74 First Report on Economic Zoology. 
(i.) Two small larval mealy Bugs ( Dactyl-ohms citri). 
(ii.) A single mite ( Tetr any elms telarius). 
(iii.) Several specimens in larval, pupal, and adult winged stages 
of one of the Pseado-Neuroptera belonging to the family Psocidce. 
The following note was sent to Col. Sanderson : — 
The life-history of the Psocidce is roughly as follows : The females 
lay their eggs in patches on leaves, bark, etc., of trees and plants and 
other objects, many on dead and decaying matter and preserved 
objects. The females cover the eggs with a web. Larvse and pupae 
are much alike ; wing-buds gradually appear on the larva and so the 
pupal stage is assumed. Dry vegetable matters and lichens form the 
food of one section ( Phocina ) ; the food of the other section ( Atropina ) 
is dried insects, plants, books, papers, etc. One of the latter, Atropos 
divinatoria, is sometimes called the Death Watch. A beetle, Ano- 
bium tessellatum , is also called the Death Watch. The Psocidae do 
much harm to papers, books, and insect collections. The Phocina 
live more or less in societies on tree trunks, palings, and amongst 
rough herbage and on trees, especially on Conifers ; both sexes can 
spin a web of silk. Some species do harm to living plants, but the 
majority do not. The Psocidae sent belong to the genus Ccecilius. 
With regard to the male “ Mealy Bugs ” which you enquire 
after, they can soon be told, for they have one pair of wings as in all 
other Coccidae, and thus differ from the winged Psocids. 
The common “ Mealy Bug ” is known as Dactylobius citri , Bois- 
duval, and is the same as D. destructor of Comstock. It is a world- 
wide species. The males are not so very rare ; they are of a dull 
reddish colour and have two long white thread-like processes at the 
end of the body ; the single pair of wings are dark iridescent blue, 
and when the insects are settled these wings overlap and hide the 
abdomen. They are very different in appearance from the sedentary 
females. 
Two other “ Mealy Bugs ” occur in Great Britain, namely the 
Long-fringed Mealy Bug {D. lonyipinus) and the native Laburnum 
and Corse Mealy Bug ( Pscudococcus ulicis). The former can be told 
by the long margined processes. The latter is really non-injurious. 
The other forms you sent with the winged Ccecilius were its 
larval and pupal stages. Many of the Psockke remain very like the 
larval stage you send, i.e. in an apterous condition. 
