70 



Habits.— Found in the nests of an ant, the Cremastog aster brevispi- 

 nosa of Mayr. 



Destructiveness. — The food-plant is unknown, but it may be as- 

 sumed that the insect is not seriously destructive. 



(21.) Lecanium begonice, Dougl. (The Begonia Shield-Scale). 



Diagnosis. — In shape similar to the last, but only about an eighth 

 of an inch long ; shiny, so dark brown as to seem black. The scale is 

 not equally convex in each direction ; consequently, the outline as 

 seen from the side is pyramidal, while seen from the end it is rounded. 

 This scale, from its very different habitat, is not likely to be con- 

 founded with the last ; but should any doubt arise it may be set at 

 rest by examining the substance of the scale by transmitted light un- 

 der the microscope. In urichi it presents numerous large round gland- 

 spots, but in begonice it consists of distinct oblong plates, each having 

 a gland-spot in its centre. 



Distribution. — Originally from Demerara, but since found by Mr. 

 Barber in Antigua. 



Food-plants. — Begonia in Demerara, Terminalia in Antigua. Pro- 

 bably it will be found to infest various plants. 



Destructiveness. — It is likely to be troublesome in gardens. 



Enemies. — It is severely attacked by a Chalcidid parasite in Anti- 

 gua. On one leaf, 22 out of 35 scales showed parasite-holes. The 

 parasite appears to represent a new species. 



(22.) Lecanium depressum. Targ. (The Hibiscus Shield-Scale). 



Diagnosis. — Like the last, except in shape, being twice as long as 

 broad. Dark chocolate brown, very shiny, convex, having the dermis 

 finely reticulate, as in begonice. 



Distribution. — First found on cultivated species of Ficus at Florence, 

 Italy, and in Paris. Mr. Maskell reports it from plants in green- 

 houses in New Zealand ; also from Australia, and the Sandwich Islands. 

 In the West Indies, it was first found by Mr. Barber on Hibiscus in 

 Antigua; recently Mr. Urich has detected it on the same plant at 

 Port-of-Spain, Trinidad. 



Food-plants. — Various ; Hibiscus, Ficus, Hakea, guava, bamboo, &c. 



Destructiveness. — It is undoubtedly a serious pest wherever it be- 

 comes abundant. Mr. Barber remarked that it was enormously fertile. 



Remarks. — Mr. Maskell, of New Zealand, is of opinion that this, 

 L. begonice and L. nigrum of Nietner all represent different forms of 

 a single species ; which, according to the law of priority, must be 

 called L. nigrum. While I am not altogether prepared to accept this 

 view, it must be admitted that they are at least very closely allied, 

 and it is important to bear in mind the possibility or probability of 

 their specific identity. 



Lecanium nigrum has hitherto only been known from India and 

 Ceylon, where it attacks coffee. According to Mr. E. E. Green, how- 

 ever, it is seldom found on coffee, though " sometimes present in large 

 numbers upon the Croton-oil plant and the Ceara rubber, where it pro- 

 duces the usual effect, viz., a heavy fall of leaf and black fungus." 



(23.) Lecanium hemisphcericum f Targ. (The Brown Shield-Scale.) 

 Diagnosis. — Small, very convex, hemispherical, reddish-brown, 

 usually crowded together on the plant. 



