Family COCCIDAE

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Introduction

The Coccidae comprises over 1,100 species in 163 genera worldwide. The described Australian fauna comprises 82 species in 25 genera. Most of the described Australian species are endemic and cause little damage. Some introduced species, however, cause serious loss to crops: Coccus hesperidium, Parasaissetia nigra and Saisettia coffeae are cosmopolitan pest species of fruit trees; Ceroplastes destructor is of economic importance on citrus and C. rubens on many species of fruit trees; while Pulvinaria elongata occurs on sugar cane (Hely et al. 1982; Williams 1982).

General References

Hely, P.C., Pasfield, G. & Gellatley, J.G. 1982. Insect Pests of Fruit and Vegetables in NSW. Melbourne : Inkata Press 312 pp.

Williams, D.J. 1982. Pulvinaria iceryi (Signoret) (Hemiptera: Coccidae) and its allies on sugar-cane and other grasses. Bulletin of Entomological Research 72: 111-117

Williams, D.J. 1991. Superfamily Coccoidea. pp. 457–464 in, Chapter 30. Hemiptera (Bugs, leafhoppers, cicadas, aphids, scale insects etc.). pp. 429-509 in CSIRO (ed.). The Insects of Australia. A textbook for students and research workers. Melbourne : Melbourne University Press Vol. 1 xiii 542 pp.

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