Halimococcidae

Definition

A family of pupillarial scale insects (Hemiptera: Coccoidea) characterized by reduced adult females that retain the second-instar exuviae as a protective pupillarial covering. Species are predominantly associated with palms (Arecaceae) and Pandanus, where they feed on phloem sap.

Etymology

From Halimococcus (type genus) + -idae (family suffix); Halimococcus derives from Greek halimos 'of the sea' (alluding to habitat near coasts where palms grow) + kokkos 'berry/scale insect'.

Example

Halimococcus howardi, a halimococcid infesting coconut palms in the Caribbean, produces dense colonies on leaf undersides that appear as minute, waxy, oyster-shaped pupillaria.

Synonyms

• pupillarial palm scales
• halimococcids

Related Terms

• Coccoidea
• Diaspididae
• pupillarial
• scale insect
• palm pest
• phloem feeder

Usage Notes

Distinguished from armored scales (Diaspididae) by the pupillarial structure formed from the retained exuviae rather than a separately secreted test. The family is small (5 genera, ~21 species) and phylogenetically nested within the 'pupillarial' clade of Coccoidea alongside Beesoniidae and Carayonemidae.