Porcelli, F. 2002 On the term describing the post-embryonic development of Diaspididae female (Sternorrhyncha Coccoidea).. Bollettino di Zoologia Agraria e di Bachicoltura (Milano) 33(2001-3): 189-195.
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Notes: [Special Issue: Proceedings of the ISSIS IX International Symposium on Scale Insect Studies held at The University of Padua, Italy, Sept. 2-8, 2001.] The term catametabolism is reintroduced and redefined to describe the postembryonic development of diaspidid females. The three-stage scheme has been considered, until now, erroneously as neoteny. This stresses the striking difference between catametabolism and neoteny as from the literature and from observation. Catametabolism is defined as a postembryonic developmental scheme showing an early specialization through a morphological simplification; life cycle shortening is considered part of the catametabolic process. The occurrence of catametabolism in all the known species of Diaspididae suggests that this term should be reported in the diagnosis of this taxon. The occurrence of neoteny and catametabolism in other Families of the Coccoidea is suggested.
