ARMOURED SCALE INSECTS (HEMIPTERA: COCCOIDEA: DIASPIDIDAE) NEW TO SICILY: RECORDS AND OBSERVATIONS

Abstract

ARMOURED SCALE INSECTS (HEMIPTERA: COCCOIDEA: DIASPIDIDAE) NEW TO SICILY: RECORDS AND OBSERVATIONS.

The central location of Sicily in the Mediterranean basin makes studies of its fauna particularly interesting. Recent collections from the scrub vegetation on the South-East coast of Sicily and the slopes of Mount Etna have produced four new records of Diaspididae for Sicily: Aonidia ?mediterranea (Lindinger), Ferreroaspis hungarica (Vinis), Mercetaspis isis (Hall) and Chionaspis etrusca Leonardi. The presence of the first three species suggests old faunistic links with other regions, mainly eastern Mediterranean. Our findings are presented here in the hope of stimulating more such research.

Key words: Callitris, Cupressus, Juniperus, Thuja, Tamarix, Acer, Cerasus, Carulaspis silvestrii, C. minima, C. juniperi, ecology, host reaction.