Taxonomic Notes on Pseudococcus elisae Borchsenius, a Mealybug New to the Hawaiian Fauna (Homoptera: Pseudococcidae)

Abstract

The discovery in Hawaii of a Central American banana-infesting mealybug, Pseudococcus elisae Borchsenius, is discussed. The adult female stage is illustrated and morphological characters which are useful in separating this species from the closely related Pseudococcus affinis(Maskdl) (formerly known in Hawaii under its synonym P. obscurus Essig) are enumerated. Host and distribution data for P. elisae are also given.