140 
Transactions of 'the Boydl Society of South Africa. 
34. PSEUDOCOCCUS FLAGEANS Sp. n. 
(Plate XVI., Fig. 6. Plate XVIII., Fig. 20. Plate XIX., Fig. 30.) 
While digging in an ancient termite nest at Daspoort, a suburb of 
Pretoria, on October 11, 1914, my attention was drawn to some roots 
of grasses which had the appearance of having been recently white- 
washed. Small black ants were present in numbers, and an examination 
showed that a large pink mealy-bug, embedded in a compact, powdery, 
waxy secretion was the object of attraction. On pulling apart the leaf- 
sheaths below ground-level they were found tightly packed with this 
solid waxy secretion, which always appeared powdery rather than 
fibrous. Deeply embedded in this were female insects of different sizes 
(Fig. 6). When removed, the insect left a distinct cell in the wax, and 
was herself free from secretion. The colour of the insects — bright pink 
to flesh-colour — was in marked contrast wdth that of the secretion. 
Although females were present up to 4 mm. in length no trace of ova or 
larvae was found, so after removing a number for study the roots were 
planted in the insectary. 
On October 20th seven insects, all large specimens, were found above 
the ground on the grass itself. They varied in position from half an 
inch to three inches above the ground. All exhibited the same pheno- 
menon. They were hanging from the grass, head downward, with the 
posterior portion of the body, from the 2nd pair of legs, recurved, so that 
the ventral surface was exposed from above. They remained in this posi- 
tion throughout the day, and on October 21st all had disappeared except 
one, which was nearest the ground. This had secreted a very thin 
covering of delicate waxy filaments, and showed signs of two caudal 
filaments and a. very delicate marginal fringe, but the colour of the body 
was still quite distinctly visible. 
On October 24th five females were similarly observed on the grasses, 
all without waxy secretion of any kind. Whether these were the specimens 
observed on October 20th, or others, I cannot say. 
Taking into consideration the entire absence of ova and larvae, and 
the position of the insects on the grass stems, I would suggest that this 
indicates a mating instinct, but males have not yet been seen. 
Adult 2 : Elongate, parallel-sided, about 4 mm. long, bright pink to 
flesh-coloured. No lateral filaments were observed, but in two cases short 
caudal ones were present, while one insect indicated that there may, in 
certain cases, be four caudal filaments instead of two. 
In boiling KOH the colour rapidly changes from pink to deep purple, 
but the liquid remains colourless. 
In mounted specimens the most striking distinguishing character is 
the four median ventral '^lolates'' (Fig. 20). These are large and disc- 
