The Coccidas of South Africa. 
73 
METHODS AND TECHNIQUE. 
The methods of preparation of Coccids for study vary considerably, 
according to the purpose of the study, and also with the previous training 
of the student. The personal equation enters largely, as it does into all 
research, so that the final methods employed depend upon the results 
of personal experiment and experience. For this reason it is advisable to 
indicate merely, in a general v^ay, the lines of procedure ; and to leave 
details to the individual worker. 
The process of determination should begin at the time of collection 
of material, and the following points should all receive due attention : — 
{a) Host-plant : name if possible. If the plant is not known sufficient 
material should be obtained for determination, and wherever possible 
an attempt should be made to secure flowers or fruit and a typical twig 
with leaves. Position of insects on the plant and habits ; whether 
clustered or solitary ; whether on branches only or on leaves and fruit ; 
whether more common on underside of leaves, etc. 
{h) The insect itself : general colour impressions ; distribution on 
plant ; whether ^ puparia are associated with the females or clustered 
on some other part of the plant. If males are not observed, and $ puparia 
not found, search should be made on fallen leaves, etc., round about. 
The puparia of Mammoth Scale are found on fallen leaves beneath the 
trees which bear the females. The males of Aspidoproctus viirahilis, and 
tricoruis, which are closely related scale insects common in some parts of 
South Africa on thorn-trees, have never been observed. 
(c) Care of material collected. Specimens should be collected to 
illustrate the life-history as far as possible. Young and male forms should 
be obtained whenever possible.^ Each twig bearing specimens should be 
wrapped separately in soft paper to prevent tlie insects from being crushed 
or unduly rubbed, and particularly to retain larvae, males, or parasites 
which may emerge before the material is studied in the laboratory. It is 
highly important that an adequate amount of material should be collected 
when found. It is a gL'ea' mistake to think that because a certain insect 
is very plentiful at one time that it can always be obtained when required. 
{d) The approximate size of adult insects ; the presence or absence of 
secretionary covering, ovisac, etc. ; the nature of secretion, colour, distri- 
bution on body, etc.; the colour of the body denuded; the colour of legs 
and antennae, if present ; the length and nature of caudal, lateral, or 
