OF l'SEUDOCOCCIDAE & ERIOCOCCIDAE 69 



(b) Planococcus, Pseudococcus, Saccharicoccus and Octococcus groups seem to be 

 closely related ; they exhibit the generalized typical pseudococcid condition and 

 share a comparatively large number of characters (31-44). 



(c) The Ceroputo group is the closest relative to Nairobia, and vice versa ; the 

 two groups have the largest number of exclusive conditions (8), and share 34 

 characters, which is more than each of them shares with any other group. 



These relationships, and taking into consideration the available published 

 information, probably indicate that there are four major sections of Pseudococcidae : 



I. The Rhizoecus section which represents the most specialized extreme. 



II. The Ceroputo + Nairobia section which is less specialized. 



III. The Planococcus, Pseudococcus, Saccharicoccus and Octococcus section, which 



includes closely related and rather primitive groups. 



IV. The Puto section, which appears to represent the most primitive extreme 



of all. 



It is difficult to ascribe any definite taxonomic status to these sections, but they 

 may possibly deserve subfamily ranks, with further subdivision into tribes and 

 subtribes based on the groups of genera suggested here. However, further investiga- 

 tions of more widely representative material is required before more accurate 

 conclusions could be made. 



b. Genera 



In table V, 73 characters are listed, separating the genera in at least one of the 

 three groups in which more than one genus was available. When a character can 

 be used taxonomically within a particular group, it is marked " G " in the table ; 

 if it holds at the specific level only or at both generic and specific levels, the marks 

 " S " or " GS " respectively are given ; the mark " — " indicates that the character 

 does not apply at all within the group. 



Table V 

 List of characters separating genera 



Characters 



1. Presence and position of fleshy setae on body. 



HEAD : 



2. Nature of ventral preocular depression. 



3. Nature of dorsal arm of midcranial ridge. 



4. Degree of posterior development of dorsal arm. 



5. Nature of the lateral arms of the midcranial ridge. 



6. Nature of the postoccipital ridge. — 



7. Condition of the postoccipital ridge anteriorly. GS 



Plano- 



Pseudo- 



Ceroputo 



coccus 



coccus 



group 



group 



group 





GS 



— 



G 



GS 







. 



G 



— 



G 



G 



G 



G 



G 











