M. P. Mier Durante

A New Genus and Species of Asteraceae-Inhabiting Aphid (Hemiptera: Aphididae) from Costa Rica and Mexico

ABSTRACT Ucrimyzus villalobosi Mier Durante & Pérez Hidalgo gen. n., sp. n. (Hemiptera: Aphididae: Macrosiphini) are described from apterous and alate viviparous females collected on species of genera Bidens, Schkuhria, Senecio and Stevia (Asteraceae: Asteroideae) in Costa Rica and Mexico. Principal components analysis (PCA) was done to verify that the studied aphids belong to a single species regardless of their geographical origin or host plant. Molecular analyses were carried out on the sequences of a fragment of the mitochondrial gene encoding for cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (COI) and of a fragment of the nuclear gene encoding elongation factor 1&agr; (EF1&agr;). The taxonomic discussion takes into account the conclusions of the molecular analyses and the morphologic study compared with other genera of Macrosiphini. The identification keys by Blackman & Eastop (2006) to aphids living on each mentioned plant genus are modified to include the new species.

The South American Species of Aphis (Hemiptera: Aphididae: Aphidina) Living on Rhamnaceae And Loranthaceae, with Description of A New Species

Abstract Aphids belonging to the genus Aphis collected on species of Discaria, Condalia, Colletia, and Trevoa (Rhamnaceae), and on Tristerix sp. (Loranthaceae) parasitic on Colletia spinosissima, in Argentina and Chile were studied. Apterous parthenogenetic females (fundatrigeniae and fundatrices), viviparous alatae females, oviparous females, and males of Aphis conflicta, n. sp., are described. A key to Aphidini species that could be found on Rhamnaceae in South America is given.

Colopha hispanica sp.n. (Homoptera: Aphidoidea: Pemphigidae): an unusual endophytic aphid living inside the stems of Scirpus holoschoenus (Cyperaceae)

Abstract. A new aphid species of the genus Colopha (Pemphigidae: Eriosomatinae), Colopha hispanica is described from Spain. The apterae differ from those of other species of Colopha in the shortness of their antennae and legs, in the greater number of their wax glands and in the underdevelopment of the setal socket on the forelegs. These aphids live inside the stems of Scirpus holoschoenus (Cyperaceae); this is the first record of a truly endophytic aphid. The adults are immobile. C. hispanica is compared with the other known species of Colopha, with Kaltenbachiella pallida, a similar species also found in Spain and with Gharesia polunini, a primitive species of Eriosomatinae. The distribution and host plants of Colopha species are reviewed and discussed.