Jansen, M., & Westenberg, M. 2015 Morphological and molecular studies of a new species of the root mealybug genus Ripersiella Tinsley (Hemiptera: Coccoidea: Rhizoecidae) from greenhouses in The Netherlands and a first incursion of the American root mealybug Rhizoecus keysensis Hambleton in Europe. Tijdschrift voor Entomologie 158: 1–19
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Notes: Ripersiella emarai is described from Ficus cyathistipula Warburg, Ficus lyrata Warburg and Dieffenbachia sp. from Dutch greenhouses. The immature stages are described based on microscopic features and a key to the stages is provided for their separation. This species description is actuated by the necessity to distinguish the new species from the root mealybug Ripersiella hibisci (Kawai & Takagi), which is occasionally imported and shares host plants with the new species. An identification key to adults of the Dutch greenhouse species and species intercepted during import inspections based on microscopic morphological characters is given. A key to distinguish the nymphal stages is provided and keys are given to the identification of first, second and third instar nymphs of Ripersiella multiporifera Jansen, R. hibisci (Kawai & Takagi) and R. emarai Jansen. Rhizoecus advenoides Takagi & Kawai, 1971 is found to be a junior synonym of Rh. amorphophalli Betrem, 1940.
