The Coccidae of South Africa. 
159 
1'75 to 4 mm., with an average (from 17 examples) of 2*95 x 2-37 mm." 
(Green.) 
Habitat : On Op^mtia monacantha under experimental conditions at 
Eosebank Experiment Station, CP., Natal Museum, and Division of 
Entomology, Pretoria. 
This species was introduced by the Queensland Prickly Pear Commis- 
sion in 1913. An attempt is being made to establish it in this country 
because of its toxic effect on its host-plant. 
Collection No. : 37. 
Gen. SPHAEKOCOCCUS Mask. 
The characters of this genus are somewhat vague, and require revision. 
The definition given by MaskeU, in the N.Z. Trans., 1892, p. 237, is as 
follows : " Adult females naked, or producing cotton or wax. Anal 
tubercles absent ; anogenital ring hairless. Antennae of usually less than 
seven joints, sometimes atrophied. Feet sometimes absent, sometimes 
atrophied, sometimes deformed. Adult ^ unknown." 
44. Sphaerococcus africanus sp. n. 
Ovisac : Creamy-white to yellowish in colour, densely felted, varying 
in size to 3 mm. long and 2-75 in diameter; usually almost spherical, 
sometimes more or less elongate oval. Ovisacs generally separate and 
distinct, occasionally more or less clustered. 
Larva : Freshly mounted, orange-yellow, broad, 0*3 mm. long. 
Antennae of 6 segments; eyes prominent, deeply pigmented. Mouth- 
parts extraordinarily broad and large. Caudal lobes not produced, but 
represented by one long seta on each side. 
Adult $ : Entirely enclosed in the felted sac ; pale translucent brown ; 
no secretion ; colour in boiling KOH deep brown, liquid slightly coloured 
brownish. 
Size mounted may reach 3 mm. long by 2-8 broad. Antennae short, 
6- or 7-jointed, usually 7. The 6- jointed form arises from the failure of 
the two apical segments to divide. 
The segments vary considerably in size, the range from 12 measure- 
ments being:— (1) 20-30; (2) 20-25; (3) 13-20; (4) 14-23; (5)12-18; 
(6) 17-22 ; (7) 40-48. 
The legs are small, approximating : — 
I. 
20 
60 
85 
40 
47 
21 
51 
II. 
22 
60 
95 
47 
51 
24 
64 
III. 
28 
60 
120 
74 
57 
30 
64 
