56 MORPHOLOGY AND TAXONOMY OF ADULT MALES 



istic of one group of Pseudococcidae (Nairobia) and one genus of Eriococcidae 

 (Ovaticoccus). The apically truncate cranial apophysis separates Pseudococcidae 

 and one species of Eriococcidae (E. buxi). The nature of the tentorial bridge is 

 slender in Pseudococcidae and comparatively stout in Eriococcidae. The presence 

 of a mouth tubercle separates the genus Ovaticoccus. 



The head setae provide taxonomically important characters operating on supra- 

 generic, generic and specific levels ; the presence of fleshy setae for example 

 separates Pseudococcus group ; the presence of dorsal ocular setae separates genus 

 Dysmicoccus ; the presence of setae between the ventral eyes excludes E. buxi. 



The number and distribution of the head pores also separates groups of genera, 

 genera and species of Pseudococcidae. 



The antennae afford a number of systematically important characters, at all 

 taxonomic levels from the family down to the species. The shape of the terminal 

 antennal segments separates the two families ; the relative length of the antennae 

 and the individual segments, and the presence and distribution of the different 

 types of setae operates on most intrafamily levels, and the following have been 

 utilized for this purpose : the ratio of the length of antennae to the length of the 

 body and to the length of the hind legs ; the ratio of the length of the 3rd to the 

 terminal segment ; the ratio of width to length of the 3rd and the preterminal 

 segments ; the presence or absence of the fleshy, the hair-like and the apically 

 knobbed sensory setae ; the number of setae on the scape ; the number, nature, 

 relative lengths and position of the antennal bristles of the terminal segments. 



Thorax 



Prothorax 



The absence of ridge-like sclerotization along the margins of the proepisternum 

 separates the family Eriococcidae ; within Pseudococcidae the presence of this 

 sclerotization along both dorsal and ventral margins of the propeisternum separates 

 Ceroputo group of genera. The absence of the prosternal ridge excludes the 

 Saccharicoccus group of genera. 



Mesothorax 



The shape of the prescutum separates groups of genera ; in the Ceroputo and 

 Nairobia groups, the prescutum is triangular in dorsal view. The medio-posterior 

 continuation of the prescutal ridges isolates the Ceroputo group. The shape and 

 structure of the scutellum separates the two families. The following ratios were 

 utilized, for their significance at family and lower levels : length to width of 

 prescutum ; length of prescutum to length of scutum ; length to width of scutellum ; 

 length of scutellum to length of scutum. 



The conditions of the postalare and the mesopleural ridges are important 

 characters separating the two families. The weak development of the basalare 

 separates Eriococcidae and some groups of Pseudococcidae (Octococcus, Ceroputo 

 and Nairobia). The presence of a large lateropleurite also separates Eriococcidae 



