N.Z. Trans., Vol. XII., 1879, p. 293.
Female puparium white, pyriform. Female in all stages dark-coloured; in last stage nearly black. General outline resembling M. drimydis, but the abdomen is much sharper and more pointed, with a finely-serrated edge, ending in three minute, pointed lobes, joined by a scaly process. Spinnerets in an almost continuous arch, which may be resolved into five groups; seventy or eighty openings; several single spinnerets. The rudimentary antennæ can be made out.
The young female has an elongated oval outline, little corrugated. The feet, digitules, antennæ, &c., resemble those of M. pomorum. The abdomen is like that of the adult, without the groups of spinnerets.
Male unknown, but puparium smaller and rather darker in colour than that of the female.
Habitat—On Metrosideros robusta (rata), Wellington, and probably elsewhere. It is not common.
18. Mytilaspis phymatodidis, Maskell.
N.Z. Trans., Vol. XII., 1879, p. 292.
Female puparium flattish, pyriform, dirty-white or brownish; length, about 1/12in.
Male puparium similar, brown.
Adult female greyish, elongated, segmented. Rudimentary antennæ visible. Abdomen ending in two lobes with a median depression: several scaly and serrated processes, and some spiny hairs. Five groups of spinnerets: uppermost group, six to nine orifices; upper side groups, ten to fourteen; lower pair, fifteen to twenty: several single spinnerets.