Male puparium oval, white; about 1/25in. in length.
Adult female yellow, peg-top shaped, but almost globular. Abdomen ending in six lobes, of which the two median are the largest. Between and a little beyond the lobes are a number of scaly serrated hairs, some of which exhibit serrated extremities; also some scaly but smooth hairs. There are also a few spines. Four groups of spinnerets, which are surrounded (according to Mr. Comstock, Entom. Report, U.S. Dep. of Agric., 1880, [Plate XV.], Fig. 1) by a fine line, as if enclosed in a sac. Many single spinnerets.
In the larva the abdomen ends in four lobes, of which the two median are somewhat prominent.
Adult male yellow or brownish; antennæ of ten joints, each with several hairs; feet having the femora somewhat thick, the tibiæ and tarsi flat and slender, the former a little expanded at the extremity.
Habitat—On Coprosma lucida and Corynocarpus lævigata (Karaka), Wellington.
A species introduced from Europe, where its favourite habitat is Nerium oleander; but it is found on many other plants, and is, according to Dr. Signoret, "the commonest of all the species of this genus." It has not yet spread widely in New Zealand.
9. Aspidiotus sophoræ, Maskell.
N.Z. Trans., Vol. XVI., 1883, p. 121.
Female puparium nearly circular, flat, bluish-grey; diameter, about 1/24in.
Male puparium oval; length, about 1/36in.