Eriochitonand a new genus of the scale insect family Eriococcidae (Homoptera: Coccoidea)

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Abstract
This paper considers the relationships of the genus Eriochiton, previously placed in the Coccidae. The adult females of E. hispidus and E. spinosus are redescribed, and the crawler and second‐instar males and females are described for the first time. In addition, three new species are described along with their available immature stages. One of these new species is placed in a new genus Neoeriochiton, close to Eriochiton. The morphology of these two genera indicates that they are members of the Eriococcidae belonging to a new tribe, the Eriochitonini, subfamily Eriococcinae. It is considered that they may illustrate the evolutionary events leading to the position and structure of the anal plates in the Coccidae, although the presence of anal plates in the Eriochitonini is thought to be due to parallel evolution. Other points discussed are: the importance of the structure of immature stages in the taxonomy of scale insects, features considered to be diagnostic for the Coccidae and the segmentation of the abdomen. This paper is dedicated to the late Dr Clare Morales, DSIR, New Zealand.