THE INJURIOUS SCALE INSECTS AND MEALY BUGS, &c. 235 
more sombre-coloured scales of their partners. An example of this kind is 
shown in the photograph. (Fig. 101, B.) The males are bright orange- 
crimson, with long sabre-like genitalia. But the most interesting feature is 
that they occur in two forms, winged and apterous — a character w^hich is 
unique among British coccids, and rarely met with in other countries. 
The eggs are laid about August, but do not hatch till the following 
spring. In June or early July the perfect males appear, and die shortly 
afterwards ; while the females live on until after laying their eggs, when, 
like other allied insects, they die, leaving theiv old desiccated bodies at the 
extremity of the little covering scale. This is a very hardy species of Palae- 
arctic distribution, occurring as far as 63° north latitude. 
Brown Fern Chionaspis 
{Chionaspis aspidistrcB, Signoret). 
This species is generally met with in this country on Ferns, but it is 
by no means exclusively confined to such plants. It was first discovered 
by Signoret on Aspidistra, and it has been met with at Kew on Palms 
and Heliconia metallica. 
The covering scale of the female is red-brown, and is much more 
mussel-shaped than the other British species, and superficially bears a 
strong resemblance to Mytilaspis. But the form of the male scale at 
once distinguishes it from that genus, it being a white felted structure, 
as described elsewhere (see fig. 99, C, of Diaspis amygdali). 
It is probably a sub-tropical insect, as it occurs with us only in warm 
houses. Among other places it has been recorded from Ceylon and New 
Zealand. 
As a novelty we have also Chionasijis biclavis, Comstock, a species 
remarkable for its burrowing properties, which are so strongly 
developed that it can completely bury itself beneath the epidermis of its 
food-plant, presenting minute swellings as the only indication of its 
presence. It is a rare species with us, and so far has not occurred in 
sufficient numbers to include it among the strictly injurious species. 
Palm and Camellia Fiorinl\ Scale 
(Fiorinia fiorinice, Targioni-Tozzetti). 
The covering scale of 'this species is elongate, with straight or slightly 
curved sides, and there is usually a strong ridge or keel running down 
its centre. It is usually of an orange-brown colour, and when very old 
presents a somewhat mealy appearance. Curiously, the covering scale is 
composed almost entirely of the moulted skin of the second-stage female, 
in which the adult insect lives and brings forth its young. With us it 
occurs chiefly upon Palms, and is often very injurious to seedling plants, 
causing the leaves to turn yellow and sickly. In other countries it has 
also been found on the Camellia, but I do not think it is likely to infest 
it in this country, as Camellias are grown in too cool an atmosphere for 
its welfare. 
It is a difficult species to keep in check, and " dipping," as described in 
my instructions, has given the most satisfactory results. Where small 
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