Investigations on the Genus Rhizoecus (Hemiptera: Rhizoecidae) with Description of Two New Species from South America

M B Kaydan,T Kondo,Z Konczné Benedicty,A A Ramos-Portilla,É Szita

doi:10.1007/s13744-019-00681-w

Abstract

Neotropical species of the scale insect genus Rhizoecus Künckel d’Herculais (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Rhizoecidae) found in soil sample material of the Hungarian Natural History Museum were studied. Two new Rhizoecus species, Rhizoecus kontschani Kaydan and Konczné Benedicty sp. n., and Rhizoecus granaradewillinkae Kaydan and Szita sp. n., are described and illustrated based on the adult females. Also, the adult females of Rhizoecus keysensis Hambleton and Rhizoecus pseudocacticans Hambleton are illustrated. An identification key and new additional locality records for the currently known Rhizoecus species are provided.

Highlights

The rhizoecine mealybugs, formerly included in the Pseudococcidae, were elevated to family status, i.e., the Rhizoecidae (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha) by Hodgson (2012)
The family includes 238 extant species belonging to 19 genera (García Morales et al 2016, Tanaka 2016) of which 69 species have been recorded from the Neotropical Region (Williams & Granara de Willink 1992, Kozár & Konczné Benedicty 2007, García Morales et al 2016, Ramos-Portilla & Caballero 2016)
The associated host plants of the rhizoecid mealybug species are often not clearly understood, and when they are known from different host plants, it is unclear whether they have any preference for any plants

Summary

Introduction

The rhizoecine mealybugs, formerly included in the Pseudococcidae, were elevated to family status, i.e., the Rhizoecidae (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha) by Hodgson (2012). The family includes 238 extant species belonging to 19 genera (García Morales et al 2016, Tanaka 2016) of which 69 species have been recorded from the Neotropical Region (Williams & Granara de Willink 1992, Kozár & Konczné Benedicty 2007, García Morales et al 2016, Ramos-Portilla & Caballero 2016). According to Kozár and Konczné Benedicty (2007), Rhizoecus is characterized by the combination of the following features: (i) 5 or 6 segmented antennae, (ii) legs well developed, (iii) dorsum and venter with tritubular ducts, and (iv) anal ring with 6 setae. An identification key and new additional locality records for the currently known Rhizoecus species present in the Neotropical Region are provided and discussed

Material and Methods

Result and Discussion