INTEODUCTION. 
Origin of word. Gr. Kokkos, berry; specifically, the berry that grows upon 
the scarlet tree. 
Distinguishing Characteristics. The Coccid®, or scale insects, belong to the 
suborder Homoptera of the order Hemiptera. The Heiniptera are distinguished 
from insects of other orders by the presence of sucking mouth-parts, and an 
incomplete metamorphosis. Many of the Hemiptera possess four wings. The 
Coccid®, anomalous as they are, conform strictly to none of these requirements. 
The males have two transparent wings, and are without mouth or food-taking 
apparatus. The natural position of the mouth is occupied by a pair of supple- 
mentary eyes. Instead of a second pair of wings there exists on each side of 
the metathorax a small hooked appendage.' These, in some species, serve as hooks 
to attach or control the true wings. The males pass through a complete meta- 
morphosis. 
The female. The males and females are similar in form and structure when 
hatched. (See Plate V, fig. 23, and Plate XVI, fig. 3.) These mite-like creatures 
differentiate during growth and development. The females pass through an in- 
complete metamorphosis, in most eases losing the power of locomotion and becom- 
ing stationary bodies engaged in taking nourishment from plant tissues, and in 
reproduction. The life histories and habits, on account of the great variation, can 
be best discussed under the subfamilies. 
Scale insects differ from closely related forms in the following particulars: 
The legs in both sexes terminate in a single claw. 
The females are wingless. 
The adult males, with the exception of two or three species, possess one pair 
of transparent wings on mesothorax. Each wing is strengthened and controlled 
by a hooked appendage from the metathorax. The mouth or apparatus for taking 
food is wanting in the adult males, which are usually, instead, furnished with 
supplementary eyes. 
Products of the Coccidae. While this family of plant parasites are hostile to 
the welfare of plant-life, they nevertheless give off some products of mercantile 
worth. 
Several species of Kermes formerly afforded a red dye used by the Greeks and 
Romans. These insects dwell upon Quercus coceifera in the Mediterranean region. 
A medicinal syrup is also obtained from them. Several Coccid® produce waxy 
matters. Ceroplastes ceriferus, one of the Lecaniin® of India, produces white wax. 
The white wax of China is said to be produced by another Lecaniid, Erieerus pela. 
Little is known concerning this insect. It is understood that the wax is produced 
by the winged males. This wax was formerly much prized in China, but since 
the introduction of kerosene is falling into disuse. Lac is produced by Carteria 
lacea, still another Lecaniid in India, living on Anona, Ficus, Rhamnus, and 
other hosts. This lac is the shelly scale which the insect produces for covering. 
It is composed chiefly of resinous matter, with which there is mixed small 
quantity of wax, and some other substances. This insect’s body yields the red 
substance called lake. 
(V) 
