Sac of adult female white, cottony, irregularly elliptical, slightly convex, often aggregated in masses; frequently so covered with black fungus as to present the appearance of a minute gall.
Sac of male white, convex, smaller and more elongated than that of the female.
Adult female elongated-oval, convex, red in colour; length, about 1/30in. Body segmented, tapering rapidly to the posterior extremity; the cephalic segment occupying more than half the length. Anal tubercles conspicuous, apparently two, but on close inspection found to be four, brown in colour; two of them bear longish setæ; all the four are much corrugated and bear many short spiny hairs. Anogenital ring inconspicuous, with eight fine hairs. Antennæ of six short joints, tapering. Foot as if atrophied, the joints small and swollen; digitules all fine hairs. On the body are many small conical spines, which are most numerous on the last two abdominal segments.
Larva free, active, red in colour, flattish, elongated, tapering to the abdominal extremity; length, about 1/50in. Body segmented; anal tubercles two, conspicuous, setiferous, with some short hairs. Antennæ of six joints; feet normal.
Adult male red, about 1/20in. long; wings rather narrow, hyaline. Antennæ ten-jointed, hairy. Feet normal. Abdominal spike short, thick, and accompanied by a curved appendage; at each side a tubercle bearing longish setæ.
Habitat—In crevices (and sometimes on surface) of bark of Hoheria angustifolia, on hills above the town of Lyttelton. About midsummer individuals may be found which have just completed their sac and have not yet become coated with the black fungus.
The peg-top form and the four anal tubercles of this insect distinguish it from all others of the genus.
56. Eriococcus multispinus, Maskell.
Acanthococcus multispinus, Maskell; N.Z. Trans., Vol. XI., 1878, p. 217; Vol. XII., 1879, p. 292; Vol. XVII., 1884, p. 29.