A study of the mealybug genus Planococcus Ferris, 1950 from China, with description of a new species (Hemiptera, Coccomorpha, Pseudococcidae)

A study of the mealybug genus Planococcus Ferris, 1950 (Hemiptera, Coccomorpha, Pseudococcidae) known from China is presented and 12 species are recognised. Of these, Planococcus camelliae Zhang, sp. nov. is described as new to science based on the morphology of the adult female, and P. bambusifolii (Takahashi, 1951) is recorded from China for the first time. Molecular analyses based on the mitochondrial gene cyto chrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) of the new species and a key to species of the genus Planococcus in China are also given.

Automated summary

This study presents a research on the mealybug genus Planococcus known from China, recognizing 12 species. A new species, Planococcus camelliae Zhang, sp. nov., is described based on the morphology of the adult female, while the presence of P. bambusifolii (Takahashi, 1951) in China is recorded for the first time. Molecular analyses using the mitochondrial gene cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) are provided, along with a key to identify species of the genus Planococcus in China.