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Show 948 MR. R. NEWSTEAD ON A NEW SCALE-INSECT. [Dec. 4, 6258 well-matured larvae were counted from the interior of a single 2 • Hab. O n an unknown tree, Zomba, Central Africa. Collected by H.B.M. Commissioner A. Sharpe, C.B., 1900. This remarkable species is quite a giant among the Coccidae, being one of the largest species known to me. The strength of the rostral apparatus must also be very great, as I found it impossible to separate the insect intact from the fragment of bark to which it was attached (see PI. L I X . fig. 3) without previous immersion in caustic potash. The curious secretionary flap or valve which covers the large ventral opening is, I believe, a unique feature. I also found a very large and apparently pouch-shaped piece of epidermis in the interior of the body, which I have little doubt in some way intussuscepted the abdomen and formed a receptacle for the ova and subsequently for the larvae, which undoubtedly mature within the body of the parent. Mr. Claude Fuller (Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond. 1899, pt. iv. p. 436, pi. xv. fig. 1 a) calls attention to the existence in the genus Callipappus of a remarkable receptacle in the interior of the body of the adult 2 ', he says (I. c.) there is a " complete intussusception of several of the abdominal segments of the mature 2 's in the form of a marsupium in which the eggs are laid and incubated." And, further (p. 437), that the sexual orifice and anus are situated at the back of the pouch. In Callipappus the mouth-parts in the $ are entirely absent, and the larval antennae are 6-jointed, which entirely precludes my placing the insect in that genus. Of the family Monophlebidae, to which this insect undoubtedly belongs, the characters of the genus Walkeriana agree better than any other, but the abnormal characters set forth may be considered of generic importance. In view of this, I at one time thought the insect might form the type of a new genus under the name of Aspidoproctus; but in the absence of Mr. E. E. Green's description of his Ceylonese species, I have decided for the present to regard the characters as specific. EXPLANATION OF PLATE LIX. Walkeriana pertinax. Fig. 1 Adult 2 > actual size, dorsal. 2. „ actual size, profile. 3. „ actual size, ventral; with fragment of bark attached to rostrum. Secretionary valve also shown in situ, immediately below the insertion of the posterior legs. 4. ,, Portion ofventral epidermis containing ventral opening, which in life is covered by a secretionary flap, or valve, extending approximately to the dotted line : a, a, glands which secrete the covering ; b, posterior leg. 5 & 5 a. Adult 2 > antennae. 6. Larva, dorsal, enlarged. 7. „ ventral, enlarged. 8&8a. „ antennas. 9. ,, tarsus and claw. |
