Skip to main content Skip to main navigation menu Skip to site footer
Responsive image
Issue: Vol. 5777 No. 2: 18 Mar. 2026
Type: Article
Published: 2026-03-18
DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5777.2.9
Page range: 375-387
Abstract views: 48
PDF downloaded: 5

New species of Chorizococcus McKenzie, 1960 and Spilococcus Ferris, 1950 (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Pseudococcidae) from India

Division of Insect Systematics; National Bureau of Agricultural Insect Resources; Post Bag No. 2491; H.A. Farm post; Bellary Road; Bangalore 560 024; Karnataka; India.
B/11; 3 floor; Avon Apartment; Near Bombay Scottish School; Veer Savarkar Marg; Mahim; Mumbai 400 016; Maharashtra; India.
503; Siddh Ratnakar; P. Balu Marg; Prabhanagar; Prabhadevi; Mumbai 400 025; Maharashtra; India.
Department of Agricultural Entomology; College of Horticulture; Kerala Agricultural University; Vellanikkara; KAU PO; Thrissur; Kerala 680656; India.
Department of Agricultural Entomology; College of Horticulture; Kerala Agricultural University; Vellanikkara; KAU PO; Thrissur; Kerala 680656; India.
Hemiptera mealybug identification key Sternorrhyncha Cyperaceae Apocynaceae

Abstract

Two new mealybug species (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Pseudococcidae) are described from India. The genus Spilococcus Ferris is recorded from India for the first time, with description and illustration of the new species, Spilococcus gullanae Joshi, Churi & Amembal, sp. nov., which is most similar to S. geraniae (Rau). Characters distinguishing S. gullanae from the other Spilococcus species recorded from the same host family in the same geographical area are discussed. A second new species is described and illustrated in the closely related genus, Chorizococcus McKenzie: C. watsonae Joshi, Pai & Deepthy, sp. nov. A key is provided to separate the adult females of Chorizococcus occurring in the Oriental region.

 

References

  1. Ben-Dov, Y. (1994) A Systematic Catalogue of the Mealybugs of the World (Insecta: Homoptera: Coccoidea: Pseudococcidae and Putoidae) with Data on Geographical Distribution, Host Plants, Biology and Economic Importance. Intercept Limited, Andover, 686 pp.
  2. Danzig, E.M. & Gavrilov-Zimin, I.A. (2015) Palaearctic Mealybugs (Homoptera: Coccinea: Pseudococcidae), Part 2: Subfamily Pseudococcinae. Russian Academy of Sciences, Zoological Institute, St. Petersburg, 619 pp.
  3. Downie, D.A. & Gullan, P.J. (2004) Phylogenetic analysis of mealybugs (Hemiptera: Coccoidea: Pseudococcidae) based on DNA sequences from three nuclear genes, and a review of the higher classification. Systematic Entomology, 29 (2), 238‒259. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.0307-6970.2004.00241.x
  4. Ferris, G.F. (1950) Atlas of the Scale Insects of North America. Vol. 5. The Pseudococcidae (Part I). Stanford University Press, Palo Alto, California, 278 pp.
  5. Ferris, G.F. (1953) Atlas of the Scale Insects of North America. Vol. 6. The Pseudococcidae (Part II). Stanford University Press, Palo Alto, California, 506 pp.
  6. García Morales, M., Denno, B.D., Miller, D.R., Miller, G.L., Ben-Dov, Y. & Hardy, N.B. (2016) ScaleNet: a literature-based model of scale insect biology and systematics. Database. Available from: http://scalenet.info (accessed 7 July 2025)
  7. Hardy, N.B., Gullan, P.J. & Hodgson, C.J. (2008) A subfamily-level classification of mealybugs (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) based on integrated molecular and morphological data. Systematic Entomology, 33, 51‒71. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-3113.2007.00408.x
  8. Kaydan, M.B., Kozár, F. & Hodgson, C.J. (2015) A review of the phylogeny of Palaearctic mealybugs (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Pseudococcidae). Arthropod Systematics & Phylogeny, 73 (1), 175–195. https://doi.org/10.3897/asp.73.e31823
  9. McKenzie, H.L. (1960) Taxonomic study of California mealybugs with descriptions of new species (Homoptera: Coccoidea: Pseudococcidae). Hilgardia, 29, 681‒770. https://doi.org/10.3733/hilg.v29n15p681
  10. McKenzie, H.L. (1967) Mealybugs of California with Taxonomy, Biology, and Control of North American Species (Homoptera: Coccoidea: Pseudococcidae). University of California Press, Berkeley, California, 526 pp. https://doi.org/10.1525/9780520338227
  11. Miller, D.R. & McKenzie, H.L. (1971) Sixth taxonomic study of North American mealybugs, with additional species from South America (Homoptera: Coccoidea: Pseudococcidae). Hilgardia, 40, 565‒602. https://doi.org/10.3733/hilg.v40n17p565
  12. Miller, D.R. & McKenzie, H.L. (1973) Seventh taxonomic study of North American mealybugs (Homoptera: Coccoidea: Pseudococcidae). Hilgardia, 41, 489‒542. https://doi.org/10.3733/hilg.v40n17p565
  13. Watson, G.W. & Chandler, L.R. (2000) Identification of Mealybugs Important in the Caribbean Region. 2nd Edition. CABI Bioscience, Egham, 40 pp.
  14. Williams, D.J. (1970) The mealybugs (Homoptera, Coccoidea, Pseudococcidae) of sugar-cane, rice and sorghum. Bulletin of Entomological Research, 60, 109‒188. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0007485300034209
  15. Williams, D.J. (1985) Australian mealybugs. British Museum (Natural History), London, 431 pp.
  16. Williams, D.J. (2004) Mealybugs of southern Asia. The Natural History Museum, London, and Southdene SDN. BHD., Kuala Lumpur, 896 pp.
  17. Williams, D.J. & Granara de Willink, M.C. (1992) Mealybugs of Central and South America. CAB International, Wallingford, 635 pp.
  18. Williams, D.J. & Watson, G.W. (1988) The Scale Insects of the Tropical South Pacific Region. Part 2. The Mealybugs (Pseudococcidae). CAB International Institute of Entomology, Wallingford, 260 pp.

How to Cite

Joshi, S., Churi, P., Amembal, A., Pai, S.G. & Deepthy, K. (2026) New species of Chorizococcus McKenzie, 1960 and Spilococcus Ferris, 1950 (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Pseudococcidae) from India. Zootaxa, 5777 (2), 375–387. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5777.2.9