130 
PSYLLA OBSOLETA, 
BUCKTON. 
Reference :—Ind Mus. Notes V. 2.35, 30. 
Classification :—Order, HEMIPTERA, Family, Psyllide. 
Descrtpiion, 
Antenne filiform obscurely ten-jointed, basal joint large. 
Apex with two minute bristles. Thorax robust with two small 
spines underneath, Ferruginous in colour above, shining 
black below. Abdomen similarly coloured and having rings 
with pale edges, Forewings veined, transparent, and placed 
in a roof-shaped manner over the body when at rest; they are 
much longer than body. Hind wings obsolete or represented 
by mere membranous flaps. Pl, VI, fig. 5, shows, a, the winged 
insect, and b, gall formed by larva on leaf. 
Life History} 
This insect forms small galls on the leaves of a forest tree. 
These galls are yellowish-red, rough, and have the appearance 
of the galls known as oak spangles which are to be found on 
oak leaves in England. The galls are apparently ripe, z.e., the 
insects in them are mature and quit their abode in January and 
February. Although the insects were abroad under the trees 
at the time the samples of galls were taken and sent to Mr. 
Buckton for identification, none of them were perforated and 
the method by which the insect leaves the gall has still to be 
observed. When first emerging from the pupz the insects are 
uniformly pale coloured. The colours darken afterwards. 
Relations to the Forest. 
So far as at present observed, the damage done appears to 
be entirely to the younger plants of Diospyros melanoxylon, 

1 This insect was discovered on the leaves of the Diospyros melanoxylon 
tree in the Shahapur taluka of the South Thana Forest Division by Mr. G. 
M. Ryan, Deputy Conservator of Forests, and sent to Mr. Buckton, F.R.S., 
for identification, 
