Taxonomic study of California mealybugs, with descriptions of new species (Homoptera: Coccoidea: Pseudococcidae)

Abstract

Abstract does not appear. First page follows. Introduction One may be a little surprised that so many new species of mealybugs, 28 forms herein described, have turned up in California so soon after the late Professor (G. F. Ferris’ (1950-53))3Atlas of the Scale Insects of North America, the Pseudococcidae, Parts I and II, was completed. This is not surprising, however, when one realizes that Professor Ferris’ primary intention was to clarify existing names rather than to describe new species. As a matter of fact, he made no particular search in available material for new species, and much of it was deliberately set aside and omitted from consideration. Certain undescribed species were included in his treatise only because they were involved in the synonymy of other species through misidentifications, or because they would assist in clarifying some group that would otherwise be inadequately considered. The purpose of the present study is to describe and delineate new California species of mealybugs, and to comment briefly on the taxonomy of other named forms if necessary. Additional undescribed pseudocoecid species in the state are a practical certainty and subsequent collections, particularly of those forms occurring underground, will no doubt reveal many of the additional species which will have to be dealt with later on. However, it seems advisable to bring together all of the available information accumulated thus far and to publish this as a contribution to the knowledge of the Pseudococcidae. Later on, these data will be incorporated in a systematic exposition on “California Species of Mealybugs” to appear as a companion piece to the author’s recent publication (1956), The Armored Scale Insects of California. It is also the objective of this study to recast the key to genera of North American Pseudococcidae, as well as to prepare keys to the North American species. This has become necessary because certain new California mealybug genera exhibit morphological characters not provided for in existing keys