Three new species of lac insect, Kerria Targioni-Tozzetti viz., Kerria manipurensis Ahmad & Ramamurthy sp. nov., Kerria maduraiensis Ahmad & Ramamurthy sp. nov., and Kerria thrissurensis Ahmad & Ramamurthy sp. nov. are described and illustrated. Kerria yunnanensis Ou & Hong is illustrated and redescribed, and a key to the known species of Kerria is provided. The usefulness of star pores as a di...

The adult female, 1-instar nymph, 2-instar male and 2-instar female nymphs of a new species of felt scale, Acanthococcus mariannae Pellizzari, are described and illustrated. The new species was collected off Leptospermum scoparium (Myrtaceae) in Italy and France. An identification key of Eriococcid species known to occur on Leptospermum spp is also provided.

The first-instar nymph and adult female of Kermes greeni Bodenheimer, 1931 are redescribed and a lectotype is designated. Kermes palestiniensis Balachowsky, 1953 is synonymized with K. greeni. This synonymy is based on a study of the type material of K. greeni and K. palestiniensis, as well as on fresh, topotypic material collected from Quercus calliprinos Webb in Israel.

Increasing international trade and tourism have led to an increase in the introduction of exotic pests that pose a considerable economic threat to the agro-ecosystems of importing countries. Scale insects (Sternorryncha: Coccoidea) may be contaminants of export consignments from the South African deciduous fruit industry to the European Union, Israel, United Kingdom and the United States, for e...

Ants and bees (Hymenoptera) are frequently associated with scale insects (Hemiptera: Coccoidea) and other Sternorrhyncha in a mutualistic relationship. Associations with ants are best known, and they tend to clean, protect and even transport these insects in exchange for honeydew (Way, 1963). Studies between coccoids and bees are less common, although in some regions of Europe the associations ...