LaPolla, J.S., & Schneider, S.A. 2023 Trophobiosis between a new species of Acropyga (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) and new Neochavesia (Hemiptera, Xenococcidae) from Peru, and establishment of the Acropyga smithii species-group. ZooKeys 1154: 1–16

Keywords:

  • ant association
  • description
  • diagnosis
  • distribution
  • host
  • taxonomy
  • Notes: This paper describes a new pair of trophobiotic partners from the ant genus Acropyga and the root mealybug genus Neochavesia. The new root mealybug belongs to the family Xenococcidae, whose members are all obligate associates of Acropyga ants. Here, the paper also begins to revise the species-group composition of Acropyga by establishing the smithii species-group, and we provide updated information to aid in identifying the new ant species and root mealybug species.