Test of male waxy, thin, slightly elongated, rather convex; length, about 1/15in. Fringe and air-cells as in the female test. At the abdominal end is a joint or hinge separating the last segment.
Adult female filling the test, shrivelling at gestation; colour greyish or greenish-white. General appearance somewhat leathery. Rows of minute oval spinnerets run round the edge and across the body, corresponding with the divisions of the test. Antennæ of six joints, the third joint being the longest, and seeming double on account of the depressed ring: on the last joint some hairs. Feet normal, with somewhat thick coxæ and femora: upper digitules long; lower pair narrow. Anal ring with eight hairs. A row of scattered small hairs runs round the edge of the body.
Female of second stage very thin and transparent, seeming like a bluish-green film. The wavy edge is conspicuous. Antennæ of six joints.
Adult male yellowish. Antennæ nine-jointed, every joint except the first bearing several hairs. Feet normal; upper digitules not long, lower pair fine hairs. Thoracic band conspicuous and long. Abdominal spike short.
Habitat—On Pittosporum eugenioide, P. tenuifolium, Panax arboreum, Coprosma lucida, Rubus, &c., Riccarton Bush, Christchurch; Nelson; Dunedin; Wellington.
38. Ctenochiton piperis, Maskell.
N.Z. Trans., Vol. XIV., 1881, p. 218; Vol. XVII., 1884, p. 25.
([Plate VIII.], Fig. 3.)
Test of adult female circular, convex, regularly tessellated in hexagonal segments; fringe not very regular, sometimes almost or quite absent; waxy, somewhat thick; diameter, about 1/15in. Colour variable; outer parts white, yellow, or greenish-white, central segments purplish.