Subdivision I.—LECANODIASPIDÆ, Targioni-Tozzetti.
Female insects exhibiting in all stages the abdominal cleft and lobes. Larvæ free, naked, active. Females after the first metamorphosis constructing over themselves a carapace, shield, or (as called herein) test, of glassy, waxy, or horny secretion. Test apparently homogeneous, really in most cases formed of aggregated segments over the insect, and prolonged beyond the body in a flat single fringe of separate, more or less triangular or quadrate, segments. Fringe not always present or conspicuous in all stages. Males, after first metamorphosis, constructing a test of similar character but varying form.
This subdivision, when first established by Targioni-Tozzetti, included only the four genera Pollinia, Asterolecanium, Planchonia, and Lecanodiaspis, all of which are apodous in the adult stage of the female. In this work the two first of these are included in a new group, Hemi-Coccidinæ; Planchonia belongs to the group Coccidinæ; Lecanodiaspis is left in the present subdivision. For the reasons leading to these changes, and the inclusion in this subdivision of insects retaining the feet in all stages, see N.Z. Transactions, Vol. XI., 1878, p. 207, and Vol. XVI., 1883, pp. 125-128.
N.Z. Trans., Vol. XIV., 1881, p. 222.
Test of adult female horny in texture, formed partly of secretion, partly of the pellicle of the second stage; abdominal cleft and lobes normal.
30. Lecanochiton metrosideri, Maskell.
N.Z. Trans., Vol. XIV., 1881, p. 222; Vol. XVI., 1883, p. 129.
([Plate VII.], Fig. 1.)
Test of adult female brown, hard, horny-looking, convex, slightly elongated, open beneath, loosely attached to twigs by the edges; at the top is the pellicle of the second stage, which is flat, and gives the test the appearance of an overturned basket, of which the pellicle is the foot. Length of test about 1/15in. Remains of the thin white test of the second stage may sometimes be seen on the pellicle.