72 



and on comparing the description given by Signoret, and the various 

 figures published by Mr. Green of Ceylon, I can scarcely doubt the 

 identity. 



(24.) Lecanium filicum, Boisd. (The Fern Shield-Scale). 



Diagnosis. — Like the last, but somewhat smaller, with the sides 

 more or less furrowed. Young specimens are white. 



Distribution. —Found on ferns in Kingston, Jamaica ; also in the 

 United States , Europe and Australia. 



Food-plants.Y aiious ferns ; Pteris, &c. 



Destructiveness. — Troublesome in gardens and hothouses. 



Remarks. — It is doubtful whether this species is distinct from the 

 last, which is also sometimes found on ferns. 



(25.) Lecanium olece, Bern. (The Black Shield-Scale). 



Diagnosis. — Hemispherical, somewhat larger than hemisphcericum, 

 marked by one longitudinal and two transverse ridges, which form to- 

 gether a raised letter H. Colour black, varying to brown, the latter 

 state being var. testudo, Curtis. It is to be remarked that the ridges, 

 so conspicuous in this species, are to be observed in the young of 

 hemisphcericum ; but they do not remain in the adult, as in olece. 



Distribution. — Common enough in Kingston, Jamaica; found by 

 Mr. Barber in Antigua, and by Mr. IT rich in Trinidad. Also in 

 Europe, California, Florida, S. Carolina, Xew Zealand, Australia and 

 Hawaii. 



Food-plant*. — Recorded from many different plants ; olive, camellia, 

 Cassinia leptophylla, orange, guava, Ficus Carica, oleander, holly, live 

 oak, peas, apricot, plum, pomegranate, Oregon ash, bittersweet, apple, 

 Eucalyptus, Sabal palm, California coffee, rose, Cape jessamine, Ha- 

 brothamnvs elegans,Brachceeton,h.eo.t\i,Brexia, Cratceva, Soushumber.Ter- 

 minalia, almond, Acer dasycarpum Artemisia californica, Abutilon, &c. 



It was Mr. Maskell who recorded it on Cassinia leptophylla, and 

 since that time he has separated the specimens found on this plant as 

 a distinct species, Lecanium cassince. It is from Xew Zealand. 



Destructiveness. — Well-known, especially in California, as a very in- 

 jurious scale. In the West Indies it does not appear to do so much 

 harm as L. hemisphcericum, nor is it, at least in Jamaica, a serious pest 

 of the orange or olive. At Moneague, Jamaica, I searched the bitter 

 orange trees, and found only one example of the scale. Although 

 common in Kingston, an olive tree in the yard of the Jamaica Insti- 

 tute was not attacked by it. 



Enemies. — It is known to be attacked by a fungus in Australia ; in 

 California a species of Capnodium doubtfully referred to C. citri, was 

 found on dead scales, and it was surmised that it might attack living 

 ones. 



The larva of a moth, Erastria scitula, Eambur, preys on it in 

 Europe ; while in Australia it is similarly attacked by the larva of 

 Thalpochares coccophaga, Meyrick. 



A beetle, Rhizobms ventralis, Er., was found useful as an enemy of 

 the Black Scale in California ; this beetle is a native of Australia, 

 whence it had been introduced to feed on scale-insects 



A Chalcidid parasite, Tomocera californica. Howard, destroys it in 

 California at Orange, Cal., in 1889, it was observed that 80 per cent. 



