NIPAECOCCUS NIPAE (MASKELL) AND TWO APPARENTLY UNDESCRIBED SIBLING SPECIES (HEMIPTERA: COCCOIDEA: PSEUDOCOCCIDAE)

Abstract

NIPAECOCCUS NIPAE (MASKELL) AND TWO APPARENTLY UNDESCRIBED SIBLING SPECIES (HEMIPTERA: COCCOIDEA: PSEUDOCOCCIDAE)

This paper argues that there are at least two species belonging to the Nipaecoccus nipae- species complex in Hawaii, one with white wax and the other with buff wax. These two species differ in a number of features but perhaps the most important is that the encyrtid parasitoid Pseudaphycus utilis Timberlake is only known to parasitise the white-wax species. A brief history of the two species (and another in Florida) is outlined, followed by a discussion of the morphological reasons for believing them separate. The problems of nomenclature are then outlined and it is concluded that the buff-wax species is Nipaecoccus nipae (Maskell) and that Nipaecoccus pseudonipae (Cockerell) is a synonym. The two other species (i.e. the white-wax species from Hawaii and the species from Florida) are then described as Nipaecoccus paranipae n.sp. and Nipaecoccus floridensis n.sp. respectively.

Key words: coconut mealybug, neotropics, palms, Pritchardia, guava, Psidium, bisexual, morphology, nomenclature, types, key, Mexico.