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

Abstract does not appear. First page follows.

Introduction

Several undescribed species of California mealybugs have been discovered since the author published his Taxonomic Study of California Mealybugs, with Descriptions of New Species.3 Some of these new forms have been found after an examination of countless slide preparations represented in several Coccoidea collections, while others have been collected in the field by various county, state, and university personnel. Recently, some interesting mealybug recoveries have been made from soil samples processed in Berlese traps. As a matter of fact, of the 13 pseudococcid species herein described as new, 4 were taken from this type of trap. Adaptation of this procedure for collecting mealybugs has provided a new way to gather information about the mealybug fauna of California. It is contemplated that in the future more emphasis will be placed on this method of collecting.

The purpose of the present study is to describe and illustrate new California species of mealybugs, and to comment, if necessary, on the taxonomic status of other named forms occurring in the state. Ultimately the descriptions presented in the first study mentioned above, and the new information herein presented, will be assembled in a systematic dissertation on California species of mealybugs. The number of new species for California described by the two studies now totals 41.

Since a key to genera of North American Pseudococcidae was presented in the first publication of this series, a revision of this appears to be unnecessary at present. However, the keys to certain North American genera are amended to include the new forms herein described. No doubt these keys will again need modification when the final publication appears.