A new species of Eriococcus (Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha: Coccoidea: Eriococcidae) and redescriptions of Eriococcus roboris Goux and E. thymelaeae Newstead, with a key to the Eriococcus species on Quercus in the western Palaearctic

Abstract

This paper describes a new species of felt scale, Eriococcus melnikensis Hodgson & Trencheva (Eriococcidae), from the western Palaearctic, off Quercus pubescens (Fagaceae) and Myrtus communis (Myrtaceae). It is close to Eriococcus roboris Goux In addition, this paper reviews the Eriococcidae currently known from oaks (Quercus spp) in the western Palaearctic and redescribes the adult females of Eriococcus roboris and E. thymelaeae Newstead. It also describes all other stages (apart from the prepupa) of E. melnikensis and various immature stages of E. roboris, E. thymelia and E. aceris (Signoret). A key is provided for the separation of the adult females of the five species of Eriococcidae now known off oaks from the western Palaearctic.