Taxonomy and Biology of Pauropsylla buxtoni comb. nov. (Hemiptera: Psylloidea) on Ficus carica (Moraceae)

Abstract

A detailed morphological study of adult and immature Trioza buxtoni Laing, 1924 (Hemiptera: Psylloidea: Triozidae) shows that the species belongs to the tropical and subtropical genus Pauropsylla Rübsaamen, 1899 to which it is transferred. The adult of Pauropsylla buxtoni (Laing, 1924) comb. nov. is redescribed and the previously unknown immatures are described. Illustrations are provided for both adults and immatures. Immatures of P. buxtoni infest leaves of Ficus carica and induce conspicuous galls. The species is a pest on cultivated figs in the Palestinian Territories. Four successive phases in the formation and development of the galls can be recognised in which the five immature instars of P. buxtoni develop. The gall size increased significantly when the instar length increased and there were significant differences in the susceptibility of fig cultivars to psyllid infestation. The life cycle of P. buxtoni is univoltine with no significant differences between cultivars.