N.Z. Trans., Vol. XI., 1878, p. 201; Vol. XIV., 1881, p. 217; Vol. XVII., 1884, p. 24.
Uhleria gigas, Comstock; 2nd Entom. Rep., Cornell Univ., 1883, p. 111.
([Plate VI.], Fig. 6.)
Female puparium elongated, flat, roughly pyriform or ovate, thin; the secretion is yellowish-brown or dirty-white, but is scarcely noticeable, on account of the second pellicle; length variable, from 1/12in. to 1/8in.; breadth, about 1/16in. First pellicle small, at one end. Second pellicle, very large, almost filling the puparium, roughly pyriform; abdominal region segmented; cephalic region large, oval; abdominal segments tapering, exhibiting at the extremity either minute serrations, floriated lobes, or tusk-like lobes, or a smooth curve; the first abdominal segment sometimes produced into roundly-triangular lobes.
Male puparium flattish, elongated; length, from 1/10in. to 1/8in.; white, thin; roughly pyriform, but narrower than that of the female; central portion slightly convex, seeming on the under-side to have two keels; not carinated above.
Adult female yellow or brown; segmented; at first elongated, the cephalic region comparatively large, but during gestation shrinking up until the insect assumes the form of Aspidiotus. Abdomen ending in a minutely-serrated edge, with several small simple lobes, between which are longish spiny hairs. Spinnerets in an almost continuous arch, containing seventy to a hundred orifices; several single spinnerets.
Adult male yellow, slender. Antennæ, ten-jointed, as long as the body; each joint except the two first long and hairy; the last joint fusiform. Feet, long and slender; digitules, fine hairs. Abdominal spike, slender, not very long, springing from a small tubercular base.
This is a variable insect in size, colour, edge of abdomen, and spinnerets. On the bark of Pittosporum eugenioide a variety has the extremity of the second pellicle richly floriated, other features remaining as above. It has not been thought advisable to erect all these varieties into different species.
The male pupa, in its earlier state, is elongated, segmented, and may be mistaken for a female of Mytilaspis drimydis; but differs in its greyish-yellow colour, and also in the form of the puparium.
Habitat—On Atherosperma Novæ Zælandiæ; Astelia cunninghamii; Coprosma, sp. var.; Pittosporum eugenioide, &c.; Wellington; Canterbury; Hawke's Bay; Otago; Nelson; Auckland.