Vahedi, H.A. 2002 A revision of the genus Porphyrophora (Hemiptera: Coccoidea: Margarodidae) with particular reference to the Middle East and with a discussion on the relationships of the hypogaeic Margarodids.. Dept of Agricultural Sci., Imperial College at Wye Wye, Ashford, Kent, UK 358

Keywords:

  • taxonomy
  • Notes: [Thesis.] The adult females of thirty species of Porphyrophora from Egypt, France, Iran, Kazakhstan, Poland, Russia, Spain, Uzbekistan and Turkey were studied and illustrated in detail. Of these, 15 were re-described, a further 5 could not be identified to species and may be new.; and one species (P. cynodontis) was considered to be a synonym of P. hamelii. In addition, the third instar male of P. crithmi is described. A representative species of the other hypogaeic margarodid genera were also studied and compared with Porphyrophora. From this study, it is concluded that Sphaeraspis and Promargarodes should be considered synonyms of Margarodes. The importance of various characters was reconsidered and some new ones found. In addition a phylogenetic analysis was undertaken to look at the relationships of (i) the 30 Porphyrophora species, and (ii) Porphyrophora with the other hypogaeic genera and three outgroups. It is considered that both the hypogaeic margarodids and the genus Porphyrophora form monophyletic groups. These relationships are discussed.