Moir, M.L. 2020 Coextinction of Pseudococcus markharveyi (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae): a case study in the modern insect extinction crisis. Austral Entomology doi: 10.1111/aen.12506
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Notes: Here, Moir outlines the likely extinction of an Australian mealybug, Pseudococcus markharveyi Gullan 2013, which was discovered and described less than 15 years ago but was highlighted recently as one of five most threatened invertebrates in Australia from recent bushfires. The synergistic threats of dieback disease (Phytophthora cinnamomi Rands 1922) and inappropriate fire regime as a consequence of climate change have decimated host plant populations of the critically endangered Banksia montana (George 1996) Mast & Thiele 2007 and the montane habitat of both organisms, thereby leading to the coextinction of the mealybug. She also discusses the diversity of Australian mealybugs more generally and their need for conservation.
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