Semple, T.L., Gullan, P.J., Hodgson, C.J., Hardy, N.B., & Cook, L.G. 2015 Systematic review of the Australian ‘bush coconut’ genus Cystococcus (Hemiptera: Eriococcidae) uncovers a new species from Queensland. Invertebrate Systematics 29: 287–312

Keywords:

  • biology
  • description
  • description of male
  • diagnosis
  • distribution
  • host
  • illustration
  • morphology
  • structure
  • taxonomy
  • Notes: Cystococcus Fuller (Hemiptera : Sternorrhyncha : Coccoidea : Eriococcidae) currently comprises two species, both of which induce galls exclusively on bloodwoods (Myrtaceae: Corymbia Hill & Johnson). These insects display sexual dichronism, whereby females give birth first to sons and then to daughters. Wingless first-instar females cling to their winged adult brothers and are carried out of the maternal gall when the males fly to find mates – a behaviour called intersexual phoresy. Here, we use data from two gene regions, as well as morphology and host-use of the insects, to assess the status of a previously undescribed species. We describe this newly recognized species as Cystococcus campanidorsalis, sp. nov. Semple, Cook & Hodgson, redescribe the two existing species – C. echiniformis Fuller and C. pomiformis (Froggatt), designate a lectotype for C. echiniformis, and provide the first descriptions of adult males, and nymphal males and females for the genus.