OF PSEUDOCOCCIDAE & ERIOCOCCIDA E 57 



and some groups of Pseudococcidae (Saccharicoccus, Ceroputo and Nairobia). The 

 incomplete development of the marginal ridge of the basisternum eliminates 

 Saccharicoccus group. 



Metathorax 



The absence of the suspensorial sclerites is accompanied by the absence of the 

 hamulohalterae, and separates the genus Ovaticoccus. The absence of the meta- 

 postnotal ridge is an important feature of all Eriococcidae and also the Nairobia 

 group of genera of Pseudococcidae. 



The number and distribution of the thoracic setae and pores provide useful 

 characters at the generic and the specific levels. 



The legs 



The legs, like the antennae, afford several characters operating at all levels. 

 The two families can be separated by different conditions of the following structures : 

 (A) the proportion between the basal and the distal parts of the trochanter ; (B) 

 the shape of the claw ; and (C) the nature of the ungual digitules. The relative 

 length of legs separates groups of genera ; e.g. the Saccharicoccus group has com- 

 paratively short legs (the hind pair being shorter than half the length of the body). 

 The absence of the tarsal digitules separates groups of genera (Ceroputo and 

 Nairobia). The following characters were also found taxonomically important at 

 the generic and specific levels : the presence of a long apical seta on the trochanter ; 

 the ratio of width to length of the hind femora ; the ratio of the length of the femur 

 to the length of the tibia in the fore leg. 



The abdomen 



The complete absence of the ostioles is characteristic of Eriococcidae, but among 

 Pseudococcidae the degree of their development, or their absence separates groups 

 of genera, genera and species. The number and nature of certain abdominal setae 

 separates the different categories : the presence of a long dorsal seta on each side 

 of segment VIII excludes Eriococcidae, and the entire absence of the dorsal setae 

 on this segment characterizes the Nairobia group. The nature of the pleural setae 

 of segment VIII, the number and distribution of the abdominal pores (within the 

 Pseudococcidae) separates groups of genera, genera and species. Narrow areas of 

 heavy sclerotization of abdominal segment VIII separate some species of Erio- 

 coccidae (E. orariensis and E. buxi). 



The presence of two pairs of glandular pouches is a conspicuous character separating 

 the Ceroputo group of genera. The number and relative length of the tail-forming 

 setae of the glandular pouch operates at the levels of family and groups of genera. 



The structure of the genital segment is an important character separating the 

 two studied families. The number and size of the dorsal setae of the genital 

 segment also separate families. The following characters and ratios were also 

 found of some taxonomic significance in separating groups of genera, genera and 

 species : the structure of the basal ridge of the penial sheath ; the relative length 



