Adult female greenish yellow, peg-top shaped. Abdomen ending in several lobes, of which only the two median are conspicuous; between the lobes several serrated scaly hairs, and some spines. Four groups of spinnerets: upper groups, eight to ten orifices; lower groups, six to eight: many single spinnerets.
Adult male somewhat long, yellowish in colour; antennæ of ten joints; feet having somewhat thick femora, the tibiæ and tarsi slender; all the joints hairy. The abdominal spike, or sheath of the penis, is rather long, and the tubercle at its base is large.
Habitat—On palms and orchids in hothouses, passim; on wattle, rarely, Christchurch.
This is a European insect, affecting hothouse plants, and scarcely likely to do damage out-of-doors. It is closely allied to A. nerii.
8. Aspidiotus nerii, Bouché; Schadl. Gart. Ins., 1833, 52.
Diaspis Bouchei, Targioni-Tozzetti; "Studie sulle Coccineglie," 1867.
Aspidiotus Bouchei, Targioni; Catal., 1868, 45, 1.
N.Z. Trans., Vol. XIV., 1881, p. 217.
([Plate IV.], Fig. 4.)
Female puparium circular, flat, white or greyish; diameter, about 1/12in.