i 5 4 MORPHOLOGY AND TAXONOMY OF ADULT MALES 



It also occurs, although in a more or less reduced condition, in most specimens of 

 Genus A. One is tempted to suggest that this condition was the forerunner of the 

 situation in the Pseudococcidae where the pre- and postocular ridges are fused, but 

 the fact that both the ERIOPELTIS group and Genus A are comparatively special- 

 ized, though with little affinity between them, makes this seem unlikely. Pre- 

 sumably the ridge evolved independently to support the preocular ridge near the 

 point where it articulates with the antenna, which is exceptionallv long in Eriopeltis 

 and fairly long in Genus A . 



3. Anterior tentorial pits. These structures can be seen in the ERIOPELTIS 

 group and in some members of the EULECANIUM group (e.g. Ericerus and 

 Phyllostroma). They are absent in the Pseudococcidae, where the anterior tentorial 

 arms are fused with each other and with the cranial apophysis. In the Diaspididae 

 the tentorium is absent altogether, but vestigial anterior and posterior tentorial 

 pits remain in some species (Ghauri, 1962). 



4. Lateral pronotal sclerite. A small lateral pronotal sclerite is present in all 

 Coccidae. Homologous structures are found in the Pseudococcidae (Giliomee, 

 1 961) and Diaspididae (Ghauri, 1962). 



5. Post-tergite. The absence of this sclerite in the Coccidae is listed as a special- 

 ized character by Theron (1958). It was observed, however, in all the species 

 studied here, including P. pomeranicnm. It is present in all the other Coccoidea, 

 except Steingelia (Theron 1958). 



6. Metapleural apophyses. Vestigial metapleural apophyses, of the same nature 

 as found in Pseudococcus (Giliomee, 1961), are present. 



7. Basalare. This structure is vestigial or absent in P. pomeranicnm (and the 

 other members of the COCCUS group) and this was accordingly regarded by Theron 

 as a specialized feature of the Coccidae. It was found, however, in all the members 

 of the EULECANIUM. ERIOPELTIS and INGLISIA groups, where the con- 

 dition is very similar to that in the Pseudococcidae (Theron, 1958) and the 

 Diaspididae (Ghauri, 1962). 



8. Metasternal sclerite. A distinct metasternal plate was found in most of the 

 species studied, including P. pomeranicnm. This is a primitive character, present 

 in all the Coccoidea except the Pseudococcidae. The Pseudococcidae, on the other 

 hand, have metasternal apophyses (Giliomee, 1961), which are absent in the 

 Coccidae. 



9. Sclerotization of the abdomen. In P. pomeranicnm and the Pseudococcidae 

 studied by Theron and Giliomee, the abdomen is considerably desclerotized and this 

 is regarded as a specialized condition which the lecanoids share with the diaspidoids 

 (Ghauri, 1962). However, it was found that in some of the genera of the Coccidae, 

 like Luzulaspis, Nemolecanium, Enlecanium, Physokermes and Phyllostroma both 

 tergal and sternal plates (although reduced) were present. This is undoubtedly 

 primitive. 



This study has shown therefore that, as far as the relationship with the margaroid 

 type is concerned, only minor alterations are necessary in the list of characters 

 given by Theron (1958) that separate the lecanoid type from the basic margaroid 



