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> BULLETIN
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ENTOMOLOGICAL RESEARCH
ISSUED BY THE IMPERIAL BUREAU OF ENTOMOLOGY.
EDITOR: THE DIRECTOR.
VOL XI,
LONDON: Tue Imppria, Bureau or Entomo.noey, 41, QubEN’s Gate, 8.W.7. 1920-1921.
4
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IMPERIAL BUREAU OF ENTOMOLOGY.
Honorary Committee of Management.
VISCOUNT HARCOURT, Chasrman.
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COME, US.
ORIGINAL ARTICLES.
Arrow, GILBERT J. PAGE. Some New West Indian Species of the Melolonthid Genus Lachnosterna 189
AustTEN, Masor E. E. The Percy Sladen Trust rape to the Indian Ocean in 1905, and
1907-1900, © Diptera > Tabanidae?..... es eae 43 Notes on the Nomenclature of certain African Tabanidae (Sub-family Pangoniinae) with Descriptions of a new Genus and new Species.... 139
BARRAUD, Capt. P. J. Mosquitos collected in Palestine and adjacent Territories............ 387
Bezzi, Pror. M. Further Notes on the Lonchaeidae (Dipt.) with Descriptions of New
Rarer ret APTI SA BIS css. cick ace e oe ving oye pee a cs 199 Brain, Dr. Cuas. K. ‘ ine Woceidac of South Atri¢a Vi. 2.55 dee eee ae then bie 1
Buxton, P. A. A Liparid Moth (Ocnerogyia amanda, Staud.), destructive to Figs in
Ble aGU OfatA ay 58. onl) soe euetics op on LW Mes Ade, s, Sole NRE 181 Insect Pests of Dates and the Date Palm in Mesopotamia and else- er ere eee may fee 9 sl een het, «age ap 287
CorBETT, G. H. Observations on Cotton Thrips in the Gezira, Blue Nile Province, ant) mi See ero cad deo eed Me A pean! fees ah 95 D EMMEREZ DE CHARMOY, D. Notes on Insects accidentally introduced into the Island of Mauritius 171
D’ EMMEREZ DE Cuarmoy, D. & Tempany, Dr. H. A. The Campaign against Phytalus smithi in the Colony of Mauritius.... 159
DauziEL, Dr. J. M.
Crab- holes, Trees and other Mosquito Sources in Lagos............. 247 Epwarps, F. W. Notes on the Mosquitos of Madagascar, Mauritius and Réunion...... 133 On the British Species of Simulium—II. The Early Stages ; with Corrections and Additions to PartI.................ceeeee eee: 211
Fraser, Mayor A. D.
Notes on the Blood-sucking Flies in North Russia during the Summer Se AOLS,..1 hall eet dh. ORRIN cage ns x9 oot dubisinieses 195
IneraM, Dr. A. & Macrin, Dr. J. W. 8.
The Karly Stages of West African Mosquitos—V. Culex decens, Thee., and Culex imvidioaua, Theo... .... 6.66 e eee ese eee: 105
(741) Wt. P2/154, 1,000. 7.21. B.&F.Ltd. Gli/i4.
Vi. CONTENTS
JACK, RupPErRT W. Some Notes and Remarks on the Bionomics of Glossina morsitans.... 113
LAMBoRN, Dr. W. A. Some further Notes on the Tsetse-Flies of Nyasaland.............. 101 The Habits of a Dipteron predaceous on Mosquitos in Nyasaland .. 279
Luoyp, Capt. LI.
On the Reasons for the Variation in the Effects of Formaldehyde as Sl OlMGmst OPEL ONISP ted: i naicts «cede ia Peis jet a hd nis. > ee’ <a ee 47
Macrre, Dr. J. W. S. & Ineram, Dr. A. The Early Stages of West African Mosquitos. V. Culex decens,
Theo., and Culen anerdiosus. Theo. 2 hig pte ob hace ia wicca 105 MacGrecor, Matcoutm E: A New Type of Entomological Killing Bottle...................... 283 Marsnal., Dr. G. A. K. Some New Injurious Weevils. < .0i00 225 sons gids. he PE ee 271
NEWSTEAD, Pror. R. On ‘the Genus Phichotomus. Part VV... os. 32803 eee eee eee 305
SWELLENGREBEL, Dr. N. H. & SWELLENGREBEL DE GRAAF, J. M. H.
List of the Anophelines of the Malay Archipelago with special refer- ence to Adults and Larvae of new or incompletely described Species OP. WAMIGHIES Le efay ooo ste eee cing Were he er ene: ee 2 ae 77
SWYNNERTON, C. F. M.
An Examination of the Tsetse Problem in North Mossurise, Portuguese Piaet; MMIC a he s2 ow we ee Oe sa Bae oe Beane ee 315
Tempany, Dr. H. A. & D’ EMMEREZ DE CHARMoy, D. The Campaign against Phytalus smithi in the Colony of Mauritius.... 159
THEOBALD, F. V.
pnadae (Ob (Ree: soso hes ial de Sake aye, oa ule pic sca SR Ret a 153
Aiacan' Mehidse ee ary ey pete eek Pee ee aici e sale ee 65 Uvarov, B. P.
A preliminary Revision of the Genus Dociostaurus, Fieb. .......... 397 WituraMs, C. B.
A Pannier Hopperdover i... eka ees oss hl ee 179 KETEK, JAMES.
Anopheles breeding among Water Lettuce. A new Habitat........ 73
MISCELLANEOUS.
Collections ‘Tereived..:.. os. .c choses sss nc. ca eee eee 93, 187, 313, 409
PLATES.
PAGE.
lV, South Afticat Goccidae. 0k. 6. he wae cnc tceace facing 42 V. Views showing captures and destruction of Phytalus smitha
ERI Ret cas baie gale aces eet a. ke
VI. A pannier hopper-dozer for catching insects on sugar-cane ,, 186
wit. opera CUPCUUONIGAG «be ce us leaden cee 5 mie
VIII. Dates showing ravages of larvae of a Gelechtid Moth ...... i Oe IX.—XVII. Types of forest and breeding places of Glossina in
meromucde Wash ATION, si ool a oie. oy eek ce lads tae dein BOO
PAGE.
Charts of Sipane Vlei, 8. Rhodesia...... 2S Sian oa PN cee ar ter 125, 127
Map illustrating report on the tsetse-fly problem im Portu- ene EM, «Sie or 2S Cd ee aay ew Cowes aaa wae <- facing 386
ERRATA.
——“-—-—
Page 159, line 16 for (iii, pp. 93-102)
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Rev. App. Ent., B, i (Pl. XVII, fig. 1)
-
VOL. XI. Part 1.—pp. 1-94. ; AUGUST, 1920,
BULLETIN OF — ENTOMOLOGICAL RESEARCH
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bh \ NiAN OS
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Price 5s. net.
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IMPERIAL BUREAU OF ENTOMOLOGY. HON ORARY COMMITTEE OF MANAGEMENT
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BULLETIN
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Vou. XI.
1920.
THE COCCIDAE OF SOUTH AFRICA—V.* By Cuas. K. Brain, D.Sc. Division of Entomology, Pretoria, South Africa.
Subfamily LecanimnaE Key to Genera Genus Lecanium, Burm.
Saissetia, Deplan. Hemilecannum, Newst.
Aclerda, Sign.
Allopulvinaria, gen. nov. ..
Protopulvinaria, Ckll. Pulvinaria, Targ. Ceronema, Mask. Tnchtensva, Sign. Filippa, Targ. Conofilippra, gen. nov. Ceroplastes, Gray Inglisia, Mask. Cryptinglisia, Ckll. .. Parafairmairea, Ckll. Ceroplastodes, Ckil. ..
Idiosatssetia, gen. nov.
Membranaria, gen. nov.
(Piatses I-LV.)
CONTENTS. PAGE
25 26 36 38 39 40 40 4]
Subfamily LECANIINAE.
This subfamily comprises a large number of genera, which are, as a rule, easily distinguished by the presence or absence of secretionary matter in one form or another. All agree, however, in having the anal ring with a number of hairs and, further, in having the hind margin cleft. The anal ring is covered above by a pair of more or less triangular plates which are usually densely chitinised. The eighteen genera known to be represented in South Africa are tabulated below :—
*For Part II, sce Bull. Ent. Res. ix, p. 107; Part III, op. cit. ix, p. 197; Part IV,
op. cil. X, p. 95. (681) Wt.P4/140. 1,000 7.20 B.&F.,Ltd. Gp. 11. A
2 CHAS. K. BRAIN.
Key to South African Genera. A. Female naked, or only covered by a very thin, inconspicuous film of secretion. B. Adult 9° with well-developed legs and antennae. C. Adult 2 with posterior extremity cleft. (1) Female flat or slightly convex, derm not very hard when mature, without
polygonal areas containing pits .. A Lecanum, Burm., p. 3.
(2) Female becoming hard and convex at maturity, derm with + oval or polygonal areas containing _ pits ae Sarssetra, Deplan., p. 2.
CC. Adult © with posterior Baas not cleft; female with four large groups of spinnerets .. ; a .. Hemilecanmum, Newst., p. 14. BB. Adult 92 without legs or ae - a .. Aclerda, Sign., p. 15.
AA. Female secreting a greater or less amount of cottony or powdery matter. B. Female naked above, secretion beneath or behind the insect. C. Female with only a narrow fringe of secretion. (1) Female very convex, dark red, abdominal segmentation very distinct Allopuluinaria, gen. nov., p. 16. (2) Female flat or slightly convex, segmentation not pronounced, Protopulvinaria, CkIL., p. 16. CC. Female secreting a definite protruding ovisac Pulvinaria, Targ., p. 17. BB. Female partly covered with secretion. (1) Adult 2 covered above, except for the median area, with a thick coat of wavy threads which project beyond the margin in all directions Ceronema, Mask., p. 22. (2) Adult 92 enclosed in a felted sac, ne the cephalic extremity which is + exposed Bs ; . .Inchtensia, Sign., p. 22. BBB. Adult 9 entirely enclosed. C. Sac fitting closely to body of adult 9 at maturity and later serving as ovisac ; insect leaf-infesting .. 2 . Filipyra, Targ., p. 23. CC. Sac felted, stout, conical, insect ah ee Ganctienal gen. nov., p. 25. AAA. Female secretion waxy, glassy or horny. B. Covering of 2 consisting of wax, generally soft and thick ; no marginal fringe nor marginal processes ; female with a + conspicuous caudal process visible on removing the wax .. ie Ceroplastes, Gray, p. 26. BB. Covering of 9 glassy, or at ie pide, thin. (1) Scale divided into Se and striated with rows of air-cells ; not causing galls vas : me Inglisia, Mask., Dp. 36. (2) As in Inglisra iit eateaae aaille on ene of host-plant Cryptinghsta, Ckll., p. 38. (3) Scale divided into two halves not striated with air-cells, but with grooves radiating from apex bi ne <p Parafairmairea, Ckll., p. 39. (4) Scale not divided into plates nor two halves, but rough and beset with protuberances, legs and antennae well- developed, anal cleft normal Ceroplastodes, Ckll., p. 40. (5) Scale not divided into plates nor two halves, + smooth, legs and antennae rudimentary, anal cleft lateral .. al diosaissetia, gen. nov., p. 40. (6) Similar to Pulvinaria but ovisac consisting of horny membrane instead of cottony matter .. ye ips .. Membranama, gen. nov., p. 41.
THE COCCIDAE OF SOUTH AFRICA. S
Genus Lecanium, Burm.
Adult 9 never hemispherical nor highly convex, derm remaining comparatively soft, without polygonal areas; usually light in colour and oval; legs and antennae present, well-developed.
191. Lecanium hesperidum, Linn. Coccus hesperidum, Linn., Syst. Nat. Ed. x. 1, p. 455, 1758. Chermes hesperidum, Geoff., Hist. Abr. Ins. i, p. 505, 1762. Calypticus hesperidum, Costa, Faun. Reg. Nap. Cocc., p. 8, 1835. Calypticus laevis, Costa, Faun. Reg. Nap. Cocce., p. 8, 1835. Calymnatus hesperidum, Costa, Nuov. Osserv., p. 22, 1835. Coccus patelliformis, Curt., Gard. Chron., p. 517, 1843. Chermes lauri, Bdv., Ent. Hort., p. 340, 1867. Lecanium platyceru, Pack., Rep. Mass. Bd. Agr., p. 260, 1870. Lecanium angustatum, Sign., Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr. (5) i, p. 398, 1873. Lecanvum maculatum, Sign., Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr. (5) i, p. 400, 1873. Lecanium alienum, Dougl., Ent. Mon. Mag., xxi, p. 77, 1886. Lecanium depressum var. simulans, iene Ent. Mon. Mag. xxiv, p. 28, 1887. Lecanium minimum, Newst., Ent. Mon. Mag., xxvu, p. 141, 1892. Lecanwum assimile var. amaryllidis, Ckil., Tr. Am. Ent. Soc. xx, p. 53, 1893. Lecamum terminaliae, Ckil., Jl. Inst. Jamaica, 1, p. 254, 1893. Lecanium nanum, Ckll., Psyche, vii, Suppl., 1, p. 19, 1896. Lecanium flaveolum, Ckll., Psyche, viii, pp. 52, 53, 1897. Lecanvum minimum var. pinicola, Mask., N.Z. Trans. xxix, p. 310, 1897. Lecanwum ventrale, Ehrh., Can. Ent. xxx, p. 245, 1898. Lecanvum (Calymnatus) hesperidum pacificum, Kuw., Jl. N.Y. Ent. Soc. x, p- 30, 1902. Lecanvum signiferum, Green, Coce. of Ceylon, pt. ii, p. 197, 1904.
“ Adult female bright yellow or greenish-yellow, minutely speckled with red- brown, the specks sometimes agglomerated into transverse bars, especially on the median abdominal region ; in other parts tending to form dotted lines radiating from centre to margin. In older examples the ground-colour may be ochreous or pale fulvous ; and the maculation may form a broad median fascia. Under surface of older examples with a deep purple-brown or red patch covering the median abdominal area, becoming concave and forming a shelter for the young larvae. Dried specimens straw-coloured and much wrinkled. Form oblong-oval, often very irregular in outline ; narrowest in front ; more or less concave above according to age. In some individuals, generally on those protected by some shelter, I have noticed a double median longitudinal series of raised glassy points; but they appear to be very brittle and easily lost.’ (Green).
Length, 25-5 mm.; breadth, 15-3 mm.
The antennae are 7-jointed, with the 3rd, 4th and 7th joints subequal. The tange of measurements from South African material is as follows :—(1) 27-35, (2) 30-37, (3) 51-61, (4) 54-65, (5) 20-24, (6) 17-27, (7) 44-51.
The anal plates are about 155y long.
(681) A2
4 CHAS. K. BRAIN.
The hairs on the antennal joints are exceptionally thin and are distributed, 2 on joint I, 2 on II, 2 on IV, 1 on V and VI, 8 or 9 on VII.
The marginal spines are short, widely spaced, simple, and nearly always have their tips recurved. There are three stigmatic spines, laterals short, median about 33 times as long as laterals. The stigmatic clefts are but slightly recessed, with a few simple glands.
Habitat: On citrus and a large variety of cultivated plants common throughout the Union.
Collection Nos.: 110 and 136.
192. Lecanium africanum, Newstead.
Lecanium viride var. africanum, Newst., Ent. Mon. Mag. (2) ix, p. 95, 1898.
Lecanium viride (Green), Newst., Bull. Ent. Res. i, p. 187, 1910.
Lecanium africanum, Newst., Bull. Ent. Res. vu, p. 357, 1917.
“Female adult. Colour of dried specimens often yellowish green; others are bright ochraceous, straw-coloured or pale reddish-brown; eyes black. Dorsum, especially in the younger forms, with a series of black markings, often forming a narrow loop-like pattern ; these markings are however rarely present in very old examples. Form oblong oval, but the outline is often irregular; narrowed in front and moderately convex, but the margins broadly flattened, especially the cephalic portion. Antennae of eight segments, rarely of seven; formula of the former: 3 (2, 4, 5, 8) 1 (6,7); there is a very long hair on the 2nd and 5th segments, and several shorter ones on the 8th, 6th and 7th, each with a distinctly stouter hair. Legs normal, though the anterior tarsi sometimes exhibit a faint dorsal constriction. Anal lobes attenuated distally, inner margin longest; apices with a few fine short hairs. Anal cleft slightly less than one-third the length of the body. Stigmatic cleft very slight, sometimes scarcely visible; spines three in number, rather small, the central one being about three times the length of the laterals. Marginal spines small, generally slightly curved and faintly fringed distally. There are three to four hairs of varying length near the attachment of each of the antennae, and usually four rather longer and stouter ones just in advance of the anal lobes. Derm cells oval and markedly distinct in stained preparations, but scarcely visible in unstained specimens.”’ (Newstead).
Habitat: On citrus, Pietermaritzburg, Natal, and Nelspruit, Transvaal. On coffee, Natal coast (Fuller).
Collection No.: 106.
193. Lecanium ehretiae, sp. n.
Adult 2 somewhat similar to L. hesperidum but rather less convex and much darker in colour, dark brown to blackish, 3°6 mm. long by 1:8 mm. broad, regularly oval. A single fringe of very short hairs is noticeable around the margin when examined with a hand lens and the surface of the body then appears mottled greyish brown in colour; the anal plates are bright brown. The dorsal surface is slightly shiny, with very indistinct and indefinite ridges and depressions. .
THE COCCIDAE OF SOUTH AFRICA. 5
The antennae are 7 or 8—jointed, most often 7. The following range is obtained from a series of eight measurements :—7-jointed : (1) 24-34, (2) 54-61, (3) 54-61, (4) 68-75, (5) 24-31, (6) 14-24, (7) 34-41; 8-jointed : (1) 34, (2) 51, (3) 65, (4) 51, (5) 30, (6) 20, (7) 21, (8) 41 u.
Leg I: coxa 68, femur + tfochanter 170, tibia 126, tarsus 75, claw 20y. Tarsal digitules very slender, hardly perceptibly clubbed. Trochanter with an apical spine about 85y long.
_ Scattered over the integument, particularly around the antennae and anal plates, are numerous hairs, the longest of which may reach 80y in length.
The marginal spines are comparatively long (80x), slender, slightly curved, not truncate. They average approximately 54u apart. The stigmatic cleft has two short spurs and a median longer one (40u). The anal plates are comparatively short (142) and broad (170y across the outer angles). The anal ring has six long hairs. The derm is apparently clear, without glands.
Habitat : On Ehretia hottentottica, Burch. ; collected by the writer at Brooklyn, Pretoria, October 1914.
Collection No.: 117.
194. Lecanium pumilum, sp. n.
Adult 2 small, about 2 mm. long, and 1°5 mm. broad, moderately convex, dark reddish brown in colour, distinctly red when younger.
Antennae 7- or 8-jointed, more often 8. The following represents the range obtained from measuring the antennae of five insects :—7-jointed: (1) 20-24, (2) 34-87, (3) 51-54, (4) 27, (5) 24, (6) 17-20, (7) 41-54; 8-jointed: (1) 24-27, (2) 27-44, (3) 48-51, (4) 17-24, (5) 24-34, (6) 17-20, (7) 17-20, (8) 37-44.
Leg I: coxa 51, femur + trochanter 153, tibia 95, tarsus 61, claw 171.
The anal plate is about 150u long. The anal ring is produced on a delicate fluted tube ; it bears 8 long bristles and several shorter ones. The margin has the usual series of simple spines about 41u long. Stigmatic cleft with 3 straight, moderately stout spines; laterals about 24u long, median about 71u. Immediately within the “margin are numerous scattered small simple gland pores, many with short sharp spines.
Halntat : On the stem of a native shrub, covered by a carton shelter constructed by ants ; collected by C. P. v.d.Merwe at Robertson, C.P., May 1915.
Collection No.: 125.
195. Lecanium elongatum, Sign. (Plate i, fig. 233.)
Lecanium elongatum, Sign., Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr. (5) i, p. 404, 1873.
Lecanium longulum, Dougl., Ent. Mon. Mag. xxiv, p. 97, 1887.
Lecanium chirvmoliae, Mask., N. Z. Trans. xxii, p. 137, 1889.
Lecanium ficus, Mask., Ent. Mon. Mag. xxxiil, p. 243, 1897.
Lecanium frontale, Green; Cocc. Ceylon, pt. iii, p. 192, 1904.
“Female dingy pale yellowish-grey ; elongate, narrow, ends broadly rounded, side margins slightly curved out, not recurved; surface smooth, transversely arched, longitudinally level, semi-cylindric, not carinate, a band of fairly dark
6 CHAS. K. BRAIN.
reticulation along the sides, whence, in some examples, faint dark lines radiate to the margin ; the disc occupied with a long, pale, clear, oval spot ; or in some mature specimens the scale (female) is unicolorous yellow-brown, the dorsal pale spot partly or wholly covered, and on the sides minute pale dots in place of reticulation. Underside all pale, a broad space all round the insect, a conspicuous blackish eye- spot above each antenna.” (Douglas).
Antennae long, of 8 segments, range in mw as follows :—(1) 34-40, (2) 51-58, (3). 68-82, (4) 54-58, (5) 41-54, (6) 24-31, (7) 20-31, (8) 34-41.
Anal plates longer than in hesperrdum (170), with the outer angles more rounded. Marginal spines a little longer than in hesperidum (34), widely spaced, averaging 70-85 apart. Usually simple, but some with apex broadened and slightly branch- ed and recurved. Integument, when fully chitinised, with scattered, small, oval, clear spaces. Stigmatic spines (3); laterals longer, straighter and more pointed than in hesperrdum, median about four times the length of laterals, broad at the base and tapering to an acute point.
Habitat: On Acacia melanorylon; collected by A. Kelly, Joubert Park, Johannesburg, May 1915.
Collection No.: 111.
196. Lecanium pseudelongatum, sp. n.
Adult 9 similar to elongatum but slightly less convex and darker in colour. The antennae are 8-jointed as in elongatum, but joints 3 and 4 are longer and 5 shorter, giving the following range :—(1) 34-40, (2) 41-51, (3) 59-68, (4) 44-6], (5) 61-71, (6) 24-34, (7) 24-27, (8) 37-41.
The most striking difference, however, is found in the marginal spines which are long (58) and close together, averaging 34u apart. Stigmatic spines (3) with the laterals relatively short and slender and the median long, curved and linear.
Habitat : On native thorn tree, Acacia caffra (?), Pretoria; collected by the writer, September 1914.
Collection No.: 116.
197. Lecanium filamentosum, N ewst.
Lecanium (Eulecanium) filamentosum, Newst., Bull. Ent. Res. iv, p. 74, 1913.
Adult 2 about 6 mm. long and 4 mm. broad, flatly convex with a slight median ridge. The colour of dried material is pale brown, with median area white as though covered by a dense layer of white secretion, which gradually fades towards the margin where numerous black dots are evident. The margin is faintly indentate, this character being intensified by the lines of black dots running to the edge and the distinct marginal glassy fringe. Seen from below the insect is brown, with four conspicuous stigmatic bands.
The antennae are 8-jointed with joint 3 remarkably long. A series of ten measurements gave the following range in wu :—({1) 57-65, (2) 68-82, (3) 150-187, (4) 75-88, (5) 65-75, (6) 34-44, (7) 31-37, (8) 54-58.
The integument is characterised by a few scattered, short, conical spines and a number of small, indistinct, “ rosette’ gland openings. The anal plates are about 220u long each, with a stout apical spine and several others on the disc.
THE COCCIDAE OF SOUTH AFRICA. 7
The marginal spines are comparatively short (37), truncate, with the extremity slightly forked. They are set at an average distance of about 50u apart. The stigmatic clefts are deeply indented but not recessed ; each with about 8 spines, of which the laterals are comparatively long and stout (60u); the middle spine is only a little longer. but stouter. The tarsal digitules are very long and slender ; those of the claw are short and very broad.
Habitat : On fig, Cathcart, C. P.; collected by L. J. Botha, July 1918.
Collection No.: 314.
198. Lecanium proteae, sp. n.
Adult 9° about 6 mm. long and 4:5 mm. broad (longest specimen seen reaches: 8 mm. by 6 mm. broad); colour, when alive, asphodel green (Ridgway) with very narrow margin of pale dull green yellow. The dorsum is dull coriaceous, giving the insect the colour and appearance of the leaf, the green body corresponding with the blade and the yellowish margin with the midrib or edge of the leaf.
The anal plates are small, yellowish in colour, except in old specimens, in which they are tinged with brown.
In form the insect is uniformly oval, except when situated near the midrib or edge of a leaf, when the form is irregular. Above, the body is moderately convex. Below, the insect is uniform green in colour. In boiling KOH it turns to orange yellow then reddish brown. After treatment the derm is colourless.
Anal plates about 205 long, outer angles rounded, apices attenuated, with two apical spines, one subapical and one on the disc at about one-third the length from the apex. Anal ring with 6 long hairs. On the dorsum, immediately behind the anal opening, are two scattered groups of “rosette”’ glands, and there is a further transverse series on the segments immediately anterior to the two groups. The integument is otherwise clear, but has scattered hairs of varying lengths.
Stigmatic clefts shallow, with short, varying, clubbed processes.
Antennae usually 7-jointed with the fourth showing a pseudarticulation ; some- times 8-jointed; 7-jointed form : (1) 27, (2) 37-41, (3) 51-58, (4) 44-48, (5) 20-24, (6) 20-24, (7) 41-54; 8-jointed form: (1) 27, (2) 41, (3) 61, (4) 34, (5) 31, (6) 20, (7) 20, (8) 51y.
Leg IL: coxa 54 by 65, femur + trochanter 127 by 37, tibia 95, tarsus 17, claw 20u.
Marginal spines very short (17) at very wide intervals, averaging at least 80u apart, simple, truncate.
Male scale of the usual type, 2-0 mm. long and 1:2 mm. broad. Head and body, without genital sheath, 1-6 mm. long. Head and prothorax rufous to nearly black, glistening ; body reddish, tip of abdomen and spine lighter, yellowish ; legs dark, slightly darker than antennae. Caudal filaments, two, white, about as long as the head and body without antennae. Wings whitish, 1-6 mm. long, mealy, with a subcostal reddish line running three-fourths of length of wing from the base. Antennae 1 mm. long, of ten joints.
Larva, newly emerged, 0°5 mm. long and 0°25 mm. broad, orange yellow, very active.
Habitat : On leaves of Protea, Pretoria ; common.
Collection No. : 108.
8 CHAS. K. BRAIN.
199. Lecanium wistariae, sp. n.
Adult 9, mounted specimens about 3°4mm. long by 2 mm. broad, elongate, tapering to each end. The following description, taken from the Cape Journal, was made from fresh material :—
“Young appearing August 15th; females apparently viviparous, since, while bodies are filled with eggs, only living young are seen under the scales.
“Female long oval, highly convex. Ground-colour yellow obscured by reticulations of black; the black enclosing minute, almost round patches and bounding larger patches of irregular shape and size; in a few specimens there is an obscure median stripe of yellow, but this is never well defined and generally altogether lacking. A tinge of red or rose is apparent about the whole margin of some specimens and this in a few extends as a flush over the whole dorsum.”
Antennae 8-segmented; range: (1) 30-34, (2) 36-42, (3) 54-62, (4) 34-44, (5) 48-52, (6) 26-30, (7) 20-24, (8) 34-38.
Leg I: coxa 54 by 70, femur + trochanter 170 by 40, tibia 130, tarsus 68, claw 20u. The tarsal digitules are slender and clubbed.
Margin with a series of slender spines, 44 long, not truncate. Stigmatic cleft spines similar but stouter. Anal plate 125, long.
Habitat: On wistaria, Uitenhage, collected August 1901; Cape No. 1286. Thickly clustered on thin twigs of plant ; also said to be on rose and Australian myrtle.
Collection No. : 113.
200. Lecanium durbanense, sp. n.
Adult 2 about 5 mm. long and 4 mm. wide, broad egg-shaped, with the extremities broadly rounded. The anterior end narrows perceptibly just in front of the middle. Body flat, mahogany-brown, with the margins and a faint median ridge somewhat darker, glossy.
When mounted, the most striking character under the low power is the chitinisation of the dorsum. In a specimen measuring 5 mm. in length a conspicuous chitinised line proceeded from the anal lobes along the middle of the dorsum to the level of the mouth-parts. A faint chitinised band was also noticeable around the margin.
The antennae are 7-or 8-jointed, with the following range in yw :—8-jointed series : (1) 27-34, (2) 34-41, (3) 37-51, (4) 34-48, (5) 41-44, (6) 27, (7) 27-31, (8) 44-51; 7- Jointed series: (1) 27-34, (2) 37, (3) 37-51, (4) 37-41, (5) 41-44, (6) 37-51, (7) 48-51.
Leg I: coxa 88, femur + trochanter 187, tibia 119, tarsus 82, claw 20u.
Anal plates about 156 long, comparatively slender. The marginal zone appears more chitinous than the median area with the exception of the ridge previously mentioned. The chitin of the zone appears stippled ; that of the median ridge has numerous small oval transparent spots. The marginal spines are very wide apart (110), and comprise a single row of short conical spines. The stigmatic clefts are recessed in the form of narrow deep cups ; each contains two short (27,) blunt spurs at the base. i
THE COCCIDAE OF SOUTH AFRICA. 9
Scattered over the integument are a few comparatively long hairs, which are particularly noticeable in the region of the antennae.
Habitat: On leaves of plant, species undetermined, Durban ; collected by C. P. v. d. Merwe, April 1916.
Collection No.: 126.
Genus Saissetia, Deplan. Adult 2 usually very convex or hemispherical, and the integument very dense, dark in colour, and hard at maturity, with cell-like markings ; legs and antennae well-developed.
201. Saissetia hemisphaerica (Targ.). Lecanium hemisphaericum, Targ., Studi sul. Coce. pp. 26, 27, etc., 1867. Chermes anthuru, Bdv., Ent. Hort. p. 328, 1867. Chermes filicum, Bdv., Ent. Hort. p. 325, 1867. Chermes hibernaculorum, Bdv., Ent. Hort. p. 337, 1867. Lecanium coffeae, Sign., Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr. (5) i, p. 435, 1873. Lecanium beaumontiae, Dougl., Ent. Mon. Mag. xxiv, p. 95, 1887. Lecanium clypeatum, Dougl., Ent. Mon. Mag. xxv, p. 58, 1888. Lecanium hemisphaericum var. hibernaculorum, Ckll., Bull. Bot. Dept. Jamaica, p. 71, 1894.
Lecanium hemisphaericum var. filicum, Green, Ent. Mon. Mag. xxxili, pp. 70, 77, 1897.
Lecanium (Saissetia) coffeae var. clypeatum, Ckll. & Parr., The Industrialist, p. 164, 1899.
Saissetia hemrsphaerica, Ckll., The Ent. Student, u, p. 32, 1901.
Coccus coffeae, Kirkaldy, Fauna Haw. in, pt. 2, p. 105, 1902.
Adult 9 approaching hemispherical, ovate, with the margins somewhat flattened ; . dorsum smooth, shining, light to red-brown, about 2 to 4 mm. long, 1 to 2°5 mm. broad, and 1:5 to 2 mm. high. In the young forms an indistinct H is sometimes indicated on the dorsum, but this disappears in the adult, which is thus readily dis- tinguished from S. oleae.
Integument with numerous clear, oval derm cells. Antennae 8-jointed, with the following range in w: (1) 37-45, (2) 47-54, (3) 74-81, (4) 46-51, (5) 44-53, (6) 27-34, (7) 24-30, (8) 48-54. ,
Leg III: coxa 110, femur + trochanter 255, tibia 185, tarsus 88, claw 241.
Anal plates about 136 long, triangular, with rounded corners. Marginal spines flattened at the ends, which are serrated in a variety of forms, some simple ; stig- matic spines all strong and blunt ; median longer than laterals.
Habitat: On pot-plants, Capetown, Grahamstown (C. P.), Durban and Pieter- maritzburg (Natal), and Pretoria and Johannesburg (Transvaal).
Collection No.: 120.
10 CHAS. K. BRAIN.
202. Saissetia oleae (Bernard).
Chermes oleae, Bern., Mem. d’Hist. Nat. Ac. Marseille, p. 108, 1782.
Coccus olea, Oliv., Ency. Meth. vi, p. 95, 1791.
Coccus palmae, Haw., Tr. Ent. Soc. Lond. p. 307, 1812.
Coccus testudo, Curt., Gard. Chron. p. 444, 1843.
Coccus cycadis, Bdy., Ent. Hort. p. 323, 1867.
Lecanium cassiniae, Mask., N. Z. Trans. xxii, p. 15, 1890.
Lecanium oleae var. testudo, Ckll., Check List, p. 331, 1896.
Lecanvum oleae var. mirandum, Ckll. & Parr., Biol. Centr. Am. 11, pt. 2, p. 12, 1899.
Coccus oleae, Kirkaldy, Fauna Haw. i, pt. 2, p. 106, 1902.
Adult 9 short ovate, high convex to almost hemispherical, 2°5 to 4 mm. long, 1:5: to 3mm. broad, and 1:5 to 2°5 mm. high. The dorsum has one long:tudinal and two transverse ridges forming a distinct H, dark brown, often dotted with minute flecks. of white wax. Derm with elongate cells, each enclosed in an irregular, polygonal tessellation.
Antennae 8-jointed, the segments measuring in w: (1) 34, (2) 44-48, (3) 66-75, (4) 35-42, (5) 24-37, (6) 24-32, (7) 24-32, (8) 44-51.
Leg I: coxa 78, femur + trochanter 170, tarsus 85, claw 24u
Anal plate about 176u long. Marginal spines simple or flattened at apex.
Habitat: On a variety of a fairly common throughout the Union.
Collection Nos.: 122 and 122
A distinct variety of this mene characterised by being aes and flat, without. the dorsal H, is often found associated with typical oleae on oleander at Capetown. Its microscopic characters agree with oleae with the exception that antennal joints 2 and 4 are a little longer (Coll. No. : 122a).
203. Saissetia nigra (Nietn.).
Lecanvum nigrum, Nietn., ‘“ Enemies of Coffee-tree,” p. 9, 1861.
Lecanium depressum, Targ., Studii sul. Coce., p. 29, 1867.
Lecanium begoniae, Dougl., Ent. Mon. Mag. xxviii, p. 209, 1892.
Lecanium nigrum var. depressum, Ckll., Check List, p. 332, 1896.
Saissetia depressa, King, Psyche, ix, p. 296, 1902.
Saissetia nigra, King, Psyche, ix, p. 296, 1902.
Sarssetia nigrella, King, Psyche, ix, p. 296, 1902.
Coccus mgrum, Kirkaldy, Fauna Haw. ii, pt. 2, p. 106, 1902.
Adult 9 long oval to broad ovate, low convex, shining black, 3 to 4 mm. long. Marginal spines scattered, simple, about 40u long. Antennae of 7 or 8 segments, 7-jointed series with 4 longest, 8-jointed series with 3 longest; range in u :— 8-jointed series : (1) 27, (2) 37-41, (3) 58-68, (4) 34-44, (5) 34-41, (6) 24, (7) 24, (8) 51-54 ; 7-jointed series: (1) 27, (2) 34, (3) 54, (4) 68, (5) 24, (6) 20, (7) 58.
Leg I: coxa 58, femur + trochanter 170, tibia 116, tarsus 68, claw 20.
Anal plate about 170u long. Habitat: On Ficus spp., Bayville, C. P., and Natal coast. Collection No. : 123.
THE COCCIDAE OF SOUTH AFRICA. lI
204. Saissetia perseae, sp. n.
Ova and larvae small, purplish red in colour, found beneath dry body of adult Y attached to mid-rib of leaf. Larvae about 0°35 mm. long and 0:18 mm. broad, almost oval, slightly broadest between the second and third pairs of legs, broadly rounded in front and regularly cleft behind, with two caudal spines equal in length to the greatest width of the body. The eyes are deeply pigmented.
The antennae are six-jointed; segment 2 a little shorter than 1; 3 is long (27-30), almost equal to 6; 4 and 5 are shorter and almost equal (13 and 15,). There is a distinct notch near the distal end of 3, and another at about the middle of 5, from which points long hairs arise. The terminal segment has a long apical spine, two others of about three-fourths its length, and several shorter hairs. Claws simple; upper digitules long, straight, with small globular knobs ; lower digitules shorter, also with small clubs. Margin with thin short spines ; at level of spiracles on each side there are two stout blunt spines, about 15 long, pointing obliquely backwards. Anal bristles reaching level of hind-margin, or nearly so.
Adult 9 4:2 mm. long, 3 mm. broad, pointed at each end, but more so in front. with the dorsum quite flat. In colour it is blackish brown, and of a dull matt appearance, entirely without design or marginal appendages. The margin is entire, with a very slight notch at the two spiracles on each side. Seen from below the extreme margin is thin; the legs and antennae pale, and there are four faint lines, two on each side, representing stigmatic bands. There is no trace of an anal cleft when examined with a hand-lens. When crushed the body-contents are purple in colour. Placed in hot KOH solution the body becomes hard and curls so much that it is difficult to make a satisfactory mount.
The integument on the dorsum is extremely dense, hard and brittle when cleared ; that of the venter is thin, hyaline, and very delicate. The legs and antennae are colourless. The anal cleft is entirely absent, with the exception of a very short space posterior to the anal plates. Beyond this it is merely indicated as a line between the polygonal “cells” of the dorsum. Polygonal cells with straight sides, each with a very small transparent spot appearing as a point under the microscope. The space occupied by the anal plates is clear, faintly yellow, a striking contrast to the deep brown of the remainder of the dorsum when cleared. The inner face of the plates is straight ; the outer margin regularly curved to the tip giving them a broad heart-shape. (Fig. 243). The polygonal cells are fairly uniform in size to near the margin where they gradually disappear into the thin + structureless marginal area. Hye-spots distinct.
The antennae are 8-jointed. Joints 2, 4, 6 and 7 sub-equal ; 1 a little shorter, 3,5 and 8 longer. Measurements in w: (1) 30, (2) 37, (3) 47, (4) 30, (5) 50, (6) 30, (7) 27, (8) 47.
Habitat: On upper side of leaf of avocado pear (Persea gratissima), from Mrs. Godwin, Durban, May 1916.
Collection No.: 103.
This species is remarkable for the hardness of the integument at maturity and te fact that the anal cleft is obsolete in the later stages. It differs from Hemilecanvum, however, in lacking the four perforate areas on the dorsum.
12 CHAS. K. BRAIN.
205. Saissetia kellyi, sp. n.
Adult © almost circular, but rather wider than long (11:5 mm. by 13 mm.), flat, closely adherent to stem, deep chestnut in colour, with the dorsum matt, without ridges or lines of any kind, but flatly bounded to thin margin, often covered with dust, etc., so as to appear like a large flat blister on the bark. Younger specimens rather lighter in colour, with faint radiating ridges from the somewhat raised median area.
The following particulars concerning antennae, legs, and microscopic characters in general, refer to insects measuring approximately 7 mm. long, i.e., before chitini- sation was fully complete.
Antenna 9-jointed, range in w: (1) 48-54, (2) 85-102, (3) 129-153, (4) 75-85, (5) 58-65, (6) 105-116, (7) 44-51, (8) 34-48, (9) 74—79.
Leg I: coxa 153, femur + trochanter 357, tibia 245, tarsus 153, claw 31.
Anal plate about 320 ~ long. The margin has a single row of short, stout, conical spines. Stigmatic cleft with 3 gradually tapering spines, laterals about 50u, median about 136u.
Around the body, just within the margin, is a series of complex, tubular glands, about 40 in number, distributed at almost regular intervals. Scattered over the integument, particularly near the margin, are numerous, short, stout, glandular hairs. The thin marginal area has the usual + straight, sided polygonal cells ; the median area has elongate oval cells much like those of Hemilecanium theobromae, Newstead.
Habitat: On thick stems of Acacia melanoxylon, Pietermaritzburg, Natal ; collected by A. Kelly, June 1915.
Collection No.: 118.
The anal cleft is quite obsolete in mature specimens. This character, together with the two distinct types of cells on the dorsum and the 9-jointed antennae, reminds one of the type species of the genus Hemilecanium, Newst., but the absence of the four perforate areas preclude this species from that genus.
206. Saissetia persimilis, Newst. (Plate 1., fig. 234).
Lecanium (Saissetia) persvmile, Newst., Bull. Ent. Res. vu, p. 362, 1917.
“Female, adult. Not differing appreciably in its external form, colour, and density of chitin from Lecaniwm (Saissetia) oleae (Bernard), but in two examples the dorsum was covered with a fine dusky-white, mealy secretion. The median longitudinal and two transverse ridges, forming roughly the letter H, well marked in two specimens, but absent in another. Anal cleft completely fused. Anal lobes attenuated, outer angle broadly rounded, inner edge much the longest ; apex bluntly pointed with one or two short spines. No stigmatic clefts; spines three, the central one slightly more than twice the length of the laterals. Antennae well developed, of eight segments. Legs rather slender; lower digitules very robust, incrassate proximally, dilated distally. Derm thickly studded with small, but well-defined, oval and translucent cells; these are much more crowded together at the margin and also larger.” (Newstead).
THE COCCIDAE OF SOUTH AFRICA. 13
Newstead states that Lecanium (Saissetia) sylvestru, Leon., has some similarity to persemile, but the former has 7-jointed antennae and three transverse ridges across the dorsum.
Habitat : On Combretum, Muckleneuk, Pretoria ; collected in October 1914.
Collection Nos.: 115 and 124.
207. Saissetia subpatelliforme, Newst. (Plate 1., fig. 237).
Lecamum (Sarssetia) subpatelliforme, Newst., Bull. Ent. Res. vu, p. 366, 1917.
Adult © large, reaching 7 mm. long,5 mm. broad at the base and 3:5 mm. high, very convex but + conical, with the margin at the base slightly produced as a rounded ridge. The colour is dark castaneous to almost black, slightly shining, and without white flecks. There is no dorsal H, nor prominent ridges of any form (fig. 237). |
Younger forms are lighter in colour, flat, disc-hke, with the margins slightly raised and rounded and the median area wrinkled. The anal cleft is apparently obsolete and the anal lobes inconspicuous.
Antennae 8-jointed ; range in w: (1) 37-47, (2) 35-51, (3) 75-78, (4) 54-58, (5) 41-54, (6) 24-27, (7) 17-20, (8) 51-58.
Professor Newstead’s description, omitting figure references, is as follows :
“Female, adult. Varying from broadly to narrowly ovate, centre generally highly gibbose; surface rather roughened or slightly rugose, often with widely separated patches of secretion, especially at the sides; dorsum (gibbosity) often shining. Derm cells of the median and sub-median areas small, ovate and widely separated, those near the margin much larger. Marginal spines of two kinds: (1) long and rather stout, dilated and divided on both sides ; (2) similar, but only about half the length of the long ones. Stigmatic clefts practically obsolete ; spines three, the laterals small, stout and pointed ; central one missing in all the preparations. Eyes well defined. Antennae of seven or eight segments (both forms present in one 2). Legs well developed ; tarsus almost equal in length to the tibia; lower digitules stout, upper pair normal. Anal lobes with the base and outer edge of equal length, approximately. Anal ringof eight hairs. Anal cleft varying in length from a little less than a third to one-third the length of the body. Length, 3°8-5°2 mm.”
Habitat: On stems of Cedrela toona, Salisbury, Southern Rhodesia; collected by Rupert Jack, June 1917. Also on stems of Syringa, Salisbury ; collected by Rupert Jack, February, 1909 (119a).
Collection Nos.: 119 and 119a.
208. Saissetia oculata, sp. n.
Adult © elongate, 8 to 9 mm. long by 4 mm. wide, moderately flat, dull, buff to brown in colour, with the eye-spots and anal plates darker, almost black ; margin more chitin-brown, with a conspicuous fringe. Dorsum with rows (3) of hairs similar to fringe. Eyes distinct, almost circular, about 165 in diameter, with darker central prominence. Integument with faint oval cells, widely scattered. In the specimens examined these are most conspicuous around the anal lobes,
14 CHAS. K. BRAIN.
the point from which the chitinisation of the integument appears to spread in the LecaNtINAE. This suggests that, although the insects examined are adult, they may not be quite mature.
Antennae of 8 segments, range in w: (1) 37-41, (2) 48-58, (3) 102-112, (4) 58-68. (5) 61-68, (6) 31-34, (7) 27-84, (8) 44-51.
Leg I: coxa 88, femur + trochanter 238, tibia 170, tarsus 102, claw 24w.
Margin with conspicuous fringe of long spines (136) with tips saw-like or finger- like. Dorsum with three longitudinal rows of long (143) spines. Anal plates long, tapering (280u). Stigmatic clefts inconspicuous with two very short spines and one longer (about half the length of marginal spines).
Habitat: On grapevine, Durban; collected by C. P.v.d. Merwe, May 1917.
Collection No. : 321.
Genus Hemilecanium, Newstead.
“ Adult female with the posterior extremity not cleft. Anal orifice placed near the middle of the dorsum and closed above with a pair of hinged plates as in Lecanium. Larva and nymph with a distinct anal cleft as in Lecanwum. Female in all stages with four large dorsal groups of compound spinnerets.” (Newstead).
209. Hemilecanium theobromae, Newst. (Plate 1., fig. 238).
Hemilecanium theobromae, Newst., Jl. Econ. Biol. ii, pt. 2, p. 39, 1908.
Professor Newstead’s description, omitting figure references, is as follows :—
‘Adult female broadly ovate or sub-circular; margins broadly flat, central area suddenly elevated, with strong irregular prominences. The whole of the dorsal area covered with a thin but dense layer of ochreous meal-like wax, but the prominences of the dorsum are generally denuded, apparently through abrasion, appearing through the secretion as shining, piceous, irregularities. Cuticle shining dark piceous on the central elevated area; dark castaneous and strongly rugose at the margins. Venter covered with a rather thick layer of white fibrous secretion. Anal cleft obsolete, but there is usually a faint emargination at the posterior extremity. Anal orifice placed just within the broad elevated dorsal zone at about one-third of the distance from the posterior margin. Derm cells of two distinct types; those of the dark central area narrowly elongat> with an apical pore, those of the pale broad margin of the ordinary polygona! type. There are also four groups of spinnerets; two towards the anterior and two towards the posterior extremity, each group composed of several hundre:i spinnerets forming well-defined dark chitinised areas. Antenna of nine segments, of which the third is the longest ; there are a few long hairs on the four terminal segments ; formula 3, 4 (5, 2, 9) 6, 1 (7,8). Legs highly chitinised ; slender but small compared with the size of the insect ; coxa almost equalling the length of the femur; digitules simple. Marginal spines with their broad bases suddenly contracted, each fitting into a well-defined socket, the latter being attached to a short subcutaneous tube. Stigmatic channels and spines absent.
“ Length 13-15 mm. ; width 12-13 mm.
er
THE COCCIDAE OF SOUTH AFRICA. 15
“Second stage female broadly ovate, slightly narrowed posteriorly, marginal spines continuous, resembling those in the adult. Antennae of seven segments, the third being the longest, the rest of the segments subequal in length. Legs scarcely longer than the antennae; coxa rather broad. Mentum uniarticulate. Groups of spinnerets occupying relatively the same position as in the adult, but there are only about 60-70 individual spinnerets in each group; they are also larger and more distinctly separated than in the adult. Derm in the region of the anal cleft finely squamose, with a large subcutaneous tube ; there is also a similar tube just within the margin opposite the anterior stigmata.
“ Larva elongate; position of the compound spinnerets as in the adult and nymph. Mentum monomerous. Antennae of six joints, the third equalling the length of the fourth, fifth and sixth together. Marginal spines forming a continuous series.”
Habitat : On tree euphorbia, East London, and stems of oleander, Capetown (Fuller, 1898).
Collection No. : 107.
Genus Aclerda, Sign. Adult 2 naked, a mere sac containing eggs at maturity, with normal mouth parts, but legs and antennae absent. Larva greatly elongated, with parallel sides.
210. Aclerda digitata (CklI.),
Pseudolecanium digitatum, Ckll., Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (7) ix, p. 24, 1902.
Aclerda digitata (Ck) Fernald, Catalogue, p. 210, 1903.
Professor Cockerell’s description is as follows :—
“ , pyriform, with the hind end pointed ; about 2} mm. long; dark ferruginous, shiny, producing some cottony material. End of abdomen strongly chitinized, with the form usual in the genus. The diagnostic characters, as in all species of the genus, are derived mainly from the larva, the female being a mere bag of eggs.
“ Larva extremely long and narrow, length 600, breadth 160. Anterior extremity truncate, crenulate, with six short blunt, finger-tip-like spines; a row of fifteen blunt spines down each side of body; no dorsal spines; legs well developed, anterior tibia 60, its tarsus 30u long; the tibia has a constriction about 27 from base, making it look almost 2-jointed, this being more or less apparent on all the legs ; tarsal digitules long, with small knobs; claw-digitules shorter, filiform, knobbed. Antennae 24 apart at base and 30u from anterior end of head; 6- jointed, joints measuring: (1) 18, (2) 12, (3) 27-33, (4) 20, (5) 21, (6) 30. Anal ring small, circular, without bristles on its margin, but posterior to it are set four bristles, of which the inner two are shortest ; anterior to anal ring is a row of four finger-like blunt spines ; on each side is a caudal bristle, about 190 long, and beyond each of these a pair of finger-like spines; anterior to and a little laterad of each caudal bristle is a small round gland. The last two segments have each a pair of bristles on the ventral surface, those on the last being twice as long as those on the penultimate segment.”
Habitat : On grass, Natal; collected by C. Fuller, 1901. This species has not been found again.
Collection No. : 134.
16 CHAS. K. BRAIN.
Genus Allopulvinaria, nov.
Adult 2 naked above, very convex and distinctly segmented. Lower surface concave, filled with a compact powdery mass of wax which projects around the margins. Antennae somewhat rudimentary, of 4, 5 or 6 segments. Legs well developed. Anal ring with numerous (12?) hairs.
Larva elongate and narrow ; anal tubercles produced, each with one long seta.
Type, A. subterranea, sp. n.
211. Allopulvinaria subterranea, sp. n. (Plate vi, fig. 246).
Larva active, pale pink, eyes pigmented, body elongate and narrow. Anal tubercles long, each with one long seta.
One-fourth grown 2 with 4-jointed antennae, and marginal hairs as in Lecaniwm.
Adult @ viviparous, 7 mm. long, 45 mm. broad and 4 mm. high. Dorsum roundly arched ; segmentation distinct, the segments roundly ridged.
The body is red, faintly flecked with white wax. Underside flatly concave, abdominal portion plainly segmented. Legs small, brown. Anal plates small, brown, from between which protrudes a double fine pencil of white wax. Lower concavity of body filled with cushion of white wax which extends slightly beyond the margin of the body; this is not cottony but compact. No eggs were seen, but larvae were present in the white waxy cushion and in the body of the Q.
Antennae 4, 5, or 6-jointed, usually 5. Anal ring with numerous (12?) hairs.
Anal plates raised, appearing excavate so as more or less to enclose the anal tube from the sides as well as above. Anal groove closed. Integument with numerous simple glands and short acute spines scattered over the surface; the former especially noticeable in transverse series across the segments.
The following measurements may be useful for comparison.
Antennae: (qa) 4-jointed type :— I
W I IV. (a) 40 27 61 34u (b) 34 40 65 b4u
(b) 5-jointed series, range in yu :—(1) 34-45, (2) 3440, (3) 51-68, (4) 15-34, (5) 23-40; (c) 6-jointed form, e.g. (1) 41, (2) 34, (3) 61, (4) 17, (5) 10, (6) 20.
Leg II: coxa 81 by 108, femur + trochanter 150, tibia 74, tarsus 74.
Habitat: On stems of “ quick” grass, near bank of stream ; collected by T. L. Watermeyer, Jonkershoek, Stellenbosch, C.P., July 1917.
Collection No.: 138.
Genus Protopulvinaria, Ckll.
The few species which have been described in this genus are similar to Lecanwum in their early stages, but may be readily distinguished at maturity by the small white ovisac which is secreted beneath the adult 9. In the normal condition this is but slightly larger than the body of the female and protrudes as a white ring around the margins of the body (fig. 248).
This genus is included in Pulvinaria by Mrs. Fernald in her Catalogue (p. 128), but it would appear that its correct position is between Lecanium and Pulvinaria.
THE COCCIDAE OF SOUTH AFRICA. 17
212. Protopulvinaria piriformis (Ckll.), Lefroy. (Plate il, fig. 244; iv, fig. 248.) Pulvinaria (Protopulvinaria) pyriformis, CkIl., Jl. Trin. Nat. Club, i, p. 309, 1894. Pulvinaria (Protopulvinaria) pyrvformis, Ckll., Jl. Trin. Nat. Club, ii, p. 307, 1896. Pulvinaria newsteadi, Leon., Riv. Pat. Veg. vi, p. 279, 1898.
Pulvinaria pyriformis, Ckll., Psyche, vii, p. 311, 1899.
Protopulvinaria pyriformas, Lefroy, Scale Ins. Lesser Antilles, p. 43, 1901.
Pulvinaria pyriformis, Fernald, Cat., p. 138, 1902.
Pulvinaria plana, Ldgr., Jahrb. Hamb. Wiss. Anst. xxxii, p. 34, 1911.
Protopulvinaria piriformis, Ldgr., Die Schildliuse, p. 199, 1912.
Ovisac slightly larger than the body of the adult 9, from which it extends as a uniform ring around the margins (fig. 348). Ova pale greenish white, regularly oval.
Adult 2 about 3 mm. long and about as broad slightly behind the middle ; broadly rounded behind, suddenly narrowing in front so as to be short pear-shaped or drop-shaped. The margins of the body are flat ; the central part is flatly rounded.
In living specimens the general body colour is yellowish or pinkish with the margins
reddish brown. The subdorsal area is irregularly suffused with mauve or violet.
The anal cleft is deep, extending almost to the centre of the body, but the sides are
in close proximity, so that the posterior margin in most cases appears uniformly
broadly rounded. The anal plates are very long and very narrow and are brownish in colour. Dead, dry specimens are pale to deep brown according to age. When stained, cleared and mounted the following characters may be noted :—
Antennae 7-jointed ; range in w: (1) 27-31, (2) 37-44, (3) 44-51, (4) 51-54, (5)
20-24, (6) 20-24, (7) 51-54.
Leg I: coxa 75, femur + trochanter 170, tibia 109, tarsus 54, claw 20wu. Leg II: coxa 99, femur + trochanter 180, tibia 112, tarsus 68, claw 24.
Anal plates very long (470) and narrow (fig. 244).
Marginal spines short, thin, with ends deeply branched, or occasionally bifid from base, in a close-set series. Stigmatic spines 3, laterals short and acute, median two or three times as long. Young form, about 1:2 mm. long, oval, translucent, appearing faintly greenish yellow, with six deep purple lines radiating from median area to margin, the four posterior being nearer together than the anterior two.
Habitat : On undersides of leaves of avocado pear (Persea gratissima) ; collected by A. Kelly, Pietermaritzburg, April 1916.
Collection No.: 77.
Genus Pulvinaria, Tare.
‘* Adult female resembling Lecanium in the early stages and until the commence- ment of oviposition, when a loose cottony ovisac is secreted from below the posterior extremity of the insect, for the protection of the eggs. The body of the insect is tilted up during the formation of the ovisac, and often becomes much shrivelled and distorted, finally remaining as a small shapeless scale at the anterior extremity of the mass of ovisac. It is sometimes rendered still more inconspicuous by the partial overlapping of the secretionary matter, but is never completely enveloped. In all purely structural characters there is nothing to distinguish species of this genus
(681) | B
18 CHAS. K. BRAIN.
from those of Lecaniwm, so much so that, until the period of oviposition, it would be impossible to determine whether an individual should be placed in the one or the other genus.” (Green).
213. Pulvinaria aristolochiae, Newstead. (Plate ui, fig. 242). Pulvinaria aristolochiae, Newst., Bull. Ent. Res. vin, p. 19, 1917.
Adult 9, immediately prior to forming the ovisac, about 8 mm. long and 4:5 mm. broad, with thin margins and the dorsum rising to a distinct central prominence : colour brown, with darker markings. The margin is supplied with a short fringe of thin pale hairs ; from this to the raised centre extend a number of dark lines.
Male puparium about 3 mm. long, moderately convex, dull white, not glassy, with a distinct transverse ridge about the middle. Two white filaments protrude from the posterior extremity some days prior to the emergence of the adult ¢. Adults were emerging in July 1916.
Antennae 8-jointed, range in « :—(1) 57-75, (2) 68-75, (3) 187-190, (4) 95-102, (5) 78-85, (6) 34-47, (7) 24-34, (8) 41-44.
Leg I: coxa 185, femur + trochanter 400, tibia 262, tarsus 123, claw 34u.
Anal plate about 250u long. Marginal spines short (27-35), many appearing truncate.
As Professor Newstead did not have the opportunity of examining living material the above particulars are given to supplement his description which is as follows :—
“Female, adult. More or less cordate in outline and rather flattened ; dorsum almost completely covered with a well-defined layer of flake-like wax which varies in colour from dirty grey to greyish brown. Antennae of eight segments ; 3rd, 4th and 5th unusually long, the two first-named swollen distally ; 3rd about twice the length of the 4th ; three long hairs on 2nd, one of which lies (in three examples) close up to the succeeding segment ; there is also a long distal hair on the 3rd ; two on the 5th; a single spine on the 6th, 7th and 8th, the last-named also with a few very short hairs. Legs stout, long; tarsus relatively very short, less than one-third the length of the tibia ; lower digitules long and very broadly spathuliform. Marginal spines stout, pointed, and placed rather close together ; stigmatic spines broken away in all the specimens, their points of attachment being continuous with the marginal series. Submarginal pores very large, continuous, but rather widely separated. Anal lobes with four stout spines near the apex, on the inner edge. Anal cleft short, usually a little less than one-sixth the entire length of the body. Anal ring with eight hairs. No derm cells present; but there are numerous circular spinnerets (? ventral), each having an inner concentric ring. Length 57-76 mm.
“ Ovisac pure white and closely felted, long and generally tortuous. Length 10-20 mm.”
This insect shows great similarity to P. jacksoni, Newstead. Both have remark- ably long joint 3 to the antennae, which in jacksoni is almost 120y, in aristolochiae about 180u. Further both produce extremely long ovisacs.
Habitat: On stems of Erythrina caffra Thunb., (Kaffir-boom), Natal Coast.
Collection Nos.: 79 and 84.
THE COCCIDAE OF SOUTH AFRICA. 19
214. Pulvinaria floccifera (Westw.).
Coccus floccifera, Westw., Gard. Chron., p. 308, 1870.
Pulvinarva brassicae, Ckll., Can. Ent. xxvu, p. 135, 1895.
Pulvinaria floccifera, Green, Ent. Mon. Mag. xxxiu, p. 72, 1897.
Pulvinaria pharae, Lull, Ent. News, x, p. 237, 1899.
Pulvinaria floccosa, Newst., Jl. Roy. Hor. Soc. xxii, p. 26, 1900.
Completed ovisac about 6 mm. long and 3 broad, with parallel sides and rounded extremity ; pink in colour, from the numerous ova which are of that colour; the small amount of white cottony matter which is incorporated in the mass is incon- spicuous owing to the large number of eggs.
©, young stage: about 2 mm. long, translucent greenish yellow, with the median dorsal area suffused with a pinkish or brownish tint.
Adult 2 about 3mm. long and almost as broad, moderately convex. The margins are pale translucent greenish yellow, the median dorsal area is reddish brown and the whole dorsum is more or less wrinkled. The crests of the ridges, especially those running to the margin, blackish brown. Anal plates small, of the same colour as the dorsal area or slightly paler. When the ovisac is almost complete, the body of the Q has shrunken to such an extent that the brownish part of the dorsum is not conspicuous, while the black crests of the ridges are close together and thus give the insect a much darker appearance.
Antennae 8-jointed, range in w: (1) 34-88, (2) 44-51, (3) 65-72, (4) 34-44, (5) 34-41, (6) 24-27, (7) 24, (8) 44.
Leg I: coxa 78, femur -++ trochanter 190, tibia 163, tarsus 102, claw 24w.
Upper digitules very long, slender, with spherical knobs. Lower digitules stout, normal. Anal plate about 145u long. Just in front of the anal plates there are a few scattered, “rosette” glands and two pairs of long (108) hairs. Marginal spines about 50u long and 100u apart, slender, often with finely divided tips, alter- nating with a submarginal row of similar hairs of about half the size. Stigmatic spines comparatively short and stout, with the outer ends tapering to blunt points. From these to the spiracles extends a double row of small rosette glands.
Puparium of 3 of the usual type with the segments of the plates very distinct. The whole puparium is opaque white, appearing finely striate in a longitudinal direction.
Habitat: On a native plant (Solanwm sp. ) Durban ; collected by C. P. v. d. Merwe, July 1916.
Collection No. : 82.
A very large percentage of the young forms (about 1:5 mm. long) are very convex and shiny black, obvious!y parasitized.
215. Pulvinaria jacksoni, Newst.
Pulvinaria jacksoni, Newstead, Jl. Econ. Biol. i, p. 155, 1908.
Professor Newstead’s description is as follows :—
“ Ovisac from two and a half to seven times the length of the female ; breadth equal to the width of the insect ; low convex, sides parallel ; closely felted, tough and web-like in texture. Length 16°75-42 mm.
‘681) Rn?
20 CHAS. K. BRAIN.
‘* Adult female—Dried examples sienna brown or dull ochreous; the pale examples with yellowish mottlings indicating the position of the derm-cells. Form normal. Antennae of eight segments, the third being much the longest; last four subequal ; there is a very long hair on the third and fifth, the one on the former the longest. Legs stout ; trochanter about one-third the length of the femur, with a very long apical hair; digitules to claws and tarsi normal. Derm with very small incon- spicuous glands. Marginal spines short, closely set, truncate, the ends often notched. Stigmatic clefts with pointed spines and two large tubercles.
“Male puparium, much stained with brown, normal in shape, but thick and un- usually wax-like in appearance; dorsal plate with one large central, white, wax- like felted spot and several brownish tubercles immediately beyond it. Length 2°25 mm.”
The following measurements are added for comparison with the other South African species :—
Antennae 8-jointed ; range in w: (1) 48-54, (2) 54-68, (3) 102-116, (4) 68-75, (5) 61, (6) 31-34, (7) 31-34, (8) 37-41.
Leg I: coxa 139, femur + trochanter 354, tibia 230, tarsus 108, claw 27.
Anal plate about 240u long.
Habitat: On Trichitla sp., Durban ; collected by A. Kelly, May 1918.
Collection No.: 79a.
216. Pulvinaria lepida, sp. n.
Adult °° with ovisacs clustered on stems and leaves of grass.
Adult 9 averaging 2 mm. long by 1°3 mm. broad, moderately arched, ight brown in colour, dorsum with transverse wrinkles; marginal area flecked with white wax. Ovisac white, elevated, extending behind the insect for about the length of 2 body, faintly fluted on upper surface.
Numerous 9° parasitised. Mounted specimens contain numbers of well developed embryos.
Antennae variable, of 7 or 8 segments; terminal joimt appearing truncate ; range in wu :—T-jointed : (1) 34-37, (2) 37-48, (3) 54-65, (4) 70-82, (5) 24-27, (6) 24-27, (7) 37-41; 8-jointed : (1) 34-87, (2) 44-48, (3) 51-58, (4) 34-41, (5) 44-48, (6) 24-27, (7) 24-27, (8) 37-41.
Leg I: coxa 78, femur + trochanter 187, tibia 153, tarsus 102, claw 24y.
Anal plate about 153 long, with 5 comparatively short hairs at the apex. Mar- ginal spines in a single row, simple, pointed, about 41u long and 20-30 apart, straight or only slightly curved. Stigmatic spines: laterals short, acute ; median stouter, longer, blunt.
Halitat: On stems and leaves of common veld grass, Standerton and Pretoria (K. Munro).
Collection Nos. : 139 and 328.
217. Pulvinaria mesembryanthemi (Vallot), Sign. (Plate i, fig. 235). Pulvinaria mesembryanthemi, Vall., Bull. de Ferussac, xxu, p. 469, 1830. Calypticus mesembryanthemi, Costa, Ann. Acad. Asp. Naples, p. 273, 1844. Pulvinaria biplicata, Targ., Catalogue, p. 34, 1869.
Pulvinaria mesembryanthema, Sign., Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr. (5) ii, p. 39, 1873.
THE COCCIDAE OF SOUTH AFRICA. 21
Adult 9.to time of forming ovisac, and younger stages, green, of the same tint as the fleshy leaf of Mesembryanthemum edule, its most common food-plant ; attaining a length of 5 mm. and an almost equal breadth, moderately convex, dorsum smooth.
As the ovisac is produced the body of the 2 becomes yellowish and later yellowish brown, much shrunken, with four transverse ridges and, ultimately, contorted or bent backward (fig. 235).
Antennae 8-jointed; range in w: (1) 48-55, (2) 48-54, (3) 75-85, (4) 44-58, (5) 27-37, (6) 24-34, (7) 27-31, (8) 46-51.
Leg I: coxa 122, femur + trochanter 290, tibia 211, tarsus 126, claw 34u.
Anal lobes approximately 165 long.
This insect is common throughout South Africa on Mesembryanthemum spp., especially M. edule, Linn. It becomes so numerous in some seasons that it kills patches of this plant when grown in parks, etc. This was the case at the Eastern Sports Grounds, Pretoria, in November 1914.
The 3g emerged from the next generation about Christmas 1914 and the following particulars are given from fresh material obtained at that time :—
Male test, transparent, white, glassy, about 1‘5 mm. long, margins depressed, central plate raised, slightly keeled.
Body, legs and antennae dark brown. Wings broadly rounded, iridescent, dorsal sclerites and eyes shiny black. Two caudal waxy filaments, white, as in Pseudo- coccus, length equal to head + body without antennae.
Length of head + body 1:17 mm. (without genital spike) ; length of wing 1:0 mm.; width of wing 0°5 mm.; length of antenna 0°84 mm.; length of genital spike 0°27 mm. ; length of caudal setae 1:0 mm.
Antennae 10-jointed, the segments measuring: (1) 34, (2) 48, (3) 51, (4) 180, (5) 112, (6) 105, (7) 85, (8) 68, (9) 61, (10) 74.
Habitat: On Mesembryanthemum spp., chiefly M. edule, Linn., throughout the Union.
Collection No: 78.
218. Pulvinaria psidii, Mask.
Pulvinaria psidu, Mask., N.Z. Trans. xxv, p. 223, 1892.
Adult 9 pale transparent yellow with irregular black markings; 2 mm. long and 1:7 mm. broad. The ovisac is white, as wide as the body, always flat, attaining twice the length of the body. Ova pale yellow.
Larvae pale yellow, hatching when received, 16th November 1914.
Adult 9 flatly convex with slightly raised median keel. Anal plates pale brown.
Antennae 8-jointed; range in ww: (1) 24-34, (2) 37-44, (3) 51-58, (4) 27-34, (5) 27-34, (6) 20-24, (7) 14-20, (8) 41-44.
Leg I: coxa 68, femur + trochanter 190, tibia 145, tarsus 85, claw 271.
Anal plate about 130u long. Margin with a row of thin spines about 34, long, tips divided but not dilated. These spines are set much closer together on the anterior part of the body. Integument clear, with a few simple glands with short
29, CHAS. K. BRAIN.
spines and a few long hairs near the insertion of the antennae. Stigmatic spines ; laterals short, conical ; median longer (51y).
Habitat : On guava, Botanic Gardens, Durban ; collected by A. Kelly, November 1914.
Collection No.: 81
Genus Ceronema, Mask.
Maskell’s original diagnosis of this genus, as given in the Transactions of the New Zealand Institute, p. 55, 1894, is as follows :—
“ Female insects in the adult stage covered wholly or partially by tests of threads more or less closely woven, neither glassy nor felted, never forming homogeneous plates. No fringe. Form of insect Lecanid, with normal cleft and lobes.
“ Larva Lecanid, showing cleft and lobes.
““ Male pupa covered by a glassy test of normal Lecanid form, composed of plates more or less homogeneous.”
219. Geronema mobilis, sp. n.
Adult 9° about 3 mm. long, broad oval in outline, flat, with the dorsum almost entirely covered with long, white, waxy filaments. Around the margin the filaments are long and coarse, but those on the dorsum are short and fine and + curly and densely matted and appear almost felted. The colour of the insect, beneath the secretion, is caramel brown.
When cleared and mounted the body is broad oval ; integument thin and trans- parent with numerous scattered, small, simple gland openings. Margin very closely set with a very short fringe of marginal spines, which are only about 20u long, thin, linear, two or three, usually two, arising from the same pore; they are unusually close together, averaging about 14u apart. Stigmatic clefts shallow, but distinct because of their chitinised sides; each cleft with two or three curved, blunt processes which are about as long as the marginal spines.
Antennae 7-jointed; range in w: (1) 27-37, (2) 41-51, (3) 34-54, (4) 68-78, (5) 27-31, (6) 17-27, (7) 41-44. Joints 2 and 4 each with two long setae, 5 with one, 6 with two and 7 with eight.
Leg I: coxa 75, femur + trochanter 187, tibia 105, tarsus 68, claw 24u.
Anal plate about 140u long with | apical and 3 subapical spines.
Habitat: On leaves of common native bush (Celastrus cordata, E.M.) (Celastri- neae) ; collected by C. Fuller, Illovo River, Natal, August 1916.
Collection No.: 97.
The adult 2 moves about quite readily. A number of mature specimens were put on one side when received with a view to photographing them, but next day, when the leaves had slightly dried, the insects had all crawled off and so disarranged the waxy filaments.
Genus Lichtensia, Sign. Adult 9 oval or suboval, like a Pulvinaria, except that the secretionary sac covers the whole body with the exception of the cephalic end, which is usually more or less exposed. Antennae 8-jointed.
THE COCCIDAE OF SOUTH AFRICA. 23
220. Lichtensia asparagi, sp. n.
Female ovisac about 4:5 mm. long, elongate, narrow and very convex, sordid white in colour, thin but dense, with the anterior extremity open, exposing the front portion of the dry female.
Male puparium moderately large, elongate, very convex, with perpendicular sides, thin, semi-opaque, dorsum flatly rounded, entirely without median plate. There is a faint indication of sublateral lines, otherwise the surfaceis uniformly stippled.
Adult 9, mounted, broad oval, about 4 mm. long, with the two extremities about equally rounded ; anterior extremity not produced.
The integument appears remarkably free from conspicuous glands or hairs. Margin with a single scattered row of short sharp curved spines. Stigmatic spines stout, somewhat curved, with rounded ends.
Antennae 8-jointed, in one antenna examined 9-jointed, with the following range in w: (1) 35-48, (2) 57-60, (3) 68-78, (4) 51-71, (5) 40-61, (6) 30-37, (7) 25-34, (8) 30-38.
Leg I: coxa 88, femur + trochanter 228, tibia 190, tarsus 102, claw 24.
Anal plate about 185 long, with longitudinal folds.
Habitat: On Asparagus capensis, L. (Liliaceke), Eastern Cape Province.
Collection No. : 131.
Genus Filippia, Targ. Female flat, oval, legs and antennae normal. Side of body and dorsum with numerous tubular glands. Female, at maturity, entirely enclosed in a flat felted sae which, after oviposition, serves as an ovisac.
221. Filippia chilianthi, sp. n.
Adult 9 entirely covered with a dense, closely felted layer of white secretion, about 6 mm. long and 3 mm. broad, + regularly oval, with the dorsum moderately convex. ‘This secretionary layer is secreted slowly from all the upper parts of the body, the glands concerned being scattered. This is not the case in the Pszupo- COCCIN AE, in which the ovisac is formed by secretionary glands in the posterior and marginal portion of the body only. Little or no secretion appears on the ventral surface, so that the leaf or twig forms the floor of the sac; the marginal secretion becomes attached and entirely encloses the 2. As oviposition proceeds the body shrinks away from the posterior end of the sac which becomes almost filled with ova. At death the dry shrivelled body of the 9 occupies a small portion at the anterior end.
Prior to secreting the ovisac the 2 is from 4 to 5mm. long, and rather more than half as wide. The sides are almost parallel for more than half the length of the body, the posterior end appearing broadly rounded, and the anterior end more pointed. In colour it appears greyish brown with a lighter median, flatly rounded, keel. When seen under a hand-lens, however, it is noticed that the ground-colour of the body is yellowish, and semi-transparent, speckled with black. The anal cleft is short, with the sides closely adjacent. The anal plates are small and brown. The lower surface is slightly concave, greasy-yellowish in colour, the black speckling of the dorsum only showing faintly through at the extreme margins. The stigmatic bands are represented by two short faint white lines on each side.
24 CHAS. K. BRAIN.
At a younger stage—when about 2°5 mm. long—the body is red-brown, rugose at the edges, with the median keel not prominent but smoother than the remainder of the body.
The antennae are 8-jointed; range in uw: (1) 31-45, (2) 50-62 (3) 95-108, (4) 54-65, (5) 32-44, (6) 27-34, (7) 27-34, (8) 31-37.
Leg I: coxa 102, femur + trochanter 245, tibia 165, tarsus 85, claw 20u.
Tarsal digitules moderately long (70x), slender hairs with their distal ends slightly clubbed. Lower digitules short, broad. Marginal spines short (27), truncate. Anal plate about 155u long. Stigmatic cleft with three comparatively slender spines, laterals about 34, median similar but longer (51,1).
Male puparium about 2 mm. long and 1 mm. wide, dark red when containing the insect ; white and glassy when empty. The divisions of the test are very prominent, opaque white ; the remainder being + wrinkled and almost hyaline.
Adult 3g were emerging in large numbers when the material was received, 5th April 1916.
Copulation was observed in a number of cases, the 9 in each case measuring about 4mm. in length. The body of the male was curved downward admitting the sheath into the cleft of the Q. During this process the two long waxy filaments of the J stood erect.
The adult ¢ is about 1:0 mm. long, rich red-brown in colour, with two long waxy caudal filaments about half as long again as the head and body combined, without the antennae. The body, legs, and antennae are all red-brown. The head is slightly darker. The scutellum is polished at the edges, with a sunken, matt, central patch. The wings are hyaline, matt, extremely iridescent, with a strong sub-costal, cochineal red band.
When mounted, the following measurements may be taken as an average :—
Head and body, without antennae .. se mn os ul taba pe Antennae... nf ai ae fe vf .. 0847 mm. Genital spike .. sys i oh Ss - Je fe. em. Wings : length 1-2 mm., width Hs she be 3} OG, ain Caudal filaments 20 2 ft £20087, om:
Habitat: On a native shrub ; collected by C. Fuller, [lovo River, Natal, April 1916. On leaves of Chilianthus oleaceus, Burch (Loganiaceae), Bloemfontein, 0. F.S.; collected by J. C. Faure, April 1916.
Collection Nos. : 127 and 128.
This insect, with the ovisac completed, is similar in appearance to F. oleae (Costa) but, according to Signoret’s description of that species, the adult has 6-jointed antennae.
222. Filippia carissae, sp.n. (Plate i, fig. 236).
This species differs from F’. africana in the following respects :—
The ovisac is a little larger and generally less compact ; often split around the edges (fig. 236). The antennae are more variable, 7 or 8-jointed, range in wu :—
THE COCCIDAE OF SOUTH AFRICA. Zo
(a) 8-jointed: (1) 41-54, (2) 51-54, (3) 102-119, (4) 68, (5) 37-44, (6) 34, (7) 24-27, (8) 34-37; (b) a specimen with 7-jointed antennae gave the following measure- ments :—
1. 54 68 105 122 34 27 41 il. rt aR 109 68 51 37 68
Leg I: coxa 95, femur + trochanter 240, tibia 204, tarsus 88, claw 20u.
Anal plate 176u, rather elongate, with one or two long spines at apex. Margin with a single row of + plate-like spines, narrow at the base and gradually broadening at the distal ends. Stigmatic clefts somewhat sunken, with three spurs of moderate length.
Habitat: On leaves of Carissa grandiflora, A. DC. (Apocynaceae), Natal Coast ; common.
Collection No. : 129.
Genus Conofilippia, nov.
Female Lecaniid, flat, with well developed legs and antennae; dorsum with numerous sharp spines; margin with slender spines and stigmatic cleft similar to Lecanium. At maturity the insect is entirely enclosed in a dense felted sac, which is elevated in the form of a high cowl. Antennae 7-jointed.
Type, C. subterranea, sp. n.
223. Conofilippia subterranea, sp.n. (Plate iui, fig. 245).
Adult °° enclosed in conical felted tests on the roots of a native shrub. Test about 6 mm. long, 5 mm. broad and 5 mm. high (figs. 245a, 6).
Adult © flat, about 5°5 mm. long, 4mm. wide, smooth, glossy, pink to red in colour, brown and wrinkled when dry, on a thick mat of dense powdery material (the floor of the test) which is buff to yellow-brown in colour and dusted with white wax beneath the insect.
In one or two cases the top of the test shows a circular orifice, but this does not appear to be normal and looks as though it had been made for the exit of some Hymenopterous parasite.
Largest 2, when mounted, about 6 mm. long, and 4:2 mm. wide. Integument clear, with a number of simple glands which are particularly abundant near the margin, and with numerous short (17) sharp spines. The margin is thickly set with a compound series of slender spines about 24 long, which are somewhat curved near their tips. Stigmatic clefts with three blunt spurs, laterals about 27, median about 371. :
Antennae 7-jointed; range in mw: (1) 35-40, (2) 25-34, (3) 40-47, (4) 37-42, (5) 34-44, (6) 17-30, (7) 37-51. In one case joints 6 and 7 were united, forming a segment 64 long.
Leg I: coxa 102, femur + trochanter 220, tibia 170, tarsus 100, claw 40u. The junction of the tibia and tarsus is swollen and suddenly narrows towards the distal half of the tarsus.
The anal lobes are rounded, about 230m long.
26 CHAS. K. BRAIN.
Habitat: On roots of native shrub with red stems; collected at De Wildt, Pretoria District, Transvaal, by Claude Fuller, May 1915. The drawings (figs. 245-b) were kindly made from living material by the collector.
Collection No.: 137.
Genus Geroplastes, Gray.
Adult 2 completely enveloped in a more or less dense covering of wax ; no marginal fringe or radiating processes. Sometimes the waxy covering exhibits a variety of arrangement in the form of definite plates or plaques. In other species the covering is uniform in texture and is then most often soft, and contains a large per- centage of watery fluid. On removing the wax a caudal prominence is generally visible. Legs and antennae present, well developed.
224. Geroplastes bipartitus, Newst.
Ceroplastes bipartitus, Newst., Bull. Ent. Res. viu, 1, p. 25, 1917.
“Female test. Colour of dried specimens very like pale dirty beeswax. In the young adults the test is broadly oval, somewhat hemispherical and divided into nine plates: three bilateral, one cephalic, one anal and one dorsal, the last- named with a conspicuous dark brown or blackish oval spot, with a central elongated patch of pure white wax; the nuclear spots to the lateral plates are smaller and generally much less conspicuous than the dorsal one. Margin over the stigmatic areas with a pair of laterally compressed and somewhat disc-shaped extensions,, each extension carrying on its edge a narrow strip of opaque white wax, the tip of which sometimes reaches the dark nuclear spot of the lateral thoracic plate. In very old examples the test has increased in thickness considerably, but this has been so much damaged in transit as to render it useless for descriptive purposes ; however, one can trace the curious marginal extensions, which are somewhat like a narrow-waisted and distorted bobbin, or the toy used in the once popular game ‘diabolo.’ Average length of young adults, 3 mm.; height 1-6-2 mm.; average length of old adults, 6 mm. ; height doubtful.
“Female adult. Denuded of wax, hemispherical; caudal process very long, varying in length from one-half to a little less than one-half the length of the remaining portion of the insect. Submarginal tubercles small, but generally clearly defined ; one cephalic and three bilateral, the two over the stigmata slightly more pronounced than the rest. When examined under a high power lens, by transmitted light, these tubercles are seen to be traversed by clear cell-like tracts. forming an irregular reticulated pattern. It is reasonable to assume, therefore, that these may be the special set of glands which secrete the nuclear spots in the centre of the plates in the test. Derm relatively thin, but strongly chitinised. Pores minute, separated over a large portion of the dorsum by slightly varying distances equalling the length of one of the short segments of the antennae or two of them together. Stigmatic clefts relatively shallow, but very clearly defined ; spines. short, obconical, those at the extreme margin very minute and stud-like. Marginal spines or hairs not traceable. Antennae of six segments, the 3rd longer than the last three together. Legs normal. Length of denuded female, inclusive of the: caudal process, 4°5-4°6 mm. ; length of caudal process, 13-15 mm.
TNE COCCIDAE OF SOUTH AFRICA. 27
“Male puparium. Consisting of two distinct parts ; the lower half boat-shaped, and of a glassy vesicular texture, as in those typical of the genus Lecaniwmn ; the upper portion opaque, low, convex, and of a dirty beeswax colour, with nine narrowly rectangular, submarginal patches of snow-white secretion. Anal cleft apparently obsolete. On the emergence of the male the whole of the upper portion falls away, leaving the ventral half attached to the food-plant. The line of cleavage between the upper and lower portion is clearly defined in those puparia from which the imprisoned male has not escaped. Length 1:6 mm.
‘South Africa, 1914 (de Charmoy).” (Newstead.)
This species is apparently not represented in the collection of this Division.
225. Ceroplastes candela, Ckll. & King.
Ceroplastes candela, Ckll. & King, The Entom. xxxv, p. 113, 1902.
“©. Long 23, lat. 34, alt. 44; dark red-brown, elevated, with vertical s:des. Caudal horn a prominent stout spine, hardly $ mm. long, placed nearer the top of the scale than the base. Dorsum smooth and shining, with only a very small central raised line. Sides of insects with vertical stripes of dense secretion ; no wax, except that composing these stripes, between the insects, which are densely crowded together, their vertical sides contiguous. They rest on a thin substratum of wax, and are covered above with yellowish-white wax, about 1 mm. thick. The outlines of the insects are vaguely marked on the surface of the covering wax by a brownish stain. The wax, with the insects beneath, surrounds the twig as the wax does the wick of a candle; the whole mass is about 20 mm. diameter, that of the t vig being about 5 mm.
“ Mr. King found the antennae to measure thus in 1 :—
4. halide Abeta 4 diag 029 ml ¢) Haan ©: i (3) a) Pou ok er. GS 8! 60 a8 ag 49 Rees ee ag 4 gh BB! SOR gd
“Found by Mr. Fuller at Richmond, Natal. The nearest ally is an undescribed species from Paraguay, collected by Professor Bruner.” (Ckll. & King).
This species is not represented in the collection.
226. Ceroplastes combreti, sp. n.
Test of 2 about 3 mm. long, broad and high, conical, with the anterior side a little more precipitous than the posterior, which is somewhat excavate above. There are no plaques, but the whole body of wax is arranged in + distinct columns, three on each side. The apex is blunt, bearing an opaque white ridge surrounded by six opaque white spots—the tops of the columns. Between the two most prominent lateral ridges are the distinct white stigmatic bands which extend from the base to the crown. The colour, when fresh, is bright rose-red with darker transverse marks.
The aninnae are 8-jointed ; range in w: (1) 37-44, (2) 56-61, (3) 34-48, (4) 27, (5) 37-4 ', (6) 20-24, (7) 17-24, (8) 37-41.
Leg I: coxa 75, femur + trochanter 180, tibia 129, tarsus 85, claw 20.
28 CHAS. K. BRAIN.
Anal plates + semicircular, about 160u long and 85u broad. The derm is thin and transparent, with numerous small, scattered, simple glands, from some of which short, tubular projections arise. Stigmatic clefts with large numbers of very small, roundly conical, thimble-shaped spines.
The distinct, long, opaque white lines, the reddish colour, soft wax, etc., suggest quadrilineatus of Newstead, but this latter species has 6-joited antennae and is obviously quite distinct by other characters of the test.
Habitat: On stems of Combretum sp., De Wildt, Pretoria District ; collected by Claude Fuller, July 1918. Collection No.: 317.
227. Ceroplastes destructor, Newst.
Ceroplastes ceriferus (Anderson) Newstead, Bull. Ent. Res. 1, pp. 66, 195, 1910.
Ceroplastes destructor, Bull. Ent. Res. vii, p. 26, 1917.
“ Female test. White, creamy white or dirty white; exceedingly soft and con- taining an excess of moisture. Form irregular, with large but ill-defined gibbose protuberances ; sides usually with two narrow opaque lines of secretion from the stigmatic clefts. No trace of lateral plates. Length, 4-8 mm.
“Female, adult. More or less hemispherical, with the sides often slightly com- pressed ; caudal process long; integument castaneous and highly chitinised, smooth and shining, and without fovea or lateral tubercles. Antennae of six segments, the 3rd being as long as the 4th, 5th, and 6th together; the last three segments with stiff and bluntly pointed, spimose hairs. Legs small; hind femora very short and often distinctly incrassate ; hind tarsi equal in length to the tibiae, or sometimes slightly longer. Claw very short ; lower digitules very long and stout ; upper digitules normal. Stigmatic clefts well defined, but relatively small; stig- matic spines very small and pointed, bases not constricted; basal attachment (disc) very large. Caudal process (after maceration) transparent and somewhat flexible ; sides with an irregular double row of short spinose hairs, and in addition to these there are two pairs of longer hairs (one pair of which is twice the length of the others) slightly ventral to the row of short ones and towards the distal extremity. Anal lobes short and highly chitinised. Dorsal pores very small, rather widely separated. Ventral integument opposite the caudal process, with rather extensive groups of circular pores, many of which, in well cleared specimens, are linked together with lines of dark chitin. Length 4-7 mm.” (Newstead.)
Habitat: On custard apple and avocado, Nelspruit, Transvaal; collected by D. Gunn, September 1915 (Coll. No. 93). On syringa (Melia azedarach), Bechuana- land, October 1918 (Coll. No. 336).
Collection Nos. : 93 and 336.
228. Ceroplastes egbarum, CkIl.
Ceroplastes egbarum, Ckll. The Entom. xxxii, p. 127, 1899.
Ceroplastes cristatus, Green, Ann. Mag. N.H. (7) iv, p. 190, 1899.
Professor Cockerell’s description is as follows :—
“Waxy female scales often crowded on the twigs, two or more coalescing ; about 11 mm. long, 10 broad, and 6 high, the wax extremely thick, not at all divided into plates, snow-white, here and there with a suffused pinkish stain.
THE COCCIDAE OF SOUTH AFRICA. 29
‘* ©. Denuded of wax 53-7 mm. long, 4 broad, 2}—3 high, very dark, with a dorsal hump but no lateral humps; anal horn a mere mammiform prominence. Boiled in caustic soda the denuded females give a purple colour, which on dilution with water appears pink, and soon forms a flocculent pink precipitate. On adding nitric acid a flocculent white precipitate appears, but the pink precipitate is not altered. Skin after boiling remains yellowish brown, chitinous, with scattered minute gland-dots. Stigmatic areas with numerous crowded gland-spots, and many short and rather thick simple spines, but no capitate spines. Legs dark brown, the parts measuring thus in w: Coxa, 120; femur with trochanter, 180: tibia, 128; tarsus with claw, 96 to 114. Tarsal digitules 60, slender, with a small knob. Claw digitules with very large round knobs, extending about 15u beyond tip of claw. Antennae apparently only 6-segmented, but the segmentation towards the end very obscure. The segments measure in w: (1) 45; (2) 60-69; (3) 66-78 ; (4) 51; (5) 69; (6) 72. Segment 5 has a deep notch which makes it look as if divided into two.
“Young larvae under female about 4301 long and 230 broad, tinged with a warm reddish colour. Male scales small, elongate, and glassy.”
In the description of C. africanum var. cristatus Green states that specimens from Natal differ from africanum (1.e., mimosae) only in the presence of a small dorsal crest corresponding to the position of the central scar. They were, however, larger, being 12 mm. indiameter. This would seem to indicate, moreover, that the antennae may be 6, 7, or 8—jointed.
Habitat: On Acacia, Natal.
Collection No.: 87.
229. Geroplastes egbarum fulleri, T. & W. Ckll.
Ceroplastes egbarum subsp. fullert, T. & W. Ckil., The Entom. xxxv, p. 113, 1902.
Adult 9, with waxy covering about 14 mm. long, 12°5 mm. wide and 7 mm. high. Waxy covering regularly domed with a slight depression in centre. Margins widely crenulate, with usually two conical deflected waxy masses which clasp the stem. Stigmatic cleft waxy appendages conspicuous, snow-white, long and _ slender. There are two of these on each side, usually 3 to 4°5 mm. long, about 1 mm. thick at attachment to waxy covering, but gradually tapering to their extremities. They usually he closely pressed to the stem of the host plant. The colour of the waxy covering is whitish to coral, pink, with distinct brown patches on the intermediate area and lighter zones around the dome.
Female, denuded of wax, 7 mm. long, 5°5 mm. broad and 4 mm. high. Colour coral pink, more yellowish than the darker coloured wax. The extreme frontal margin, the stigmatic clefts and the caudal projection are dark castaneous and shiny. In older specimens, after oviposition, the integument becomes brown.
The venter is flat or concave with the median zone sunken and segmented. The 4 white stigmatic bands extend inwards to this sunken area. The lateral margins are slightly excavate, the upper edge of the excavation being formed by seven depressed conical projections from the intermediate area. The anterior of these extends forward until nearly level with the front edge of the rounded anterior lobe.
30 CHAS. K. BRAIN.
The three lateral projections of each side are shorter and more bluntly pointed. The depressed area which separates the central cone from the intermediate area is coarsely punctate. The central cone is regular, elongate, oval at the base and roundly pointed at the apex. There is no sunken area in the centre.
The caudal projection is exceptionally short, bluntly conical, projecting at an angle of about 45° with the ventral surface.
Antennae 8-jointed; range in mw: (1) 44-51, (2) 48. (3) 58-68, (4) 34-37. (5) 27-34, (6) 20-24, (7) 20-24, (8) 37-48.
Integument clear, hyaline, except for the extreme margin, marginal expansions and caudal prominence, which are densely chitinised. The anterior margin is broadly rounded with a distinct parallel-sided chitinous band. Lateral margins with two almost circular expansions on each side. These are much larger than those found in mumosae.
Habitat: On “ monkey rope,” Natal coast, Umbilo and Equeefa Rivers,
Collection No.: 88a.
230. Geroplastes eucleae, sp. n. (Plate u, fig. 239).
Adult 9 tests sometimes single on stem, often aggregated in dense masses, Test of adult 2 about 6 mm. long, 5 mm. wide and 5°5 mm. high, without plaques but with the lower portion forming a wrinkled fold at the base of a highly conical dome. The colour is a delicate green, when alive, with the stigmatic bands conspicuous (fig. 239); when dry, it is semi-transparent, greenish yellow, with two white thin streaks on each side just above the stigmatic clefts. The central dome is pointed, without any central pit or depression, and is distinctly separated from the lower portion of the test by a groove. There is no indication of a caudal prominence on the test.
Female, denuded of wax, smooth, regularly domed, without caudal prominence, chitin pale brown and moderately thin ; portion surrounding the anal plates deep castaneous. Caudal prominence rudimentary, indicated by deeper coloured chitin. When cleared, the derm is moderately chitmous. That of the dorsum is very finely rugose with very scattered small, transparent spots. The denser, marginal folds have in addition a few larger holes.
Antennae 6-jointed; range in w: (1) 24-30, (2) 37-40, (3) 91, (4) 17-24, (5) 24-27, (6) 40.
The legs are moderately developed, normal.
Stigmatic clefts with a series of short, conical, thimble-shaped spines, which extend in a single row for some distance along the margin on either side of the cleft, where they compose a double row. About the middle of the group is a large spine, about twice as large as the others. Within the double row is a collection of small simple glands like the circumgenital glands of the D1asPINaz.
Habitat: On stems of several native shrubs, including Huclea sp., Ochna sp. ?, Pavetta sp. ?, etc., Pretoria ; collected by Miss E. Impey, January 1915.
Collection Nos. : 90 and 342.
THE COCCIDAE OF SOUTH AFRICA, 3]
231. Geroplastes longicauda, sp. n.
Adult 2 covered with a very thick layer of soft, white wax forming a test like a large ceriferus specimen, i.e., a little more elevated than egbarum. Largest specimen seen measured 18 mm. long, 11 mm. wide and 12 mm. high; marginal area prominent, forming a wide fold at the base of the central dome. The waxy appendages from the stigmatic clefts only project slightly from the main mass of the fold.
Adult 9, denuded of wax, bright brown in colour, about 5 mm. long without caudal process, which alone measures 3°5mm. The body is + star-shaped with three short, lateral pointed spurs and one anterior. These,are sharper and more prominent than those of ceriferus. The dorsum is very convex, rising with straight sides to an acute point. The caudal process is exceedingly long, two thirds the lengt' of body, piceous, shghtly tapering, and extends in a horizontal direction, 1.e., flat along the twig.
Cleared and mounted, the insect is remarkable for the broad oval, thin, trans- parent body with a very long dense black tail. The integument is uniformly hyaline. without chitinous marginal discs such as those found in fulleri, etc. In stained material the integument of the dorsum illustrates a strange segmentation -+ in plates, 5 elongate transverse median ones and shorter laterals.
The antennae are 7 or 8-jointed, e.g., (1) 40, (2) 37, (3) 40, (4) 47, (5) 68, (6) 30, (7) 27, (8) 374; or (1) 23, (2) 34, (3) 40, (4) 88 (with pseudarticulation), (5) 27, (6) 27, (7) 37.
Stigmatic cleft thin, hyaline, with a patch of scattered, short, thimble-shaped spies and, within this, a large group of simple glands similar to the circumgenit.l glands of the DIASPINAE.
Legs comparatively short, otherwise normal.
Habitat: On stems of native shrub; collected by C. Fuller, Natal Coast, July 1915.
Collection No. : 334.
This species is very similar in many respects to C. ceriferus but may be readily separated by the larger size of the adult 9 test, the comparatively longer caudal process and the 7 or 8-jointed antennae. C. ceriferus has antennae 5 or 6- jointed, usually 6.
232. Ceroplastes mimosae, Sign. (Plate ii, fig. 241).
Ceroplastes mimosae, Sign., Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr. (5) ii, p. 46, 1872.
Ceroplastes africanus, Green, Ann. Mag. N. H. (7) iv, p. 188, 1899.
“Tnsects crowded on the stems of the plant, so much so that the waxy covering of adjacent individuals becomes more or less confluent and the normal form of the test is difficult to determine. The tests appear as rounded masses of cream-coloured wax, each with a more or less distinct nipple-like prominence at the apex bearing a small spot of whiter substance.
‘ The usual opaque white bands from the spiracular regions are present, but very inconspicuous, scarcely extending beyond the margin. In some specimens a series
of CHAS. K. BRAIN.
of impressed arches on the sides of the test marks the position of the marginal plates. The waxy coating being thinner on the impressed parts, the arches appear darker, the colour of the body of the insect showing through the covering-matter. An isolated test averages 7°75 mm. long, 6°50 mm. broad, 5°75 mm. high.
“Female, denuded of wax, reddish brown to dark brown, the whole surface strongly chitinised ; irregularly globose ; apex often with an oblong scar correspond- ing with the position of the early larval pellicle, but which becomes almost obliterated in the oldest examples. In the early adult the median is separated from the marginal area by a more or less distinct furrow, which is particularly marked where it meets the anal tubercle. In the older examples only this hinder part of the furrow remains. Cephalic area constricted off from the globose body, forming a trowel-shaped projection in front. Spiracular clefts deeply indented, thickly set with small conical spines, not constricted at the base. Marginal hairs very small, few and inconspicuous. Anal scales minute, inner edge straight, base and outer edge together forming a semicircle. Anal tubercle blackish, directed upwards. Derm with numerous glandular pores, which are more distinct on the darker marginal area. Antennae with either 7 or 8-joints. It is difficult to say which is the normal number, as the two varieties are about equally represented in the series under examination. With the 8-jointed form the formula runs :—3, (1, 2), 8, 4, 5, (6, 7). When there are seven joints only the formula is 3, (1, 2, 4), 7, (5, 6). In this latter case there is a tendency for the fourth joint to separate into two, and there is always a more or less distinct false joint in the terminal segment. Legs well developed; tarsus more than half length of tibia. Foot with 4 digitules, the unguals broadly spatulate, the tarsals fine knobbed hairs.
“Length of fully developed female 5°50 mm., breadth 5:0 mm., height 4°25 mm.
“The male insect is unknown in any stage.” (Green.)
The material I have examined has a characteristic odour and has uniformly 8-jointed antennae, with the following range in 4: (1) 27-34, (2) 41-48, (3) 58-68, (4) 27-41, (5) 17-87, (6) 17-24, (7) 20-24, (8) 34-37.
Habitat : On Acacia karroo, Cape Colony ; common but local.
Collection No.: 85.
233. Ceroplastes myricae (Linn.).
Coccus myricae, Linn., Syst. Nat. Ed. xu, i, p. 741, 1766.
Columnea myricae, Targ., Catalogue, p. 35, 1869.
Ceroplastes myricae, Sign., Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr. (5) 1, p. 39, 1872.
“ Habitat ad Cap. B. Spei, in Myrica quercifolia.
““Magnitudo pisi minoris, semi-ovatus secundum perpendiculum, pallide incarn- atus, vertice obtuse acuminatus cum poro tenuissimo, postice supra marginem etiam porus est, margo cartilagineus, crassior albus, utrinque circiter septem torutis protuberans.
“Dans Olivier, Encyclopédie, VI, 96, 8, nous trouvons une description presque identique : la femelle est presque de la grandeur d’un petit pois, le corps est d’une couleur rouge pale et de forme demi-ovale, le vertex est elevé et percé d’un petit point, tout le bord est cartilagineux, épais, blanchAtre, marqué de chaque cété de petits cordons élevés.
THE COCCIDAE OF SOUTH AFRICA, 33
“Ce sont ces sept cordons élevés qui, spécifiant bien ’espéce, nous empéchent de Yattribuer aux nombreux individus que nous possédons et decrivons sous le nom de C. Vinsonu.” (Sign.)
Myrica quercifolia, Linn. (Myricaceae) is a near relative of the waxberry plant which is common on the Cape Flats. Mr. C. W. Mally, the Entomologist for the Cape Province, has recently kindly examined a large number of plants in an endeavour to re-discover this species of Ceroplastes, but as yet without success.
234. Ceroplastes pallidus, sp. n.
Test of adult 2 to 85 mm. long, 6 mm. broad and 4:5 mm. high; very much like alarge C. rusci in form, with 8 lateral plaques and median dome. The lateral plaques, however, are without “ nuclei ” and are a little more perpendicular. In old specimens the waxy covering is pale, semi-transparent, yellowish, or having an indistinct greenish tint. The central dome is moderately elevated, somewhat tapering, slightly glossy, with longitudinal and concentric striae. The central “nucleus” is elongate, glossy and a little darker in colour. Stigmatic clefts indicated by small white dots.
When cleared and mounted the integument is all thin and hyaline, without anterior or marginal thickenings and with only a small area surrounding the anal lobes chiti- nised.
Stigmatic clefts shallow, not chitinised, with short, conical, pointed spines which are in a single row for a short distance on each side, but broaden out to form a small triangular patch opposite the spiracle ; at no point, however, are there more than 5 rows. Within this series is a compact group of simple glands like the circum- genital glands of the Drasprnaz and also a few smaller glands and short simple hairs. The remainder of the margin has a scattered, single row of short, slender, sharply pointed spines.
The antennae are 8-jointed; range in w: (1) 37-44, (2) 37-47, (3) 44-52, (4) 34-44, (5) 51-56, (6) 27-32, (7) 27-34, (8) 35-47.
Legs well developed, normal; tibia long, with a constriction at about the middle.
The caudal tubercle is comparatively small, a mere plate with the chitin appearing -- streaky and somewhat perforate.
Habitat : On fig, Church Square, Pretoria.
Collection No.: 102.
235. Geroplastes quadrilineatus, Newst., var. simplex, nov. Adult °° clustered in large masses on the twigs of the host plant. @ test about 5 mm. long, 4°5 mm. broad and 3 mm. high, very dark in colour, almost black, with the thinner parts of the wax appearing reddish. Marginal fold corrugated, lighter and more transparent in colour than the central dome, with two very distinct lines of opaque white on each side. The central portion is comparatively flat and trun- cate, separated from the marginal fold by a deep furrow in dry material, with the apex hollowed into a shallow cup containing an opaque white ridge. The ridge of this cup-like depression is not regular but consists of an anterior transverse ridge and two posterior lateral spurs, and the floor usually slopes gently forward. The (681) , C
ot CHAS. K. BRAIN.
anal opening to the test is surrounded by a distinct circular ring which is itself sunken in a deep depression with broadly rounded sides. In dry specimens the whole waxy material is roughened, hard and very brittle. The pair of larger divergent pytiform bodies referred to in the description of quadrilineatus are not present.
When cleared of the waxy covering the insect is of a characteristic form, with the dorsum uniformly rounded and smooth and the marginal area produced in a series of broadly rounded bead-like lobes. The caudal prominence is extremely rudimen- tary, appearing as a flatly rounded hump, black in contrast with the deep red brown of the remainder of the insect. The integument, when cleared, is dense and is pitted like that of many species of Sazssetia. The stigmatic spines are in an elongate row around the shallow cleft, the series becoming double in the centre.
The antennae are 6-jomted, three being very long and variable, e.g. :—(1) 27, (2) 37-40, (3) 88-119, (4) 20, (5) 27, (6) 44-51 u.
Legs long, normal. Chitin of caudal protuberance appears as though bossed w.th a honey-comb pattern.
Habitat: On stems of Rhus sp. (probably R. vimanalis), Victoria West, C.P.; collected by Mr. van Heerden, October 1915.
Collection No.: 346.
236. Ceroplastes rusci (Linn.)
Coccus ruscir, Linn., Syst. Nat. Ed. x, 1, p. 456, 1758.
Coccus caricae, Bern., Mem. Acad. Marseille, p. 89, 1773.
Coccus artemisiae, Rossi, Mant. Ins. 11, pp. 56, 514, 1794.
Calypticus radvatus, Costa, Faun. Reg. Nap. Coce., p. 12, 1835.
Calypticus testudineus, Costa, Faun. Reg. Nap. Cocc., p. 12, 1835.
Calypticus hydatis, Costa, Faun. Reg. Nap. Cocc., p. 14, 1835.
Columnea testudinata, Targ., Atti dei Georgofili, n.s. xi, p. 31, 1866.
Coccus hydatis, Targ., Studi sul. Coce., p. 12, 1857.
Columnea testudinforms, Targ., Studii sul. Cocc., pp. 8, 11, 12, 1867.
Chermes caricae, Bdv., Ent. Hort., p. 320, 1867.
Ceroplastes rusci, Sign., Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr. (5) u, p. 35, 1872.
Lecamum artemisiae, Sign., Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr. (5) i, p. 37, 1872.
Adult 9. Test about 7-5 mm. long, 5:2 mm. broad and 5 mm. high, regularly domed, rounded in front, rather excavate behind. Colour greasy white, suffused with purplish red. Dorsal dome and margins of plaques lined with greenish grey lines ; anal pore and middles of plaques of same colour. Stigmatic bands, 2 on each side, pure white, broad at stem and tapering inwards. Middle of dorsum with a depression in which there is an elongate, glossy white prominence similar to those in centres of plaques, but longer.
Antennae 6-jomted; range in uw: (1) 34-40, (2) 37-40, (3) 114-120, (4) 17-24, (5) 20-27, (6) 44-57.
Leg II: coxa 102; femur + trochanter 170; tibia 120; tarsus 85; claw 20wu. Margin of sides of body with a single row of small thimble-like spines ; amongst these are mixed a few simple spines. Stigmatic clefts very shallow, not chitinised,
THE COCCIDAE CF SOUTH AFRICA. 35
with a few additional spines like those of the marginal series and a small group of simple glands like the circumgenital glands of the Diaspinag. Anal plate heavily chitinised, with scattered perforations.
Halitat: On stems of quince, Stellenbosch, C.P.; collected by F. W. Pettey, July 1916.
Collection No.: 91.
237. Ceroplastes tachardiaformis, sp. n.
Adult tests aggregated in huge masses on stems of the host-plant, often com- pletely covering the stems for a distance of several inches.
© test Tachardia-like, globular, slightly flattened above, hard, thin, brittle, almost transparent resinous brown, due to the colour of the insect within ;_ without protuberances but with a slight apical depression containing the opaque white larval exuvia.
Adult 2, denuded of wax, moderately dense, globular, smooth and shiny. Caudal protuberance short, very dense, surrounded by a coarsely perforated plate.
Antennae 6-jointed, e.g. (1) 34, (2) 27, (3) 74, (4) 20, (5) 17, (6) 30u.
Legs short, e.g., coxa 50, femur ++ trochanter 110, tibia 78, tarsus 50.
Integument moderately dense, appearing, under the high power, finely rugose, with numerous, widely scattered, small, transparent pores. Stigmatic clefts almost obsolete, indicated by a small group (8 or 10) of short obconical spines and a few simple glands.
Habitat: On rhenosterbosch (Elytropappus rhinocerotis, Less.) ; collected by Messrs. Watermeyer Bros., Aberdeen, C.P., November 1915.
Collection No.: 94.
238. Ceroplastes zonatus, Newst.
Ceroplastes zonatus, Newstead, Bull. Ent. Res. vii, p. 32, 1917.
“Female test. Broadly ovate in outline, highly convex; marginal plates very faintly indicated, but apparently without nuclear spots; dorsal plate very large, with a central nuclear spot of white wax ; cephalic margin slightly clypeate ; lateral margins in very old examples with a pronounced foot-like extension from each of the stigmata, from which there extends a thick white waxen appendage. In the younger forms the foot-like extension is wanting, but the white waxen appen- dages are present and always porrected. Colour creamy white, suffused with very pale brown; dorsal plate surrounded by a shaded wavy zone of dark brown and brownish black, with here and there a suffused patch of dull flesh-colour. In very old examples the zone of colour extends to the margins and is of a shining madder- brown to piceous colour. On the removal of the outer surface of the test with chloroform, it is seen to be divided into seven areas by pale orange-coloured lines ; a central polygonal area, corresponding to the area occupied by the dorsal plate, from the angles of which radiate to the margin single lines marking off the areas of the lateral and cephalic plates.
“Female adult (denuded of the test). Ovate; cephalic margin clypeate ; dorsum low and wrinkled; two large, bilateral, submarginal extensions, both longitudinally striated : the space between these extensions of the body-wall and
(681) eo
36 CHAS. K. BRAIN,
the margin markedly constricted. Dorsum with a large keel-like process. Caudal process very short and conical. Stigmatic clefts deep. Antennae of eight seg- ments ; the articulations relatively very broad ; 3rd about equal in length to the 7th and 8th together ; a very long hair on the 2nd and 5th, and a slightly shorter one on the 8th ; there are two spines on the 8th and one on the 7th. Legs normal. Stigmatic spines covering a large and somewhat pyriform area, the length of which is nearly equal to twice the length of the antennae ; the spines, with the exception of a small group near the stigmata, are obconical and the space between them with bands of dark granular bodies, which collectively form a polygonal reticulation ; the small proximal group of spmes are longer than the others and pointed. No trace of marginal spines. Derm thin and transparent after maceration ; rather thickly set with minute pores and minute scattered spines. Caudal process sur- rounded by a porose zone of brown chitin. Length 3°9-4°6 mm.” (Newstead).
The above description does not refer to the mature female forms which attain, with the waxy test, 14 mm. long, 12 mm. broad and 8 mm. high. The colours remain the same except that the lighter parts become yellowish.
When mature the denuded female is densely chitinous, brownish black, with the dorsum smooth, shining. In boiling KOH it stains the liquid deep purplish brown. The antennae are sometimes 7-jomted with joint 4 very long, obviously 4 + 5 of the 8-jointed form.
Halitat: On Acacia sp., Pretoria, November 1914.
Collection No.: 344.
Genus Inglisia, Mask. Adult female more or less conical, covered above by a glassy shield which is divided into plates and striated with rows of air cells. Legs and antennae well
developed.
239. Inglisia elytropappi, sp. n.
Test of adult 9 small, 1°6-2 mm. long, 1°2 mm. wide and high, like a small bivalve shell with its hinge uppermost standing on the stem. It is very like a small zizypha test but paler in colour, with the upper angles of the two halves smooth instead of tuberculate. The colour is white to pale buff, shiny, often pearly, with the vertical striae conspicuous.
2, with the test removed, shiny dark brown, of the same general shape as the test, with the apex depressed between two rounded lateral humps.
Cleared and mounted the body is hyaline. The margin has a close-set row of short conical spines with broad bases and moderately sharp points. The stigmatic clefts are obsolete, but their presence is indicated in the marginal row of spines by the addition of a single, slightly longer spine with a narrower base.
The antennae are rudimentary, appearing in varied forms with very indistinct segmentation ranging from 4 to 7-jointed. When 7-jointed the segments are generally very short—mere rings. The measurement of such an antenna gave the following in wu :—(1) 17, (2) 6, (3) 17, (4) 6, (5) 10, (6) 6, (7) 6.
THE COCCIDAE OF SOUTH AFRICA. 37
Legs rudimentary, appearing as though composed of three, almost equal, cylindri- cal segments with a minute claw. The total length varies between 70 and 90.
Habitat: On the thinnest twigs of rhenosterbosch (Hlytropappus rhinocerotis, Less.), Groot Drakenstein, Somerset West and Cape Flats, C.P. (Cape Coll. No. 1244). The stems of the host-plant are thickly covered with “ sooty”’ fungus, apparently grown on secretion from the numerous specimens present.
Collection No.: 100.
240. Inglisia geranii, sp. n. (Plate iv, fig. 249).
Insects congregated on the main stems at or near the nodes. Adult insect, with test, about 2°5 mm. long and 1°3 mm. broad at the base, brown, with the air spaces of the test almost colourless and appearing as transverse lines radiating from the centre of each half of the test. The test is composed of two similar halves, each of which simulates a shell or tortoise-shell, with their apices widely separated. The median line at the point of union of the two is almost flat, very little depressed. The test easily flakes away from old specimens and is then white, almost hyaline.
The antennae are 7 or 8-jointed ; range in « :—7-jointed: (1) 24-31, (2) 14-20, (3) 41-48, (4) 17-20, (5) 14-20, (6) 14-17, (7) 20-24; 8-jointed: (1) 24, (2) 17, (3) 31-34, (4) 14, (5) 14-17, (6) 14-17, (7) 17, (8) 24.
Leg I: coxa 68; femur + trochanter 136; tibia 109; tarsus 85u. The tro- chanter has a long (90m) spine. The upper digitules are long and slender, hardly perceptibly clubbed ; lower digitules comparatively short and slender.
Anal plate about 115 long, with 2 or 3 stout spines. Margin with a single row of sharp pointed spines of varying lengths ; these are all broad at the base and taper rapidly to the point. Stigmatic cleft with a single spine a little longer than the longest of the marginal series and a little less tapering.
Habitat: On geranium, King Williamstown, C.P.; collected by A. Kelly, March 1916. Fresh material sent by Mr. J. Hobson, King Williamstown, May 1916.
Collection No.: 99.
This species is remarkably close to Inglisia theobromae, Newst., which _ was described on cacao from Uganda, but it is smaller, and joint 3 of the antennae is apparently always longer than 4. It is also somewhat like J. bivalvata, Green, but the dorsal shield, formed by the inner sides of the two halves of the test, is wider and more oval.
241. Inglisia zizyphi, sp. n.
Test of adult 92 shaped like a small bivalve shell, standing erect, with the two halves separated by a conspicuous furrow, and the hinge uppermost, represented by two small, rugose “crowns” of the two halves. The lower margins, which rest on the stem, are surrounded by a slight fringe of fine glassy filaments. The test is pale horn-colour, with the distinct vertical striae appearing slightly iridescent. Length 2 to 3 mm.; width 15 to 2 mm.; height about 2 mm.
Adult 9, with the waxy test flaked off, red-brown, of the same shape as the test
but with the dorsum shiny and wrinkled.
38 CHAS. K. BRAIN.
Cleared and mounted the integument is thin and hyaline. Margin with a dense series of stout conical spines, so closely set that the row appears, in places, double. The derm is clear except for a double row of large simple glands extending along the median line from the anal plates to the middle of the dorsum.
Antennae 5 or 6-jointed, the individual segments badly defined even in stained preparations ; range in «:—0d-jointed : (1) 24, (2) 14, (3) 41-51, (4) 24-34, (5) 24-27; 6-jointed : (1) 20-24, (2) 10-14, (3) 48-51, (4) 10-17, (5) 14, (6) 20-24.
Legs short but normal, e.g., coxa 41; femur + trochanter 102; tibia 75; tarsus 58; claw 17u. Anal plates about 90u long, each with two fairly stout spines about 40u long. Stigmatic clefts obsolete.
Larva about 390u long; antennae 6-jointed ; caudal setae very long (170,).
Habitat : On Zizyphus sp., Pretoria ; collected by the writer, December 1914.
Collection No.: 101.
This species is very close to I. conchiformis, Newstead, but is smaller and has an antennae of 5 or 6 segments instead of 7. I thought at first that I was dealing with young individuals of Newstead’s species but mounted specimens contain well developed embryonic larvae.
.
Genus Cryptinglisia, Ckll.
“* A Lecaniine Coccid having a glassy covering containing air-spaces, and retaining the legs and antennae (7 or 8 joints) in the adult. Living in galls on the roots of Vitis. Differs from Inglisia in its mode of life; in the glassy scale not being divided, tortoise-like, into plates ; and in the air-cells running together, forming long air- spaces. Larva ordinary, with six large bristles on the cephalic margin. Male unknown.” (CkIll.)
242. Cryptinglisia lounsburyi, Ckll.
Cryptinglisia lounsburyt, Ckll., The Entom. xxxiil, p. 173, 1900. ,
Cryptinglisia lounsburyi, Lounsb., Rep. Ent. Cape Good Hope, p. 54, 1900.
“ Adult female about 24 mm. long, soft, shiny, very dark brown, covered with a semi-transparent, brittle, glassy scale. Skin transparent and colourless on boiling in KOH; mouth-parts moderate, rostral loop not very long ; margin with a row of simple spines, brownish, about 24, long, placed close together ; anal lobes ordinary, about 160u long, yellowish brown, surrounded basally by a large, thick, dark brown, chitinous plate, more or less semilunar in form, with the ends produced ; a row of small round glands in the middle line from one end of the body to the other, but best developed posteriorly ; antennae and legs pale ; legs ordinary, femur plus trochanter about 120, tibia about 96, tarsus about 78, claw about 20u ; claw-digitules about as long as claw, with large knobs ; tarsal digitules long, with distinct knobs. Antennae 7 or 8-jointed, having three types, thus: (1) 7-jointed with a short 3, all the joints subequal, 21 to 30u; (2) 7-jointed with a long 3, which is about 41 long; (3) 8- jointed, with 2 quite short, and 3 and 4 each about 30u long. The terminal joint is always short, 21 to 26.
THE COCCIDAE OF SOUTH AFRICA. 39
“These insects occur underground on the roots of grape vines, living in galls which are more or less globular, 4 to 5 mm. diameter, dark, rough and often nodulose on the outside, often aggregated together in numbers, or even coalescing, so that the root presents a nodulose thickening 6 or 7 mm. in diameter and over 20 mm. long. On breaking open the galls, which are quite hard, one finds a cavity containing the Coccid. Small stones are frequently embedded in the sides of the galls.
“ Hab. Constantia, Cape Colony, at the roots of Stein and Reisling grapes (Vitis vinifera). Mr. Chas. P. Lounsbury, sending the specimens, says; ‘ None were observed more than eight or nine inches from the surface, and all were on fibrous roots. As you will observe from the specimens, they are somewhat gregarious ; ofttimes. one or two rootlets will be quite covered, while all the others are free. Most of the infested vines were backward in growth—some almost dead ;_ but their condition, I think, is due to other causes than the attack of the insect. Some apparently healthy vines were noticed to be affected.” (CkIl.)
This species has not been re-discovered.
Collection No.: 105.
Genus Parafairmairea, Ckll. Female scale divided by a longitudinal, median suture into two halves, each with
minute grooves radiating from its apex but not striated with air cells. Legs and antennae well developed, the latter 7 or 8-jointed.
243. Parafairmairea patellaeformis, sp.n. (Plate iv, fig. 250).
Adult ° dull brown, 9 mm. long and 5 mm. broad, covered above by a stout shield which is divided longitudinally into two halves. This shield has the wavy lnes and exact appearance of one of the common shells of the more elevated “ Patella ” type.
With the covering removed the insect is glossy brown with wrinkles and ridges radiating from a two-fold dorsal peak to the margin.
Antennae 7 or 8-jointed ; range in u :—
i, II. lg bal ts va Ve. Oe eee 20-31 20-24 41-68 34-41 20-27 14-24 20-34 - 20-31 20-24 44 #17-34 27-34 17-20 1420 24-34
Leg 1: coxa 88-102 ; femur + trochanter 187-238 ; tibia 160; tarsus 90; claw approximately 20.
Anal plate about 1604 long. The integument is thin and hyaline, without con- spicuous hairs or glands. The margin has a single row of short, conical spines of the Inglisia ty pe, amongst which are intermingled, at intervals, smaller spines of a thinner type. The stigmatic clefts are obsolete, merely indicated by a scant series of small circular, simple glands extending inwards from the margin towards the spiracle.
Remarks : This is the third Parafairmairea to be described. The other two were described on grass, one from France and the other from Surrey, England.
Habitat: On stems of Acacia karroo; collected by A. E. Kelly at Port Alired, C. P., March 1915.
Collection No.: 98.
40) CHAS. K. BRAIN.
Genus Geroplastodes, Ckll. Female scale convex, but not cone-shaped ; not divided into two halves, nor into distinct plates, but rough or beset with protuberances. © with antennae 7- or 8-jointed.
244. Ceroplastodes bituberculatus, sp.n. (Plate iv, fig. 251).
Test of adult 9 about 4°5 mm. long and 3 mm. broad and high, white, with two prominent humps, one at each end of the median ridge; margin with a distinct white fringe. The test indicates the anal cleft and has a small prominence over the anal lobes.
. Male scale dull white, with the median area denser, about 1°5 mm. long, divided into plates in the normal manner.
Adult 2 with the waxy covering removed, dark brown, of similar shape to the test. Integument, when mounted, clear, hyaline, without glands or hairs. Margin with a single, close-set row of tubular spines somewhat of the Inglisia type but more linear and truncate. Stigmatic clefts obsolete but indicated in the marginal series of spines by the addition of three stigmatic spines ; laterals slender, a lictle longer than the marginal spines ; median stout, two and a quarter times as long as laterals (1161).
Legs and antennae long, well developed. Antennae 8-jointed; range in yw: (1) 27-34, (2) 20-34, (3) 63-68, (4) 31-34, (5) 37-48, (6) 17-20, (7) 17-20, (8) 34-41 (from 5 antennae).
Ley I: coxa 78; femur + trochanter 176; tibia 120; tarsus 90; claw 24y. Tarsal digitules very long, slender, clubbed ; claw-digitules comparatively slender.
Anal plates about 145 long, apex with 4 very stout blunt spurs.
Habitat: On stems of native shrub, Somerset West, C.P.; collected by T. F. Dreyer, November 1906. Also at Stellenbosch (Fuller).
Collection No. : 327.
: Genus Idiosaissetia, nov. Adult 9 secreting a thin brittle covering of waxy material not divided into plates or two halves, and without air cells. Legs and antennae present but rudimentary. Anal cleft not median but to one side.
Type, L. peringueyt, sp. n.
245. Idiosaissetia peringueyi, sp. n.
Adult 9 about 2°6 mm. long and 1°3 mm. broad, elongate, very convex, with almost perpendicular sides and sloping abruptly in front and behind.
Female raised on a hollow waxy sheath which extends over the sides of the body, leaving the dorsum naked. The material is now ten years old and appears as though the waxy covering had once extended over the dorsum, but had become detached from it. If this were covered the insect would look like an Inglisia, except that the waxy covering is thin, pale buff-coloured and solid, 1.e., without air-tubes.
Female, denuded of wax, densely chitinised, brown, shiny.
When cleared and mounted the integument of the dorsum is moderately dense, with numerous + circular clear spaces as in Savssetia bitt of greatly varying size. The venter is thin and clear. The antennae are rudimentary, usually with about
THE COCCIDAE OF SOUTH AFRICA. 41
three indistinct joints, always exhibiting pseudarticulations. In the longest antenna seen, after staining, one could observe 6 ill-defined joints measuring (1) 17, (2) 14, (3) 14, (4) 14, (5) 14,(6) 20n.
Leg I: coxa 34; femur + trochanter 85; tibia 85; tarsus 27; claw 17w.
The margin has a scant series of short, curved, moderately stout spines, except near the anal cleft, where the spines are closer set, long (41), straight and very acute. The anal cleft is invariably thrown to one side and is not in the median line as in Lecanium. The anal ring has numerous (12?) hairs; anal plates about 120ulong. Embryo-larva large, about 420, long, with 6-jointed antennae. Caudal extremity produced, with prominent caudal lobes, each with one long, stout seta (136) and several shorter spines.
Habitat: On grass or thin reed. Label in tube reads: “ From Dr. Peringuey, S.A. Museum, Nov. 1908.”
Collection No.: 140.
Genus Membranaria, nov. Lecaniid, somewhat like Pulvinaria but with the cottony ovisac replaced by a membranous receptacle. Antennae and legs well developed, the former 7 or 8-jointed.
Type, M. pretoriae, sp. n.
246. Membranaria pretoriae, sp. n. (Plate iv, fig. 247).
Adult 2 with ovi-receptacle about 5°5 mm. long, 2 mm. broad and 3 mm. high. Receptacle membranous, secreted from the margins, particularly the posterior margin, of the insect, so that, when completed, the insect, except the head end, is raised from the stem. The membrane consists of two coats, both thin, but which may be readily separated. The outer coat is pale, honey-comb yellow, not striated, and is produced from the upper margin of the insect. The inner coat is paler in colour and has longitudinal striae. The completed receptacle is hoof- shaped (fig. 247) with a distinct, dense, longitudinal, median keel. Its greatest length, along this keel, is about 3 mm.
The adult ° is deep caramel-brown, sometimes speckled with black, glossy, with a rounded, median ridge and marginal corrugations and depressions. Cleared and mounted the adult 2 is moderately dense. Margin with a single row of simple, hair-like spines set wide apart. Submarginal area, except of anterior end, with a broad band of very numerous, small, gland pores, each with a curved, linear gland tube. Stigmatic cleft obsolete, but indicated by a pair of curious, short, broad, cup-like; protuberances. Anal ring with 8 hairs; anal plates surrounded in front by a dense, rugose, chitinous plate.
Antennae 7 or 8-jointed ; range in mu :—
: I III IV V VI VII Vill 20-31 31-34 17-41 20-48 17-24 17-24 =. 24-27 — 24-27 «27-37 = «24-3400 sd14-24 020-27 17-20 =16-20 24-27
Leg I: coxa 102, femur + trochanter 238, tibia 153, tarsus 51, claw 20.
Halntat: On crowns of grass, in front of Union Buildings, Pretoria ; collected by the writer, October 1914.
Collection No.: 83.
a9 % . “ue Yj
nig 4 m : : 4 Bis 3. 2 | :
et ee iatag #9 a ihe Sg [ee
a
‘ 1 iat Ot, ike . ! Twa eo ant . i me shad
7 o+% at
a = i » eese ; 7 mn . - i % » ‘ roe t a ~~ @¢ é ie) . " 7 7 ‘ ’ . J . . e a Ls » - > 4 a See ies hae: 6), - —i - - ?. - = ‘ j M ‘ wv a is ¥ ao i ¥ 4 - , 4 fe ieeewy? Ss . _ ‘ A > * x? 2 a > 4 A = pire ” a ne * yi o¢ 1" hong =. ’ ; ae? oe el 1 7 - - . De: oS 7 a 7 :
EXPLANATION OF PLATE I.
Fig. 233. Lecanium elongatum, Sign., adult 929. 234. Saissetia persimilis, Newst., adult 99.
235. Pulvinaria mesembryanthemi (Vall.) Sign., adult 99 with ovisacs.
236. Filippia carissae, sp. n., adult 2 with ovisacs com- pleted and one ¢ puparium.
237. Sarssetia subpatelliforme, Newst., adult 29.
238. Hemilecanium theobromae, Newst., adult 99.
PLATE I,
PART 1.
Yoru. AL
BuLL. ENT. RESEARCH.
SOUTH AFRICAN COCCID&~.
EXPLANATION OF PLATE II.
Fig. 239. Ceroplastes eucleae, sp. n., adult 9 9. 240. Ceroplastes sp.
241. Ceroplastes mimosae, Sign., adult 2 9.
242. Pulvinarta aristolochiae, Newst., g tests and © ovisacs with larvae.
243. Sarssetia sp., to illustrate dermal cells.
244. Protopuluinaria piriformis (CkIL.) Lefroy, anal lobes of adult 9.
BULL. ENT.- RESEARCH. Vo... XI. Part .1. Pcvate II,
243.
SOUTH AFRICAN COCCID&.
a 44%
:
re ee
—_ , ; ’ a ’ ~ ~~ 7 @ { 7 . s J he 2 a. t 7 Fy mie . rom o- 8 2 ar _ oo an hy aa ial =) - ‘oe - ; - 7 . > Ppa — ae s A aes ‘ b we a} Uy r 7 for j ' Not F 4 Vs ! \ ee , air iy yae - Ld aa 2 Sh
EXPLANATION OF PLATE III.
Fig. 245. Conofilippra subterranea, sp.n., Q ovisacs on roots ; a, 2 with top of ovisac tilted to one side ; b, section of ovisac with 9 ; c, swollen tibio-tarsa joint; d, antenna; e, stigmatic spines and glands ; f, anal lobes of 9.
ET}.
PLATE
PART 1.
VOL, (20n.
Butt. ENT. RESEARCH.
SOUTH AFRICAN COCCID/4
EXPLANATION OF PLATE IV.
. Allopulvinarva subterranea, sp.n., adult 29.
. Membranaria pretoriae, sp. n., adult 2 9.
. Protopulvinaria pirifornis (CkIl.) Lefroy, adult 22. . Inglsia gerann, sp.n., young and adult 99.
. Parafairmairea patellaeforms, sp.n., adult 99.
. Ceroplastodes bituberculatus, sp. n., adult 99 and
dS puparia.
BuLt, ENT. RESEARCH. VOL. XI. PART 1. PLATE IY.
SOUTH AFRICAN COCCID&.
ae At Me ‘ ‘ ; ‘ ay, ; . suit, Om 6 : ¥ é * i \ ‘ whe f; ** J ot 4 ee SOS RL ea ee tee, P A ‘ é Py 1 P ] ao ; = a" b ‘ ae ‘ + .» * “¥
43
THE PERCY SLADEN TRUST EXPEDITION TO THE INDIAN OCEAN IN 1905, AND 1907-1909, UNDER Mr. J. STANLEY GARDINER, M.A.
DIPTERA: TABANIDAE. By Major E. E. Austen, D.S.O.
The material belonging to this family brought back by the expedition includes representatives of only four species, one of which, however, is apparently new. That three out of the four species obtained should belong to the Aegophagamyra- Bouverella group is not surprising, in view of the predominance of this group in the Malagasy Subregion.
Through the courtesy of the authorities of the Percy Sladen Trust, the type of the new species described below has been placed in the British Museum (Natural History).
PANGONIINAE. Genus Aegophagamyia, Austen. Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (8) 1x, p. 12 (1912).
Aegophagamyia terticeps, Austen.
P. ct., p. 15.
Three 9 9, from Astove I., 1907 ; four 99 from Aldabra, 1908-9 (J. C. F. Fryer).
The type and para-type of this species, in the British Museum (Natural History), are from Astove I. (P. R. Dupont).
In the female sex, at any rate, this species bears a superficial resemblance to Tabanus albipectus, Big., for which on casual inspection it might easily be mistaken. The four specimens noted above as having been taken in Aldabra bear the same number as that attached to the examples of Tabanus albipectus collected in the same island, by Mr. J. C. F. Fryer, showing that the field note printed below under the heading 7. albipectus must be taken as applying to the present species also.
Genus Bouvierella, Surcouf. Bull. Mus. Hist. Nat., Paris, 1909, p. 176.
Bouvierella alluaudi, Giglio-Tos.
Scione allawudi, Gigho-Tos, Ann. Soc. Ent. France, Ixiv, p. 357 (1895).
Of this species, originally described from specimens from the Seychelles Is., the present collection includes no fewer than twenty-two examples, as follows :— One 3, one &, from Mahé, Seychelles, v-xu1. 1905 (J. S. Gardiner); eleven $6, five 99, from Mahé, Seychelles (5 gg, 2 29, from the Forét Noire district, x-xi. 1908, and 6 93,3 929, from Cascade Estate, at 800 to 1,000 feet or more above sea- level, 1908-9); one 9, from Félicité, Seychelles, xi. 1908; 2 gg, from Praslin, Seychelles, x1. 1908; and one 9 from Cosmoledo Is., 1907 (H. P. T.).
(681) D2
44 FE. E. AUSTEN,
Bouvierella inornata, sp. n.
2.—Length (2 specimens) 10 to 11°2 mm. ; width of head 3°25 to 3°6 mm. ; width of front at vertex 0°4 mm., at lower extremity 0°25 mm. ; length of wing 9 to 10 mm.
Sombrely coloured species, entirely devoid of markings ; ground-colour of dorsum of thorax drab* or dusky drab, that of dorsum of abdomen greyish fuscous ; front in © narrow, slightly narrower at lower extremity than at vertex, about six tumes as long as its width at upper end ; wings, especially portion beyond basal and anal cells, strongly suffused with brownish, stigma well marked ; coxae drab, legs otherwise blackish brown, extreme tips of femora, at least of those of front parr, ochraceous buff.
Head: front, subcallus, face, sides of face and jowls drab, occiput smoke-grey ; vertex clothed with minute, erect, blackish-brown hair, sides of face with ochraceous- brownish hair, basi-occipital region with longer fine brownish hair ; frontal callus represented by a fine, dark, median line, commencing at some distance above level of lower inner angle of eyes, and not reaching anterior ocellus ; proboscis, including labella, narrow and elongate, total length of proboscis about two-thirds of that of head ; proximal joint of palpr: dark brown or brownish, terminal joint similarly coloured on outer surface, narrow, curved, elongate and very slender; antennae dark brown, first and second joints clothed above and below with short, blackish hair, expanded portion of third joint ovate or elongate ovate when viewed in profile, without any angle on upper margin, annulate portion of third joint narrow, curved and elongate. Thorax: dorsum clothed with short, recumbent brownish hair, which in front of prescutellar groove may be mixed with paler hair, scutellum bearing jonger brownish hair, or a mixture of brownish and ochraceous hair; pleurae and pectus agreeing in coloration with dorsum, and clothed with fine, brownish hair. Abdomen : dorsum clothed with short, appressed dark brown hair, venter agreeing with dorsum in coloration and hairy covering. Wings: lengths (relative as well as actual) of stalks of first and fourth posterior cells variable in different specimens ; stigma elongate, dark brown. Squamae light drab or drab-grey, borders drab. Halteres: knobs clove-brown or blackish brown, stalks paler (cinnamon-buff). Legs sparsely clothed with short or minute dark brown or blackish hair.
Seychelles Is. Type from Silhouette (plateau of Mare aux Cochons, about 1,000 feet, x. 1908) ; a paratype from Mahé (Cascade Estate, 800-1,000 feet), 1908-9.
Bouvierella wmornata is distinguishable from all previously described species belonging to this genus, inter alia, by its uniformly sombre coloration, the ground- colour of the thorax and abdomen not being relieved by either lighter or darker markings. In particular, it is distinguished from B. brunnea, Surcouf (Bull. Mus. Hist. Nat., 1909, no. 4, p. 179), a species found in Madagascar, by its smaller size, and by the more uniformly dusky coloration of the body and legs, the dorsum of the thorax not being longitudinally striped with grey, and the legs not being reddish yellow, clothed with golden pile.
In the length and slenderness of the proboscis, including the labella, the species just described agrees rather with Aegophagamyia, Austen, with which it constitutes in this respect an annectent link; as regards antennal characters and the shape of the first posterior cell, however, the species seems more correctly placed under Surcouf’s genus.
* For names and illustrations of colours, see Ridgway, ‘‘ Color Standards and Color Nomenclature’ (Washington, D. C.: published by the Author, 1912).
DIPTERA: TABANIDAE. 45
TABANINAE. Genus Tabanus, Linn. Fauna Suecica, Ed. 1, p. 462 (1761). Tabanus albipectus, Bigot.
T. albipectus, Bigot, Ann. Soc. Ent. France, (3) vii, p. 125, pl. ix, fig. 2 (1859).
‘Twenty-one specimens, from various localities as follows :—One 9, from Poivre Is., Amirante Is., v-xii. 1905 (J. S. Gardiner) ; one 9, from I. des Roches, Amirante Is., 15. x. 1905; one 9, from Aldabra, 1907 (H. P. T.); 15 929, from Aldabra, 1908-9 (J. C. F. Fryer); one g, two 99, from Long Island and Mahé, Seychelles (Cascade, about 1,000 feet), 1908-9.
A comparison of the foregoing material with the type of the species, taken in Madagascar by Dr. Coquerel and now in the British Museum, places the correctness of the identification beyond doubt. In addition to the type of T. albipectus, the National Collection includes a 3 and @ from Astove I. and Aldabra respectively (P. R. Dupont), and a 2 from Pigaduli, Zanzibar, “on goat,” 14.x.1912 (Dr. W. M. Aders).
To the specimens from Aldabra in the present series, taken by Mr. J. C. F. Fryer, the following interesting field-note was attached :—“ Most. numerous in December [1908]: attack sea-turtles, biting them between the plates on the back: apparently attack them in water as well as on land. Were seen flying all over the lagoon, and also some way out at sea. They fly strongly, and bite man also.” As already explained, this note must be taken as applying equally to Aegophagamyia terticeps, Austen (vide supra). With reference to the biting of reptiles by blood-sucking Diptera, it may be remembered that the typical series of Tabanus crocodilinus, Austen, was taken on a crocodile in Nyasaland (cf. Austen, Bull. Ent. Res., 1, p. 285 (1912)), while in Uganda, as is well known, Glossina palpalis feeds readily upon crocodiles and monitors.
47
ON THE REASONS FOR THE VARIATION IN THE EFFECTS OF FORMALDEHYDE AS A POISON FOR HOUSE-FLIES, By Capt. Lu. Luoyp, D.Se., R.A.M.C. (T. F.).
The following is an account of an investigation carried out on behalf of the Hygiene Department of the Royal Army Medical College at the suggestion of Prof. Maxwell Lefroy, who, after his visit to the Mesopotamia War Area in 1916, was insistent on the importance of the discovery of some poison for house-flies (Musca domestica and allied species) that could be used indoors with safety. The work was carried out in the Entomological Department of the Imperial College of Science in the early part of 1917. Large stocks of flies which were kept breeding in two rooms were available for the purpose.
Formaldehyde has been frequently recommended as a poison for flies, but those | who tested its effects gave varying accounts of it. Miss Lodge (1), who studied it in some detail, was unable to account for these variations and stated that no definite conclusions could be drawn from her work. An analysis of the various factors which might cause such variations was made, and it was found that there were three which play an important part. These are (1) impurities in the formal- dehyde, (2) the humidity of the atmosphere, and (3) the strength of the solution used.
The following subjects will also be discussed, (4) the advantage of adding a bait, (5) the most effective mode of administration, and (6) comparison with other poisons.
“Formaldehyde”? must be understood throughout to mean the 40 per cent. solution in which it is usually sold, and all strengths are given as percentages of this. “ Formalin,” the trade name of one brand, is often loosely used for this solution.
Impurities in the Formaldehyde. |
Formaldehyde is prepared by passing a mixture of heated air and the vapour of methyl alcohol over some heated contact agent, such as copper gauze or silver. The methyl! alcohol is crude or pure, but should be 90 per cent., and should not contain more than | per cent. of acetone. The purity of the product depends largely on that of the methyl alcohol, and on the freedom of the air from ammonia. The following substances are liable to be present: trioxymethylene, methylal, methyl and ethyl alcohols, acetone, hexamethylene tetramine, methylamine, and formic acid. Prof. Baker, of the Imperial College of Science, provided samples of formaldehyde to which certain of these substances had been added in proportions in which they are liable to occur. Solutions of these, generally in water and soaked up in clean sand, were exposed side by side with solutions of the control formal- dehyde in the fly room, and left for twenty-four hours. The numbers of dead flies in the immediate neighbourhood of each were then counted. Many flies left the table to die and no account could be taken of them. There was always a definite group dead in a circle of six inches radius around each jar, and the comparisons were based on these. In order to obviate the influence of the varying numbers of flies on different days, all numbers are given reduced to percentages of the controls. All decisions are based on a number of tests, with the positions of the various solu- tions and the controls interchanged.
48 CAPT, LL. LLOYD.
Of the impurities tested, hexamethylene tetramine, methylamine and formic acid were found to be of importance, and these only will be discussed. The effects of the presence of the other substances mentioned above were investigated and found to be neutral, or of very little importance.
Hexamethylene tetramine, (CH,),N,.
This substance is produced by the action of ammonia on formaldehyde. It is liable to occur in the solution owing to the presence of ammonia in the air during manufacture. It breaks down with the formation of methylamine, CH, NH,. Formaldehyde containing these bodies has a yellowish colour and a fishy odour, both these characteristics being intensified by the addition of a strong alkali. These substances are distasteful to flies. A sample containing 5 grms. of hexamethylene tetramine added per litre was tested against a control. The residue from the manu- facture of this substance, containing ammonia and methylamine, and some methyla- mine hydrochloride, with and without an alkali to set free the methylamine, were also tested with the following results.
TaBLeE I. Showing the Influence of Hexamethylene tetramine in Formaldehyde.
Soluti | Percentages of flies | Average | Total flies olution | killed | of | killed Formaldehyde control, 10% 100 in each case 100 324 Formaldehyde with 5 grms. hexamethylene tetramine added per litre, 10% T45/430; 932071. obi 85 267
Tas_e II. Showing the Influence of Methylamine in Formaldehyde.
Boise Percentages of flies killed (actual numbers in brackets) | Formaldehyde control, 109; 100 (50) 100 (20) es with 2°5% hexamethylene tetramine residue 10% 36 (18) #} with 1% hexamethylene | tetramine residue 10% 65 (13) os with 1% methylamine | hydrochloride 10% | 40 (8) re with 5% methylamine hydro- chloride and 0:2% KOH 10% 30 (15)
3 with 1% methylamine hydro- chloride and 019% KOH i ae ae ae a pou 30 (6)
A sample, naturally containing these substances in unknown proportion, with a pale yellow colour and fishy odour (previously unsealed bottle from the store of the Imp. Coll. Sci.) was tested against a colourless control with a clean odour.
FORMALDEHYDE AS A POISON FOR HOUSE-FLIES., 49
The results of the tests are summarised in the next table. In nearly every case the purer sample proved the more effective. No suggestion can be given for the purification of formaldehyde of this nature, and it should be avoided if any other is obtainable.
TABLE IIT. Comparing a Yellow Formaldehyde with Fishy Odour (Methylamine) with a Clean Sample. Soluti Percentages of flies Average Total flies kcal | killed % killed Formaldehydecontrol, 10% | 100in each case 100 | 1509 a impure, ae | ted. Gi, 96, -89, 230, 36; | 17, 68, 58. 89 1118
|
Formic acid, H’CO’'OH.
Formaldehyde is prepared by the dehydrogenation of methyl alcohol: CH,OH + O = CH,O + H,0. Theoretically in the process there is no formic acid formed. The samples of formaldehyde examined, however, were all found to be acid. Three which were titrated were found to be +24, +39, and +60 acid (Eyre) respectively. (A fluid ““ +a acid ” requires x ccs. of normal alkali to make one litre neutral.) The acid present was proved to be formic by a test suggested by Dr. A. M. Whiteley. A few ccs. of the formaldehyde are shaken up with lead carbonate and quickly filtered. If formic acid is present crystals of the sparingly soluble lead formate separate out in the filtrate after a short interval. The crystals are minute, very characteristic needles. On the assumption that formic was the only acid present, these samples contained 1°1, 1°8, and 2°76 grms. of formic acid per litre respec- tively. When the dilute poison 5-10 per cent. formaldehyde is made up the acid would be present in amounts varying from ‘0055 to ‘0276 per cent. Hven these small quantities are detected and disliked by flies.
TaBLe IV. Showing the Deterrent Effect of Formic Acid in Water.
euriian No. of Av. flies | Av. flies Av. percentage tests | tasting | drinking which drank Tap water control 2 35 24 69 Formic acid ya'8 1 33 | 3 10 i 05% 3 32 | 15 47 ag 02 :049 4 36 20 54 in 01 005% 3 36 | 18 50
Temperature 77°9° F. ; relative humidity 57%.
Testing saucers, two inches in diameter, were filled with solutions of formic acid in water and covered with discs of blotting paper to soak up the fluid. These were then exposed one at a time in the fly room and watched for five minutes, a count
50 CAPT. LL. LLOYD.
being taken of the numbers of flies which visited and tasted the solution and then left, and of those which remained to drink. Controls were made with tap water. A fly only “ tastes ’’ when it presses its proboscis one or more times against the wet surface, and quickly withdraws it. It “ drinks ’’ when the proboscis remains pressed against the surface for a few seconds or longer. Apart from the count, an impression may also be gathered from the behaviour of the flies. On a fluid which they find attractive they cluster, but on an unattractive one there are never more than two or three flies at one time. The total number of visiting flies was about constant in each test.
The disadvantages of the presence of formic acid in formaldehyde are shown by the following tests, where a solution containing 12 grms. per litre was tested against the one containing 1°8 grms. per litre. In ten tests the less acid solution killed twice as many flies as the more acid one.
TABLE V. Showing the Disadvantages of the presence of Formic Acid in Formaldehyde.
Soluti Percentages of Av. per cent. Total ete toon flies killed killed killed Formaldehyde 1:8 grms. | | ) ECF OE | per lit. 10% | 100in each case 100 808 39 12-0 grms. | | | He OOF E. | | per lit.10% | 54, 78, 54, 27, 34, 38, 34, | | 51, 43, 50 | 50°6 | 366 j
Flies are less readily repelled by dilute alkaline than by acid solutions, and will drink solutions containing 0°1 to 0°2 per cent. caustic potash, or 0°07 per cent. lime, as readily as water. There is possibly even a little attraction in it. The fol- lowing Table VI shows this, the data being obtained in the same way as those in
Table LV.
Tasie VI. Showing that certain weak Alkaline Solutions are not deterrent. | | No. of Av. flies {| Av. flies Av. percentage Solution tests tasting drinking which drank
| Tap-water control 5 38 ol 83 KOH2% 1 35 0 | 0 » 0°3-0°4.% 2 31 14 | 45 » 0°1-0:2% 2 | 34 30 | 91
Ca(OH):, 0°14% (lime | water: 2 37 20 54 » _ 0°078% 2 | 33 20 61 » 007% 3 | 37 30 81
Temperature
77° F.; relative humidity 57%.
FORMALDEHYDE AS A POISON FOR HOUSE-FLIES. 51
It is therefore advisable always to add as much alkali to the formaldehyde as possible, without deterring the flies, to neutralise any formic acid which may be present, or any which may be formed by oxidation during the exposure of the solu- tion. Table VII shows the benefit of the procedure.
TaB_eE VII. Showing the Advantages of adding certain Alkalis to Acid Formaldehyde.
ye | Percentages killed (actual Solution, 10% in each case numbers in brackets)
|
Control formaldehyde (12°5 grms. H-CO-OH per lit.) 100 in each case +50% lime water in dilution 283 (155), 241 (82)
» +K,CO,, 15 grms. per. lit. 300 (36), 268 (147), 270 (92) (equiv.). +(NH,),CO;,10 grms. per lit. | (equiv.). | 68 (37), 82 (28) Control formaldehyde (1:8 grms. H-CO°OH per lit.) 100 in each case . +100% lime water indilution | 76(47), 90 (923) * +P. . ss * - " | 114 (269), 104 (312), 142 (57) ” apa POG CO. | 125 (50) > + 1% NH,0OH | 50 (20) Control formaldehyde (1:1 grms. H:CO-:OH_ per lit.) 100 in each case = +502, lime water in dilution | 131 (297), 124 (31) 9 +25% ” 2? oh 2” 110 (28)
Ces cepa ye cena
It will be seen that the addition of the alkali improved the effect in every case except when the whole fluid of dilution was lime water, which made it too strongly alkaline, and when ammonia was used, methylamine being formed in these cases. Time water is recommended in practice in preference to other alkalis because it is a weak solution of definite strength. It is prepared by allowing cold water to stand over lime, slaked or unslaked, for a few hours and then filtering the solution before use. Such a solution contains 0°14 per cent. Ca(OH),. If made with hot water the solution is weaker. The maximum amount, half the total fluid of dilution, should always be used to counteract the formic acid which would otherwise be formed after dilution, during exposure to the air, or by the bodies of dead flies falling in. In a trap which will be presently described, but an imperfect model, which was exposed in the fly room, this was very clearly shown. The fluid in the trap was 7°5 per cent. formaldehyde, 35 per cent. lime water (equivalent to the acid present), and 5 per cent. sugar. On the first three days this trap killed 1,800 flies, and then became ineffective. Four flies had crept into the poison, and when this was titrated it was found to have become +2 acid. An equivalent of KOH was added and it became again effective.
Humidity of the Atmosphere. A test was made at a temperature of 96° F., and the poison was found to be effective. There is no reason apparent why it should not be effective in a tropical country. The humidity of the air, however, plays a considerable part, as indeed
5? CAPT. LL. LLOYD.
it must with any poison which is administered as a drink. In wet weather flies have less inclination to drink and there is more moisture available, so that they are less likely to discover the trap. Experiments were made to test this.
(i). A jar with an area of 2°5 sq. in. was filled with sand wetted with a 10 per cent. solution of formaldehyde without any addition. It was placed in the centre of a dish of dry sand, area 95 sq. in., and this was placed in a greenhouse containing a large number of flies. No water was available and the atmosphere was dry. After twenty-four hours 1,560 dead flies were counted on the surface of the sand, or within a few inches of the dish. The experiment was repeated with approximately the same number of flies available and the same atmospheric conditions, but in this case the sand in the surrounding dish was wetted with water, equally with the poisoned surface. After twenty-six hours only 20 flies were found dead, the majority having obtained their water from the unpoisoned surface.
(1). This series was carried out in a glass cylinder 24 in. high and 10 in. in diameter. Wet and dry bulb thermometers were included. The formaldehyde (10 per cent. in water) was supplied soaked up in sand, area 2°5 sq. in. The duration of each experiment was twenty-two hours. The air was in no case quite dry, as the amount of moisture given off by the poisoned surface is considerable in this confined space. It was found that the formaldehyde was effective with a relative humidity of 76 per cent. and 72 per cent., that its effect was about halved with a relative humidity of 81 per cent., and that above 90 per cent. it was much reduced, available water being present throughout in this case. The results are given in Table VIII. From these it may be concluded that liquid poisons will not be very effective if much other available moisture, such as dew, is present. Formaldehyde works well in a room where there is a wet sink, as was the case in the fly room where these experiments were performed. It would be useless, however, to place the poison in the sink or immediately over it, though it will be found very effective a few feet away. Flies are usually going about looking for food, and seem to taste all moisture they come across in their wanderings, either in the hope of its containing food or simply for the sake of the drink. Their capacity for utilising solid food depends. on whether the crop contains fluid with which to dissolve it.
Tase VIII. Showing the decreasing effect of Formaldehyde with increasing Humidity.
| Conditions in Cylinders Temp. | Rel. Humid | Total flies | Perooniage | | | CaCl, added to dry the air . | Tor" | 7 pay 229 94 Air not treated | TaOAT we 76% | 125 89 Wet blotting paper as base | da°0° 81% 66 47 Wet blotting paper as base and top | 76°3° | 93%, 90 17
(ui). Experiments with baited formaldehyde under saturated conditions were made. It was found that the baits about doubled its efficacy, but the results were still very unsatisfactory. The details are given below in Table IX. Sugar in water was the bait and the formaldehyde was employed in various strengths, being supplied
FORMALDEHYDE AS A POISON FOR HOUSE-FLIES. 53
in two-inch saucers with blotting-paper covers. Each series was continued for two days and the cyliriders were kept as wet as possible, though in several cases they dried somewhat towards the end, with a corresponding increase in the death- rate. The controls were on a dry table with muslin tops to the cylinders, the relative humidity being about 76 per cent. The fourth experiment in Table VII is taken as a control for the saturated conditions with unbaited formaldehyde. To obtain a proper estimate the percentages dead at the end of twenty-two hours should be studied. Another series carried out in precisely the same way, but with bread-water as a bait instead of sugar, gave very closely similar results and will therefore not be detailed.
TABLE IX. The effect of Barted Formaldehyde compared under Wet and Dry Conditions. Bed Se ae 5 at SER Se Oe es ac | Percentages dead after : Solution _ Conditions | No. of flies _K-—_, —_____—_—____- 5 hrs. 22 hrs. | 48 hrs. No bait, formaldehyde 10%, | wet 90 | 17 Sugar 5% As ne dry 38 | 32 97 100 * ” » » wet 34 | 3 35 79 a d TH, | dry Ce ee 9] 100 e. Be a ~ wet 28 3 Zo 69 ar ¢,: . 50% | dry 21 43 100 100 Nes A .. wet Ce as 4 22 78 * 4 . es ey a diy 19 | 2) 79 | 100 a “A te i oe wet 17 | 0 6 | 82
Humidity and the use of formaldehyde on ships.
Lt.-Col. W. Byam, R.A.M.C., reported that while he found formaldehyde very effective on board ship, it failed to be of use in Egypt. This is in accordance with the variations in the accounts of its utility. That used in Egypt was possibly too acid. Experiments were devised to discover what its effect would be on board ship where the atmosphere is moist, but not necessarily saturated, and where most of the available water is salt, owing to all the woodwork being saturated with this substance.
(1). A cylinder was washed inside with 10 per cent. salt solution, flies were intro- duced and blotting-paper soaked in the salt solution placed above and below; a shelter was erected over the poison dish to prevent the salt water dripping in. A control was set up, fresh water being used instead of salt solution. It was found that the flies were poisoned about twice as rapidly in the one with salt water as in the one with fresh water.
(2). This was carried out in cylinders, a bait being used in the poison which was soaked up in jars of sand (area 2°5 sq. in.) that were placed in dishes of sand (area 13°5 Sq. in.) wetted in one case with 10 per cent. salt solution and in the other with water. The atmosphere would be very moist from the vapour given off by the wet sand,
54 CAPT: LL. LLOYD.
TaBLE X. Showing the Effect of Formaldehyde when available Water is strongly saline.
Percentages dead. after :
Solution Conditions Total flies - : a | j | 3 hrs. 28 hrs. | 48 hrs. | Formaldehyde Saturated with 10% in water salt solution | 29 14 69 93 Formaldehyde | Saturated with | | 10% in water | fresh water | 27 4 | 39 78 |
and the conditions would approach those on board ship when it is not actually raining. The results, which are given in Table XI, are very striking, as the flies died rapidly when the available water was saline, and slowly when it was fresh. By further experiment it was found that the flies drink as readily as water a solution of 1 per cent. salt, that stronger solutions deter them, while 5 per cent. and upwards repels them entirely. Formaldehyde properly neutralised and baited will be found very effective on board ship.
TABLE XI. Showing the Probable Effect of Formaldehyde on Board Ship.
|
| Percentages dead after : } | |
Solution Conditions Total flies = oe te Ries fl Sekai, 24 hrs. | | 7 | eae Ae | <i PEE Oe ae | Relies te available | 94 epee: 43 96 bos ater 5 3/2” | Fresh water sugar 5% / available 38 | 3 | 2) 63 | | | | |
The Strength of Formaldehyde to be used.
The question as to the most effective strength of formaldehyde was approached trom two points of view; firstly, the stronger the solution the less likely are the flies to drink much ; secondly, a little of a strong solution, or a large quantity of a weak solution, will kill them. ‘These will be discussed under the headings of “‘ The Deterrence of Formaldehyde” and “ The Toxicity of Formaldehyde.” The results were then combined, giving the optimum concentration. At the same time control experiments were made in cylinders as a check to the conclusion drawn.
i | a
FORMALDEHYDE AS A POISON FOR HOUSE-FLIES.
The Deterrence of Formaldehyde.
The deterrence of formaldehyde was determined by the same method as that employed with formic acid, already described. Each series of different strengths was exposed, one at a time and in quick succession, in the same spot where the numbers of available flies were about constant. The numbers which only tasted and the numbers which drank were counted and the percentage of the latter to the
90
Oh Lo" etl yf retreat ain a sa “oe: eae he
Yl l nereobel d yp SE
10 95 90 85 6:0 75 7:0 65 6055 §0 45 40 35 3:0 25 20 15 10 Percentage of strength in dilution.
@ 2)
~ °
a °o
oO °
> ro)
1) oO
Percentage of tasting flies which drink,
1a) °o
io
F secoscccceveceee Lormaldehyde and water, and control of water. aS ¥ 5 59 % lime water £ ,, 00 % lime water. oe ee ee ” ” 5 5% sugar 3 5 of sugar.
50 % lime water and 5 % sugar.
Diagram 1. Showing the deterrence of acid formaldehyde and its remedy.
former gives the factor to the solution. Controls were made with water alone, with 50 per cent. lime water, and 5 per cent. sugar solution, and each series was checked by one or more repetitions. The time allowed to each exposure was five minutes. The following solutions were thus studied: formaldehyde in water ; formaldehyde in 50 per cent. lime water ; formaldehyde in sugar solution ; formal- dehyde in 50 per cent. lime water with sugar. The detailed results are given in
56 CAPT MLL: LLOYD:
Table XII, and in Diagram 1. In the diagram the points represent the percentages of the tasting flies which remained to drink. The bottom dotted line represents formaldehyde and water, and shows that any mixture of these is deterrent as com- pared to the water control, of which an average of 82 per cent. of the tasting flies drank. The 10 per cent. formaldehyde deterred from drinking nearly 82 per cent. (67 out of 82) of the tasting flies which would have drunk had there been no formalde-
Taste XII. Showing the Deterrence of Formaldehyde, and us Remedy.
| | | | | No.oi/Total| No. of flies | No. of flies | Percent. of tests flies tasting drinking drinking to ; | tasting flies Solution | | | | 1). | | Av Max Mir Av Max) Min Av |Max/ Min Water controls | 8 |. 263 | 33 ae P26 eer 1185 | 20"! Sasa ree ,, formaldehyde 10%! 6) | 227 |S SO COR ras Peles ita! Sel ee eal ees * i‘ 75%, 6 | 190 | 32 | 35) 27 | 7) 13) 0} 16) 38} v i f 50%!) | 6 195 | 32° 1°38 126.) | es oan Saag ; 7 25% 6 -|} 297°| S50 49ekoG, | 92/97 Nia BOr aSrlise . ds 20% | 4. | 148 ]-39-|-634) -24en ol hoot sel Ou AT 9) Be ¥ : 15%, | | 4} 151 | 38 | 47 | 29) |° 26.) 34 1G: | ee ee ; ‘ 10% | 2 715.1 37 | 38. 37) | 230318 26) | ised ee 33 - me} ule 74. | 37 | 28 | 36.) 30 | Tals 7 30) 2 san em Lime water controls 50S, 3 112 | 37 | 39 | 35 | 30 | 31 | 29 | 80 | 86 | 72 ,. formaldehyde 10% 4 }| 186 | 34. | 42°°255" Sed 1 Gu 29) eu cae a * 75% a0} 121-30" |. 407723) tes os) ae ie ¥ 5-09, 4 |} 122 | 30| 33 | 28)) 16 | 2E Uh oad ee ee - . 2:59!) | 14 [| 114) 28 | 320s) 265) 20 23 a aaa eel ae ‘ - B0% bo D264} B24 -BB- 1B BB125 4) abel ee 6) Be ‘ P 15% 2.4 HO /°35 | 89-1 BLS) 28:1 27 7 20) G6 ae Sao Water, sugar controls wy ae wl | 45 | 45 | | 40 | 89 | , formaldehyde 10% Bh 6 | BS |. 45°30 Tae) Ol ls axl at 6 cae ss 5 T5O,, 2 63 | 31 | 36 | 27 | 17 | 23 | 11 | 52 | 63 | 41 : ? Oo, 2 7. | 35 | 38 |-33" 22 | 284 2h | 62°|.69:) ae > ? Deb, 2 66 9/933"| 35°| 31-28. 31; | 265/86 | 88 | BA Lime water 50% | | | sugar 2 a | | | , formaldehyde 10% | 2 60) 30 | 804 30°] Ia tre 47 eae 99 : 1 ae a 72.| 36 | 41 | 31 | S429 20.) 68) Fes : “ BUcG, | 2 60 | 30 | 35'| 25 | 23 | 27 | 20 | 78 | 80 | 77 , es oy Se 52.126 | 27 | 25 | 22) 24) 21 eG eae | | | |
Temp. av. 77° F. (78:9-76:0°). Rel. humid. av. 50% (58-39%).
hyde present, and so on. The line of dashes represents the percentages which drank the formaldehyde in 50 per cent. lime water. It is higher than the previous one because, while the deterrent influence of the formaldehyde remains as before, that of the formic acid is removed. It also is always below the water and lime water controls. The next line of dots and dashes represents formaldehyde and 5 per cent. sugar. without lime water. The presence of the bait has partly counteracted the
FORMALDEHYDE AS A POISON FOR HOUSE-FLIES., 57
deterrence, so that at 3 per cent. it is equal in its attraction to the water control, and at 2°5 per cent. approaches very near to the control of sugar and water. The continuous line represents the mixture which is finally recommended, 50 per cent. lime water and 2°5 per cent sugar. It is equal to the water control at 5°5 per cent., and then becomes more attractive than water because the flies recognise in it a food, while the formaldehyde is not repellent enough in weak solution to deter them in large numbers. At 5 per cent. only 12 per cent. fewer flies drank than would have done so if the solution were sugar and water only. At 2°5 per cent. formaldehyde, only 3°5 per cent. declined to drink. The neutralisation of the formic acid and the addition of the bait have at this point nearly counteracted the deterrent action of the formaldehyde. It is of considerable interest to notice that the lines which represent the formaldehyde with and without lime water are parallel in pairs, while those with and without sugar converge in pairs at 2°5-1°5 per cent. This shows the influence of the presence of formic acid in very dilute solutions. The formalde- hyde used proved on titration to be + 60 acid (Eyre) which is equivalent to 2°76 grams of formic acid per litre of formaldehyde. At 5°0 per cent. dilution this is 0°014 per cent. formic acid, and at 2°5 per cent. it is 0°007 per cent. formic acid. The presence of sugar is sufficient to counteract the latter but not the former. A factor which has not been taken into consideration is that the formaldehyde vapour may be deterrent and that fewer flies may taste stronger than weaker solutions. This was not apparent in the open, but showed itself when the experiment was repeated in enclosed spaces. There was then progressive deterrence as the strength of the solution increased, as was shown by the smaller percentage of the available flies which settled on it. The curve of this deterrence is represented by the dotted line in Diagram II. Consideration of it will show that its fall is so gradual that it would not affect the argument even if its influence were as powerful in the open as in the enclosed space, since the influence of the other factors is so much more potent.
The Toxicity of Formaldehyde.
In determining this factor, the solution used was 50 per cent. lime water and 2°5 per cent. sugar, only the percentage of formaldehyde varying. About 50 flies were enclosed in each of several glass basins of capacity of 600 cc. The basins were then placed over saucers containing the poison and a count was taken of the flies that tasted and those that drank. In the first series the time allowed was fifteen minutes, but it was found that all the flies that intended to drink did so in the first five minutes, and the exposure was subsequently limited to this time. The poison was then re- moved and the edge of the basin slightly raised to allow air to circulate. At the end of one hour and of two hours the numbers lying inert were counted, the difference between the two counts representing the recoveries, as formaldehyde seems to act as an anaesthetic, and its effect in weak solution, or when a very little is taken, is sometimes only temporary. No recoveries were noted after two hours. All the flies were then anaesthetised and counted. Four series of each percentage were thus made. The complete results are summarised in Table XIII. This shows the total and average numbers of flies exposed to each percentage of formaldehyde used (from 2°5 to 20 per cent.) ; the average, maximum and minimum numbers of flies which tasted ; the average, maximum and minimum percentages of those which drank
(681) r
58 CAPT, LL, LLOYD.
compared to those which tasted ; and the percentages of those temporarily and permanently incapacitated compared with those which drank. The calculation of the numbers of those which died against those which drank is more satisfactory than calculating them against those which only tasted. The numbers thus obtained are frequently above 100, as at a strength of 5 per cent. and upwards the amount taken by a fly in its taste is often enough to kill it. Reference to the table will show that not only the averages, but also the maxima and minima, run in series corresponding to the strength of the poison, allowance being made for occasional variation due to: experimental error. The percentage of those which died compared to those which drank gives the factor of toxicity to each strength of formaldehyde. These factors are plotted in Diagram 2 and are represented by the line of dashes. The toxicity increases rapidly from 15 per cent. upwards, and falls rapidly from 5 per cent. down- wards, the rise from 5 per cent. to 15 per cent. being gradual. The dot and dash curve is taken from Diagram 1, with the addition of the factors for 15 per cent. and 20 per cent. strengths which are taken from Table XIII. This curve represents the per- centage of tasting flies which remain to drink a solution of formaldehyde containing 50 per cent. lime water and 2°5 per cent. sugar. It is the curve of deterrence. By combining these two curves a hypothetical curve is constructed which is represented in the diagram by the continuous line. For example with a strength of 10 per cent. formaldehyde exposed in the open, 47 per cent. of the flies that taste it will remain to: drink. Some however will absorb enough poison in the taste to kill them, and the number which finally die is not 47 per cent. of the tasting flies but 133 per cent. of 47, that is, 62°5 per cent. of the flies that taste die. The relative effects of different. strengths of formaldehyde, as represented by the curve, were thus found. Itis a natural curve with its maximum at 5°0-6°0 per cent. formaldehyde, and this is therefore the optimum strength to use in practise. The straight dotted line in the same diagram represents, as explained above, the deterrence of the vapour at different strengths in enclosed spaces. Its tendency is to recommend the use of as weak a solution as possible, but the decline in the effect below 5 per cent. is so rapid that this factor could play no part in the decision as to which strength to use.
TaBLe XIII.
| | | | | % to drinking flies At ; | | | % of flies | % of tasting Solution =| ln ,.,| Av. | tasting | flies which |— a. 50% lime \Tests |Total) jo. | s eee de ee ae | no. | flies | Aies | | Downin| Dead after | ie fea gyi ee ee ee rn Tee 2 hous _ |Av. Max. Min.|Av. Max. Min. Av. Max. Min. Formald. 20% | 4 | 154] 39] 483 67 30/20 25 15 | 229 | 219 300 125 o 165% | 3 (188) 44} 41 53. 85 \| 80.3625.) 146 9) 1437 150 "140 2 1%, 4 | 220; 55 |} 53 55 45 | 54 67 48 136 133156. 110 a 75%! | 4 | 1821 45159 69 49|68 96 63) 111 | 112 136°. 87 2 50% 4 | 219! 55) 61 65 53 | 86 93 79 106) 10G°"°12T ' 86 . 275% 4 | 174, 43 | 66 80 54/9196 87): 61.4 39 962) 23
FORMALDEHYDE AS A POISON FOR HOUSE-FLIES, 59
cS _~ _—— =, =
Percentages of Fiies
12:5 10 7°5 Percentage strength in AGilution.
—..—..—.. Flies tasting fluid which remain to drink.
Percentages killed of those drinking.
Relative effect of various strengths.
rae eae eee Deterrent effect of formaldehyde vapour in enclosed spaces.
Diagram 2. Showing the most effective strength of formaldehyde.
The Optimum Concentration.
The conclusion drawn from the experiments just described was checked by the following series of further experiments. In each series concentrations of 10 per cent., 75 per cent., 5°0 per cent., and 2°5 per cent. formaldehyde, with 50 per cent. lime water and 2°5 per cent. sugar, were placed in saucers with blotting paper covers and these were exposed to flies in cylinders (10 in. diam., 8 in. high). Each experiment was continued for twenty-four hours, and counts were made at intervals of the flies lying inert. Seven series were completed, and about 100 flies were used in each cylinder. The summary of the whole is given in Table XIV. In this are shown the average number of flies in each cylinder, and the average percentages inert at the end of various intervals. These results are plotted in Diagram 3; the dot-and-dash line represents 2°5 per cent. formaldehyde; the continuous one 5 per cent.; the line of dashes 7°5 per cent.; the dotted line 10 per cent. Although recoveries are only
(681) 2
60 CAPT, LL. LLOYD.
indicated in the case of 2°5 per cent., they occurred occasionally also in the case of 5 per cent. and 75 per cent. strengths. This method confirms the conclusion that the most effective strength to use is 5 per cent., then 7°5 per cent., then 10 per cent., while 2°5 per cent. 1s the least effective. The factors of effect of these concentrations had been found to be 80°3, 7671, 62°5, and 33°5 respectively.
TABLE XIV.
Showing the Death-rate of Flies exposed to various strengths of Formaldehyde.
Formaldehyde No. of Av. no. . ; strength Vouie flies Av. percentages inert after : EO: Ba : 1 hour | 3 hours | 4 hours | 5 hours | 24 hrs.
a 81 arr ae wee: 92 1096 7 92 4a | 53), |. 63 |. 6p 93 5-0% 7 98 St ee oer oe 96 25%, di 96 42D hd ASE Ca 53 89
| g pests — oe ee Lee | a =, = a a cS e oe ae e - oe .° st x + e— i - a | er ae _ ry =-_ el? e ee = e? . c a° ae ° } 4 °° e : 2° hs °°? . f . or
60
~ ©
ag Fae p $s
60
y
v
S
5p
n
S
c 40 v : he i Y Q 30-4
Le) p op 7G "gh em ame Mete ia Tht) ie
! IS) 14S 1G) 7) 16 MISE 2021 Wee (26. es /nterva/ls of time in hours. One 2S Formaldehyde 10 % ie eee 3 13% 9 5°0 wf
0 "Fh O — +? au 6 6 «<= © 6 9 2°5 Yo
20
sO
Diagram 3. Showing the relative strengths of formaldehyde.
FORMALDEHYDE AS A POISON FOR HOUSE-FLUIES., 61
Advantages of adding a Bait.
Reference to Table XII and to Diagram 1 will show that to get the best effect from the formaldehyde it is necessary to add some bait to counteract the deterrent effect. By this means a larger number of flies are induced to drink. Sugar is the most attractive and most permanent bait, and 2°5 per cent., or half an ounce to the pint, in the dilution is sufficient ; to make it stronger does not make it more effective, while at 1 per cent. it begins to lose its influence. An advantage of this substance is that it has no interaction with the formaldehyde. Glucose, maltose and lactose have also been tried, but are less effective than cane sugar. Molasses will be found effective. An infusion of hay, boiled and strained, and a cold infusion of horse-dung have been tested and found to be effective, but less so than sugar, and they are not recommended for this reason.
The formula to be employed is :— 40 °, Formaldehyde, 50-60 ce. ag i 1 fluid ounce. Filtered lime water, 500 cc. .. ae i! 4 pint. Sugar, 25 grams Ns my a ounce (dessertspoonful). Water, add to make 1,000 ce. . * add to make 1 pint.
Method of Administration.
It is necessary to protect the formaldehyde from the action of air, and to prevent flies from falling into it, both of which factors make it acid, and soon cause the lime water to be neutralised. A simple form of trap has been devised for this. The poison is placed in a bottle, and the mouth is closed by means of a platform of absorp- tive material from the centre of which a stem of the same material passes down into the fluid. The top is wetted with the fluid at the commencement and is kept wet by
rol— bo
Fig. 1. Form of trap for use with formaldehyde.
capillary attraction. Such an arrangement may easily be made from blotting paper. A circle of the paper two inches in diameter is cut out, and a small slit is made in the centre. ‘Two strips of the paper of the same width as the slit are then passed through it and the ends are doubled outwards and downwards. The strips are then drawn down till the doubled-back portions rest on the platform, and the trap is ready for use (see fig. 1).
62 CAPT. LL. LLOYD.
This form of trap may be used under cover or outside when it is not raining. The paper should be renewed every third or fourth day in any case. A more permanent form may be made from plaster of Paris or some other durable material, porosity being an essential. The stem in this case is circular and should be in one piece with the top, or fit into it very tightly, otherwise the fluid will not rise. It may be necessary to soak this trap im water occasionally and dry it.
These traps have been submitted to the very severe tests of being placed near dishes of the food which has been found most attractive to house-flies, casein, banana and bread, mixed and wetted. One trap with the top made of plaster of Paris was placed about a foot away from a large dish of this material, and in three days poisoned 1800 flies, which were found on, or within a few inches of it. After further neutra- lisation it became effective again and remained so for ten days, about half the original fluid (200 cc.) having been used. Another one, with the top made of filter paper two inches in diameter, was placed in a corner of the fly room, and was active for ten days until it was removed, the paper top having been renewed once; 1,560 flies were found dead around it. A third one with a paper trap was still active at the end of a month. Whether a trap is still effective may be determined by sweeping away the dead flies from its vicinity. If no more flies accumulate, and there are still flies about, the fluid has probably become acid and should be renewed, as it will not be found worth while in practice to neutralise it again. The traps should be placed wherever flies are numerous, especially near rubbish bins, in stables, near manure heaps, in kitchens and latrines. Observation will show which are the best positions.
Comparison with other Poisons.
Formaldehyde as a fly poison was not tested against sodium arsenite, but it has two great advantages over it : it is safe and it is more economical. With 2 per cent. sodium arsenite solution 10 per cent. sugar is recommended, while formaldehyde only requires a quarter of that amount. The use of sodium arsenite would always be dangerous to man and to domestic animals, especially if issued to the general public. That the poison used shall be safe in any hands is a great desideratum.
The action of formaldehyde was tested against that of sodium fluoride, recently recommended as an effective fly poison (Jackson and Lefroy). Formaldehyde (5 per cent.) and sodium fluoride (1 per cent.) in saucers were placed in two separated halves of a deep glass dish, equally lighted and heated. No baits were used in either. After twenty-four hours in the formaldehyde section 650 flies were dead as against 234 dead in the sodium fluoride section. As more might have escaped from the section containing the fluoride than from the other section, a control comparison was made with cylinders of flies, four containing as poison | per cent. sodium fluoride with 3 per cent. sugar, and four containing the formaldehyde mixture recommended above. Notes were made of the death-rate and it was found that there was no appreciable difference in the actions of the two poisons. The results are summarised in Table XV. However from the first experiment it is seen that flies poisoned travel less from the formaldehyde than from the fluoride, which is an advantage. Authorities differ as to whether sodium fluoride is a poison to man, but as it is used in food preserving it is certainly not a very dangerous substance.
FORMALDEHYDE AS A POISON FOR HOUSE-FLIES, 63
TABLE XV.
|
Aver. percentages dead after : No. of Aver. ad Solution. tests. | flies. | | 1 hour 4 hours 24 hours } _ a A : hes 2 1% sodium? fluoride, 3% sugar ieee ae 57 76 94 5% formaldehyde, 50% | : lime water, 3% sugar 4 | 74 6G: {| 74 96 Summary.
The effective action of formaldehyde as a fly poison depends on the freedom ol the-exposed fluid from formic acid, and, to a less extent, from methylamine. That used for fly poisoning should therefore be colourless and free from a fishy odour, and a weak alkali, in slight excess, should be added in dilution to neutralise any acid present and that which will be formed during exposure. The formula recom- mended is :—
40% Formaldehyde .. + aa s be em oily Clear lime water oy oe 1 rm al - 50% Sugar .. ne Zs 2% ae “ee y Pe OF Water .. ; re: add to make 100
This should be exposed in a trap which will protect it from the air and will prevent flies from falling in. Formaldehyde, like any other stomach poison for flies, will be most effective under dry conditions.
References. 1. O. C. Lodge, Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond., Sept. 1916. 2. Thorpe, Dictionary of Chemistry, on formaldehyde. 3. Mally, C.W. “On the use of poisoned bait for controlling the house-fly ; ” S. African Journal of Science, June 1915.
4. Jackson and Lefroy, “Some Fly Poisons for Outdoor and Hospital Use ;”’ Bull. Ent. Res. vii, p. 327.
Lees, 7 aa ; ‘if Lee » 4?
AFRICAN APHIDIDAE.—Parr IV.
By Frep. VY. THEOBALD.
The following new species of Aphids have been sent from Africa ; four are from a collection forwarded by Mr. Claude Fuller of the Department of Agriculture of the Union of South Africa (Macrosiphum cassi, Phorodon violae, Capitophorus chrysanthemi and Forda natalensis) ; one has been sent by Mr. C. C. Gowdey from the British East African Protectorate which has to be placed in a new genus (Cer- craphis).
Macrosiphum cissi, sp. nov. (fig. 1).
Alate viviparous female.
Antennae longer than body, rather dark, pale at base of third segment ; basal segment wider and a little longer than second ; third longer than fourth, not so long as sixth, with a line of 15-18 sensoria extending nearly to the end of the segment the distal one usually markedly separated from the others ; fourth segment a little longer than fifth, the latter with the usual sub-apical sensorium ; sixth with long flagellum and usual sensoria at apex of basal area; fourth to sixth markedly imbricated ; with short, simple, scattered hairs. Eyes large and dark. Frontal lobes small, but prominent, median ocellus prominent; head with slightly spatulate
Fig 1. sagen eae cissi, sp. n.: A, heed af alate 2; B, cornicles and cauda of apterous 2; ©, cornicles and. cauda of alate 9°; D, cauda of alate 2; E, head and antenna of apterous eH
hairs. Proboscis rather broad, dark at apex, reaching to or just beyond the second coxae, apical segment a little longer and narrower than second. Legs long and thin, dark at apices of femora and tibiae, tarsi dark, most of hind femora dark, short hairs over apex of femora and tibiae. Cornicles black, long and cylindrical, about as long as third antennal segment, apex reticulate, remainder imbricated. Cauda about one-half the length of cornicles, pale, with three pairs of long lateral hairs, a smaller apical pair and a median sub-apical one. Anal plate darker and with many hairs. Cauda not quite level with apices of cornicles. Wings normal. Length, 2-2-3 mm.
66 FRED. V. THEOBALD.
Apterous viviparous female.
Antennae longer than body ; first to third segments pale, except apex of latter, remainder dark ; first segment much larger than second ; third longer than fourth, but shorter than sixth, with a group of 2-6 sensoria near the base ; fourth longer than fifth, the latter with usual sub-apical sensorium, both combined a little shorter than sixth to about the same length ; flagellum of sixth long; hairs normal. Head with well formed frontal lobes and with a small median prominence showing only in some specimens ; other mounted specimens show the vertex almost flat. Eyes large and dark. Proboscis reaching to or just beyond the second coxae ; apical segment longer and considerably narrower than the penultimate. Cornicles dark, cylindrical, somewhat expanding basally, reticulate at apex, remainder imbricated ; shorter than third antennal segment. Cauda pale, about half as long as cornicles and slightly thicker, with three hairs on each side and some apical ones ; not quite reaching the apices of the cornicles. Legs relatively shorter and thicker than in alate female; apices of femora and tibiae and tarsi darkened ; hairs moderate. Anal plate dusky, with rather long hairs. Hairs of body slightly spatulate. Length 2°2-2°5 mm.
Nymph.
Antennae longer than body ; darkened on fifth and sixth segments ; basal segment larger than second ; third longer than fourth ; fourth longer than fifth ; the sixth much longer than 4-++5 ; flagellum long, but relatively shorter than in mature forms ; a few scattered hairs. Proboscis with dark apical segment, reaching to the third coxae ; last two segments nearly equal. Wing pads dusky; cornicles dark ; about as long and as thick as third antennal segment, imbricated ; reaching past the cauda. Cauda triangulate, pale, with two pairs of lateral hairs. Legs with dusky apices to tibiae, but not to femora; latter with hairs on one side; tibiae hairy. Length 1°8 to 2 mm.
Food-plant. Cissus sp. TRANSVAAL: Pretoria 18.x.1918.
Described from three alate females and a number of apterous females and nymphae. No colour notes were sent, but the species is so well marked that I have described it. It comes nearest to Macrosiphum, but also approaches Myzus, especially in the alate stage. Mounted apterae show the vertex in different forms, some have it almost flat, others of typical Macrosiphum form, whilst others show a median prominence. In the various larval instars the differences are great; the first has very short thick cornicles, in later stages they increase in length. The length of the cornicles varies in the adults.
The plant upon which these Aphids were found—C?ssus—is one of the Order Ampelideae. This genus is often merged into Vitis. None of the species recorded from Vtis agrees with Mr. Fuller’s specimens, and so far no Aphid has been recorded from Cissus.
The Aphids recorded from Vitis are Aphis allinorsensis, Shimer ; Aphis rvparvae, Oestlund ; Aphis vitis, Scopoli; Macrosiphum viticola, Thomas ; Hyalopterus arundinis, Fabricius ; Peritymbia vitisana, Westwood ; Rhizoctonus ampelinus, Mokrzeki ; Schizoneura ampelorhiza, Del Guercio ; and three species of Phylloxera.
AFRICAN APHIDIDAE.—PART IV. 67
Rhopalosiphum carduellinum, Theobald (fig. 2).
Bull. Ent. Res. vi, p. 112. figs. 9 and 10, (1915).
Apterous viviparous female.
Antennae about as long as the body, arising from prominent frontal tubercles ; basal segment much larger than second ; third not quite as long as the sixth, with 17-20 small sensoria along one side; fourth slightly longer than fifth, with 3-6 sensoria ; fifth with normal sub-apical sensorium ; sixth about as long as 4-++5, its basal area about one-fourth the length of the fifth ; the apices of segments 3-5 are darkened and there is a dark area at junction of basal area and flagellum of sixth ; all the segments are imbricated ; the sensoria on 3 are of varied size and shape ;
Fig. 2. Rhopalosiphum cardueliunum, Theob., apterous female; A, head and antenna; B, cauda and anal plate; C, cornicles ; D, sensoria on 3rd antennal segment.
those on 5 are more regular in outline. Proboscis reaching to just past the second pair of legs ; two bands of a few hairs on penultimate segment ; two marked sub- apical ones on the apical arising from clear circular areas. Legs with apices of femora and tibiae darkened and dark tarsi, a few hairs on apex of femora and numerous short ones on the tibiae. Cornicles about as long as the fourth antennal segment, about twice as wide and somewhat swollen on the apical half; apex with a few striae, remainder faintly imbricated. Cauda pale, broader than cornicles, more than half their length, with three long hairs on each side and a curved sub-apical one ; reaching just beyond the apices of cornicles. Length, 1°8-2 mm.
Food-plant. Thistles (Carduus sp.).
TRANSVAAL: Pretoria, 20.v.1914 (C. Fuller); Onderstepoort, 28. vii. 1914 (G. B. Bedford).
Type in the British Museum.
The apterous female sent with the alatae of this insect appears to be a distinct species. The sensoria in the two apterous females sent by Mr. Claude Fuller appear so much more closely allied that I have little doubt that they are true carduellinum.
Numbers of nymphae sent were mostly all of a uniform pale colour, evidently vellow or green, but a few show the tips of the wing pads dusky. One of the sensoria on the third antennal segment is markedly bean-shaped, and the varied size of the others is somewhat characteristic. ;
Phorodon violae, sp. nov. (fig. 3).
Apterous viviparous female.
Yellowish green to dull pale yellow. Antennae longer than body, of same colour as body except extreme tip of fifth and whole of sixth segments, which are dark ;
68 FRED. V. THEOBALD.
basal segments (1 and 2) somewhat darker than the rest ; the basal one much larger than second and somewhat projecting on its inner side ; third segment longer than fourth, but not so long as sixth ; fourth and fifth about equal in length ; flagellum moderately long, about as long as third ; a few scattered hairs over the segment and the third with short stiff hairs arising from small projections along one side, some extending on to the fourth ; basal segment imbricated. Frontal lobes large, with
Fig. 3. Phorodon violae, sp. n., apterous viviparous female: A, head of apterous2; B, posterior end of body and end of antenna; B. 1, cornicle; C, C.1, cauda.
a marked, slightly inwardly directed, cone-like process on each side, imbricated and with two minute hairs. Two stiff hairs also project from the vertex. Eyes large, red to dark red. Proboscis pale, apex slightly darkened ; reaching to or just beyond the third coxae, narrow ; apical segment a little narrower and longer than penultimate. Legs of same colour as body, except the tarsi which are darkened ; very short stiff hairs on the tibiae. Cornicles of same colour as body, moderately long, but shorter than the fourth antennal segment, slightly swollen from the middle onwards ; faintly imbricated, sometimes slightly expanded at the base. Cauda pale, short, bluntly triangulate, spinose, with two short hairs on each side ; projecting well beyond the cornicles. Anal plate slightly darkened, narrow, spinose, with four long apical hairs and others somewhat shorter. On each side of pronotum a small lateral papilla and traces of four others on each side of the abdomen. The body is contracted at the apex. Length, 1°3-1'8 mm.
Nymph.
Colour similar to adult. Antennae about as long as body and of same colonir ; sixth segment and apex of fifth dusky ; basal segment much larger than second, third a little longer than fourth ; fourth and fifth about equal; sixth as long as or a little longer than 4++5, its basal area about half the length of the fifth. Frontal processes as in alate female. Eyes bright red. Wing-cases of same colour as body, also the legs, except apices of tibiae and the tarsi, which are smoky, with numerous fine short hairs. Cornicles and cauda pale, the latter bluntly triangulate and
AFRICAN APHIDIDAE.—PART IV. 69
extending beyond the cornicles, which are shorter than the fifth antennal segment. Cauda finely spinose, but showing no lateral hairs. The pale proboscis reaches nearly to third coxae. Length, 1°2-1°5 mm.
Food-plant. Pansy.
Natat: Durban, 1.x.1912.
Described from a number of apterous females and some nymphae. Nearly all the females have the posterior portion of the gut, etc., evaginated, giving them a curious ragged appearance. The shape of the body is also marked.
I have placed this species provisionally in the genus Phorodon on account of the two marked frontal processes and the swelling on the basal segment of the antennae, but the cornicles and cauda do not exactly fit in with that genus, taking P. hwmuli, Schrank, as the type. The flattened anal plate occurs, however, in some stages of the hop aphid.
Capitophorus chrysanthemi, sp. nov. (fig. 4).
Apterous viviparous female.
Apparently a pale green or yellow species, with black eyes ; dusky apices to the cornicles and antennae; tarsi all dark and to some extent the apices of the tibiae ; hairs capitate. Antennae longer than body ; basal segment larger than second and somewhat angulated on the inner side ; third segment much longer than fourth
Fig. 4. Capitophorus chrysanthemi, sp. n.: A, head of apterous 9; A. 1, enlarged cephalic hairs; B,analregion ; a,cauda; b,anal plate; b. 1, hairs of anal plate; c, dorsal process ; d, body hairs.
but not so long as the sixth ; fourth a little longer than fifth, the latter with the usual sub-apical sensorium ; sixth with long flagellum, basal area about one-fourth of the fifth segment. Head with marked frontal lobes and a median raised process ; with two capitate hairs on each lobe, two in front on the median lobe, and two just above them, Eyes prominent, varying from black to deep red or reddish black. Proboscis pale, reaching to just past the second coxae; apical segment
70 FRED. V. THEOBALD.
narrow and acuminate, penultimate nearly as long, expanded. Legs pallid, except tarsi, which are dusky except at extreme base ; tibiae with moderately long fine hairs and a few on apex of femora. Cornicles long and very thin, about as long as fourth antennal segment ; pale, apex dark. Cauda pale, rather long and thick, bluntly elongate-triangular, with two hairs on each side, close together towards the apex and a median sub-apical one ; finely spinose. Anal plate slightly darker, spinose and with a few long hairs, broadly rounded. The thin cornicles project to about the level of the cauda, which is very much wider and about half to less: than half their length. Body hairs strongly capitate, some with fan-shaped extremities, whilst those on the anal plate and cauda are simple. The lateral view shows a small tubercle above the cauda (fig. 4, B.c.). Length, 1'8-2 mm.
Food-plant. Chrysanthemum.
ORANGE FREE StaTE: Bloemfontein, 18.v.1914.
Described from several mature apterous females. It resembles a typical Myzus, but the median frontal projection places it in Van der Goot’s genus Capitophorus ; which appears to be undoubtedly well marked, but I find so many species between the true Myzus and typical Capitophorus that it is doubtful if this genus should be accepted, unless many others are to be initiated.
Genus Cerciaphis, nov.
Described from apterous viviparous females.
Head flat to very slightly concave in front. Antennae shorter than body, of five segments, the third about as long as 4+5; the fifth longer than fourth, its flagellum only half the length of basal area. Kyes small. Cornicles small, cone- shaped. Two thick, acuminate anal cerci, about as long as fourth segment of antennae. Cauda small, flattened. Anal plate rounded. Proboscis rather short.
Cerciaphis bougainvilleae, sp. nov. (fig. 5).
Apterous viviparous female.
Pale-coloured ; apices of antennae dusky. Eyessmallanddark. Legs, cornicles, anal plate, cauda and base of antennae of same colour as body. Head narrower
Fig .5 Cerciaphis bouganvilleae, sp. n.: A, head of apterous 9 ; a. 1, enlarged eye; a. 2, and a. 3, sensoria; B, posterior end ; b. 1, cerei; ¢, cornicle; d, cauda and anal plate; C, cornicle.
than body, which is more or less oval ; head flattened to slightly concave in front, integument strongly striate. Antennae shorter than body, of five segments, the
AFRICAN APHIDIDAE,.—-PART IV. 71
basal one larger than second, the third the longest, as long as or longer than™4-+5 ; the fourth shorter than fifth, with a simple round sub-apical sensorium ; the fifth with the flagellum short, about half the length of the basal area, which is equal in length to the fourth segment ; third to fifth imbricated. Cornicles cone-shaped, of Lachnid appearance, more or less circularly striate. Two long, pale, acuminate anal cerci, striate and about the length of the fourth antennal segment to a little longer. Anal plate pale, small, with a few longish hairs. Cauda inconspicuous. Legs rather short and thick. The posterior integument is striate, but not so mark- edly as the cephalic. The proboscis in all the mounted specimens is bent forwards! but appears to reach to about the second coxae. Length, 1-4—1'8 mm.
Food-plant. Bougainvillea.
Ucanpa : Kampala, 14.v.1919 (C. Gowdey).
Described from a number of apterous viviparous females. It is a very marked insect on account of the two posterior cerci. The head and body seem almost J devoid of hairs, except posteriorly. The nymphae have long narrow wing-buds.
Forda natalensis, sp.nov. (Fig. 6).
Apterous viviparous female.
Globular, much domed dorsally, flattened ventrally. Grey, greyish white to brown; antennae, proboscis and legs brown. Segmentation marked posteriorly. Antennae from one-fourth to one-fifth the length of body ; of five segments, basal one about half the length of second, third the longest, about as long as 4++5 ;}fourth shorter
Fig. 6. Forda natalensis, sp. n.: A, head; B, cauda, C, integument of apterous viviparous 2; D, nymph.
than fifth ; fifth with a short blunt nail, a large rather projecting sensorium at its base and traces of a secondary one, also a round sensorium at the apex of the fourth ; slightly hairy ; last two segments darker than remainder. Vertex flat, with a few short blunt hairs. Eyes very small, black. Proboscis reaching to near the third pair of legs or just past them, moderately broad ; apical segment a little longer and narrower than the penultimate, with a few short hairs. Legs rather short and thick, prothoracic shorter than mesothoracic, the latter shorter than the
Te FRED. V. THEOBALD.
metathoracic ; tibiae and tarsi with short fine hairs, a few on the femora ; femora of first and second pairs nearly as long as tibiae, the third a little shorter. Body with short fine scattered hairs, except at the apex, where they are longer. Length, 2-2°5 mm.
Immature viviparous female.
Paler, legs pale brown ; antennae dark on last two segments only. Antennae about one-fifth the length of the body ; basal segment shorter than second and very little broader ; third a little longer than second ; fourth about as long as the first ; fifth a little shorter than third, with a small blunt nail, with normal sensoria at its base ; a few scattered hairs. Proboscis reaching to or beyond the third pair of legs. Legs short, just projecting beyond the body, the first slightly shorter than second, third the longest ; tibiae and tarsi with hairs as in adult. Eyes very small. Body with a few rather short scattered hairs. Length, 1:5-2:0 mm.
Food-plant. Roots of a weed and im ants nest.
NataL: Umzinto, 23.i1v.1911.
Described from several apterous viviparous females and some immature forms. It somewhat resembles Forda rotunda, Theobald, but can at once be distinguished by the long second antennal segment and the short fourth segment, also by the flat vertex and different posterior structure. The eyes also do not project in the same way, and the body is clothed with scattered fine short hairs.
Some specimens show a partial constriction on the third antennal segment, but I could find none in which it was complete, so that they are only of five segments.
Species not previously recorded or from new Localities.
Macrosiphum dahliafolii, Theobald, Bull. Ent. Res. vu, p. 273, 1918. Ucanpa: Kampala, 2.x11.1917 (Gowdey) ; on thistles (Carduus).
Macrosiphum sonchi, Linnaeus. Syst. Nat. u, p. 735.
UGanDA: Kampala, 2.xii.1917 (Gowdey) ; on thistles (Carduus).
One apterous 2, which agrees with British specimens. The darkening of the antennae around the sensoria of the third antennal segment is very marked.
~I Ww
ANOPHELES BREEDING AMONG WATER LETTUCE—A NEW HABITAT.
By James ZETEK, B.A.,
Entomologist, Ancon, Panama Canal Zone.
With the filling up of Gatun and Mira Flores Lakes, water lettuce (Pistia stratiotes, Linné) and water hyacinth (Hichornia crassipes, Solms.) rapidly increased in numbers until large areas became completely covered by them. Masses of these plants would become detached and float about in these lakes. It was found necessary to destroy these “floating islands,” not because they were serious mosquito habitats, but because they interfered with navigation and the operation of the spillways. The water lettuce is the habitat of the very specialised larvae of Mansonia, of which titillans is the commonest member. Knab (1913) and Busck (comments appended to Mr. Knab’s paper) refer to the changes in the mosquito fauna brought about by the rapid increase in Pistia. Both Mansonia titillans. Walker, and Aédomyia squamipennis (Lynch-Arrib.) Theo., have been collected by me in very large numbers since 1912, and to-day Mansonia is the dominant species caught in the army barracks on the west side of the canal. Knab expressed the opinion that perhaps measures would have to be taken to destroy the Pistia habitats ; now that we have found Anopheles larvae in them, this prophesy comes closer home.
The only question involved is how much of a menace are these floating islands to our towns. It is my belief they are a menace to the towns on the west side of the canal, and if allowed to float toward Paraiso and Pedro Miguel, or close to Gatun, would be a source of danger there. It has been shown conclusively that our common malarial Anopheles do fly more than a mile (Zetek, 1915) ; in fact, it appears that they will fly as far as they must in order to get food. Should Las Cascades become a negro settlement, the dangers from malaria would be increased. I doubt if we can depend upon screening and mosquito-catching indoors to control the Anopheles and malaria at such a settlement. At any rate, the idea seems to be getting firmly established that the sanitation of the Panama Canal Zone is so efficient that there is virtually little danger from the Anopheles, and as a result our people are becoming somewhat negligent. It will depend mainly upon the cumulative evidence gathered by the District Sanitary Inspectors, whether or not these floating islands will need to be controlled.
That this evidence may be available and accurate, it is very necessary that the sanitary Inspectors make it their practise to take ample field notes. These should contain as complete a statement of the particular habitat, date and locality added thereto, and specimens of the larvae should be sent to the laboratory for the accurate determination of the species. At the close of each month a general summary of these notes should be made, a copy of which should be sent to the entomologist. It is a regrettable fact that much valuable information is lost or buried in the heads of observers.
In 1918 I found Anopheles larvae among water lettuce at Juan Mina, a citrus plantation about five miles up the old Chagres River. On 21st November 1919, Messrs. Picket and Tolar, sanitary inspectors at Pedro Miguel, D>. D. P. Curry,
(681) F
74. JAMES ZETEK.
Assistant Chief Health Officer, and I, made an inspection of floating islands at Gamboa, C. Z., both in the canal prism and across in the bayous ; we went as far as Empire. Mr. Pickett previously reported the presence of Anopheles larvae in these islands at this place, and that they were going southward toward his station. Our joint inspection revealed larvae of Anopheles albimanus, Wied., and A. tarsimaculatus, Goeldi, to be plentiful among the leaves of the water lettuce. An unidentified Culex was also present.
This particular habitat is very favourable to the Anopheles. The larvae are afforded much protection from the schools of young fish that usually feed upon insect larvae. They are also protected to some extent from predaceous insect larvae, such as those of dragon-flies. Shade is another important factor in this habitat, and this means a more even temperature, and an almost total absence of the direct hot rays of the sun. Wave action does not disturb these larvae very much ; but the most important advantage to them is the exceptionally favourable presence of oxygen, and this certainly must be effective in prolonging the life of the larvae and pupae. This factor is very easily explained. The Pistia, being a green plant, gives off oxygen. Its leaves are at or just above or below the surface of the water. Therefore this oxygen enriches the local atmosphere available to the larvae, and some of it is undoubtedly taken up by the water and made use of by the larvae through their cutaneous respiration.
During the summer of 1911, while engaged by Dr. 8. A. Forbes to study the Anopheles at Havana, Illinois, a similar condition was found to exist, excepting that in place of Prstia the plant in question was the tiny Lemna. This plant covered the surface of the water in the bayous, ponds and quiet recesses of the rivers. The Chatagua grounds at Havana were invaded each year by Anopheles, but their source was not known until we found them in and among the floating islands of this Lemna. These islands broke away from the almost continuous mass across the river from Havana and by current and wind were swept across this deep body of water and came to rest along the shores of the Chatagua grounds ; here the larvae developed, pupae formed and adults emerged in rapid succession.
There is one important aspect of this sort of habitat which must not be over- looked. It is that wind and current detach portions of this floating vegetation and sweep it across deep bodies of water to new localities, where were it not for this exceptionally good vehicle these larvae would be unable to cross the barrier of deep wate