leaves. 



Distribution. — Common in Jamaica ; also found in Trinidad, by Mr, 

 Hart. In Europe, Targioni-Tozzetti hes found it on hot-house orchids, 

 and indentified it, I believe erroneously, with A. aureum 



Food-plants. — On orchids only, found on the leaves. Targioni-Tozzetti 

 found it on Oncidium; Mr. Hart on Epidendrum. In Jamaica, Dr. Hen- 

 derson found it on Oncidium tetrapetalum and Angrcecum sesquipedale, 

 while I found it on Broughtonia sanguined. 



Destructiveness. — Likely to be troublesome on choice orchids. 



Bemarks. — It is probable that the " Lecanium" epidendri of Bouche is 

 identified with this, but Bouche's description is very short. If the 

 identity be assumed, epidendri has long priority. 



(45) Asterolecanium aureum, Boisd. (The golden Fringed-scale.) 



Diagnosis. — Similar to the last but rather larger, the outline more 

 oval also rather flatter. Fringe seeming to consist of comparatively 

 few broad rays, but this is due to several of the minute threads adhering 

 together. On leaves, not of orchid. 



Distribution. — Found in a European hothouse. Mr. Hart sends 

 me what I believe to be the same species from the Botanical Gardens, 

 Trinidad. 



Food-plants. — Originally on Maranta rittata, more correctly called Ca- 

 lathea rittata, Koern. a plant of which the native habitat appears to be 



