Synonymy of three pestiferous Matsucoccus scale insects (Hemiptera: Coccoidea: Matsucoccidae) based on morphological and molecular evidence

Abstract

The scale insect genus Matsucoccus Cockerell (Coccoidea: Matsucoccidae) contains several economically important species that cause damage to pine trees, Pinus species, in the United States and elsewhere in the Holarctic Region. Efforts to reconstruct the phylogeny of the group have provided information on genetic variation within and among species. Here, three species of Matsucoccus are synonymized based on newly acquired molecular data and reassessment of morphological data. Matsucoccus resinosae Bean and Godwin, described from the eastern United States, and Matsucoccus thunbergianae Miller and Park, from South Korea, are considered to be new synonyms of Xylococcus (now Matsucoccus) matsumurae Kuwana. The taxonomic confusion surrounding these names is discussed. In addition, we suggest that several other species of Matsucoccus, including M. pini Green, should be investigated as possible synonyms of M. matsumurae. Show more