14 



skin; in some species after the permanent scale begins to form, in 

 others before. In this latter case the larval scale is plainly visible, 

 either upon the surface of the scale, or at one extremity, as in Mytilas- 

 pis. The change which the larva undergoes in this first moult is a 

 very remarkable one ; with the skin are shed the legs and the antennae, 

 and the young scale insect thus becomes a degra led grub-like creature, 

 with no organs of locomotion. The mouth parts remain and by them 

 the insect is firmly attached to the plant and continues to draw its 

 nourishment from it. From this stage the development of the two 

 sexes differs. 



In the second and last moult of the female the second skin is joined 

 to the first and with it forms part of the scale which covers the body 

 of the insect, but generally it constitutes only a small proportion of 

 the ultimate scale, the greater part of which is excreted subsequently 

 to the second moult. 



Soon after the second moult of the females, the adult males emerge 

 and impregnation is supposed to occur at once. The body of t.he fe- 

 male then increases in size, becoming distended with eggs ; these are 

 deposited beneath the scale, the body of the mother gradually shrink- 

 ing to make room for them. Ultimately the parent dies, but the eggs 

 continue their development ; the dead body of the mother, with its 

 scale, serving as a chamber or cradle for their protection until hatched. 

 The male scale insect during the early part of its grub-life is indis- 

 tinguishable from the female. At the first moult, like the female, it 

 loses its legs and antennas ; the second moult agrees with that of the 

 female, but there the similarity in form between the two sexes cea>e>. 

 It is now in the pupa state, and has long antennae, and rudimentary 

 legs and wings. After a third casting of the skin the adult male ap- 

 pears with three pairs of legs, and a large pair of wings in front, by 

 means of which it can fly, but the mouth parts are replaced by sup- 

 pleraentary eyes, and it is unable to eat. In the particular genus, My- 

 tilaspis, to which the orange scale belongs, the stale proper of the fe- 

 male is elongated, and the exuviae or dead skins are seen at one ex- 

 tremity. The scale of the male is similar in form to that of the fe- 

 male, only smaller. Fortunately it does not appear that the scales in- 

 jure the trees or the oranges very seriously in Jamaica, but the un- 

 sightly appearance given to the fruit when the parasite adheres in con- 

 siderable numbers, renders it desirable that measures should be taken 

 to prevent the spread of the pest. 



A "WAX-PRODUCING SCALE. 



In one group of scale insects forming the genus Ceroplastes, the 

 body in the adult condition is furnished with a thick covering of 

 waxy material, produeed as an excrescence of the animal. It does 

 not, however, adhere very closely to the insect. Quite recently an ex- 

 ample has been contributed to the Museum by Mr. Campbell, of the 

 Parade Gardens, which infests some of the trees in considerable num- 

 bers. Mr. Cockerell, to whom it has been forwarded, has described it 

 as a new species, Ceroplastes confiuens, and notes that it may be well 

 to obtain all possible information respecting it, suggesting that the 

 wax may be of economic importance. 



