Superfamily Coccoidea Rank Family | Higher classification True bugs | |
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Similar Insect, True bugs, Ortheziidae, Kermesidae, Margarodidae | ||
Eriococcidae is a family of scale insects in the order Hemiptera. They are commonly known as felt scales or eriococcids. Each species is usually specific to a different plant host, or closely related group of hosts.
Recent research using ribosomal DNA has shown that the family Eriococcidae is not a single monophyletic group but is an aggregation of several different groups. Some species that appear morphologically similar seem to be only distantly related while dissimilar species are sometimes more closely related. The type genus Eriococcus has been shown to be polyphyletic.
Morphology
Felt scales are a diverse group of scale insects. They produce a white, yellowish or gray membranous capsule or ovisac that encloses the pyramid-shaped body of the adult female. The body itself varies in colour and may be pink, red or purple, green or brown. The posterior end of the sac has a small opening that allows newly hatched nymphs to emerge. Some species occur under the bark of the host plant and produce little or no ovisac secretion. The bodies of these are often pink or red. Many species produce galls, including Apiomorpha which feeds on various species of eucalypt and has a complex life cycle. It can produce separate male galls that are induced on existing female galls.
Some species are tree pests in North America, including: European elm scale, azalea bark scale, oak eriococcin, crape myrtle bark scale, beech scale
