JAMAICA. 



BULLETIN 



OF THE 



BOTANICAL DEPARTMENT. 



New Series.] FEBRUARY. 1894. 



COCCID^ OR SCALE INSECTS — IV. 



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

 Mexico Agricultural College. 



(11.) Coccus cacti, Linn. (The Cochineal Insect ). 



Diagnosis. — Female broadly oval, soft dark greyish, living in masses 

 of white secretiori. When crushed, the insects shows a fine carmine 

 colour. Antennae small and inconspicuous, of seven joints. 



Food-plants. — As is well known. Cochineal is obtained trom the 

 cacti of the genus Opuntia. 



Distribution. — Discovered in Mexico in 1518. but now introduced 

 into Madeira and the Canary Islands. Algeria. Spain, India,. Occ. in the 

 West Indies, it seems only to be found in Jamaica ; I nave seen it 

 fairlv abundant on some cacti in the Parade Garden, Kingston. 



Utility.— It is unnecessary to discuss here the commercial value of 

 Cochineal, or the uses to which it is put, as there seems no probability 

 that the insect will become a source of profit in Jamaica. That it was 

 so in former times, I infer from the title of a paper, " Observations on 

 the making of Cochineal in Jamaica*' (Phil. Trans., 1691. pp. 502-3), 

 but I have not had an opportunity of consulting this work. 



Destructiteness. — It is a pest of cactus-plants in gardens, rather un- 

 sightly than injurious. 



Enemies. — In Texas it is destroyed by the larvae of a moth (L&tilia 

 coccidivoraj, and it is infested by a parasitic fly (Leucopis belhila). 



(12.) Margarodes formicarium, Guld. (The Ground Pearl; 



Diagnosis. — The female insects are found in the ground associated 

 with ants ; they are rounded, almost pearl-like in appearance, yellowish, 

 slightly hairy, with small antennae. 



Distribution. — Found in Antigua ; also recorded as from tne Bahamas, 

 but I think in error. 



Destructiveness. — Where abundant, it may injure the roots of cul- 

 tivated plants, but I have seen no record of its doing so. 



Vol. I. 

 Part 2. 



