This insect, apparently an importation from America, was not observed prior to 1884, and occurs as yet only sparingly, mingled with A. coccineus, from which it is easily distinguished by its elongated puparium.
22. Chionaspis dubia, Maskell.
N.Z. Trans., Vol. XIV., 1881, p. 216.
([Plate VI.], Fig. 2.)
Female puparium white, flat, elongated, pyriform, very thin; the pellicles rather small; length, about 1/12in.
Male puparium white, elongated, rather oval; very slightly carinated above; on the under-side are two longitudinal keels.
Adult female yellow, elongated, segmented; the abdominal segments somewhat deep. Abdomen ending with a median depression; terminal lobes inconspicuous (absent?). Five groups of spinnerets: uppermost group, six to ten orifices; the rest, ten to fifteen.
Adult male reddish in colour. Antennæ hairy, 10-jointed, the first two joints very short. Feet normal, with four long, fine digitules. At the base of the abdominal spike is a somewhat large tubercle. Haltere of normal form, but the terminal seta is very long, four times as long as the thick basal portion, and has no terminal knob. Thoracic band conspicuous. The thorax is somewhat long, so that there is a considerable distance between the first and second pairs of legs.
Habitat—On Coprosma, Rubus, Asplenium, Pellæa, Riccarton Bush and North Kowai River, Canterbury; Auckland.