Dactylopius sp. attended by ants (Crematogaster sp.) Photograph courtesy of Hamish Robertson, South African Museum

The Cochineal Insects (Hemiptera: Coccoidea: Dactylopiidae) of South Africa Compiled by Ian Millar Biosystematics Division, Plant Protection Research Institute, Agricultural Research Council, P. Bag X134, Pretoria, 0001 South Africa

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Family: DACTYLOPIIDAE

Six species of Dactylopiidae occur in South Africa (De Lotto, 1974; Perez Guerra & Kosztarab, 1992).

1. Genus: Dactylopius
   1. D. austrinus De Lotto, 1974
   2. D. ceylonicus (Green, 1896)
   3. D. coccus Costa, 1835
   4. D. confusus (Cockerell, 1893)
   5. D. opuntiae (Cockerell, 1896)
   6. D. tomentosus (Lamarck, 1801)

REFERENCES

DE LOTTO, G. 1974.

On the status and identity of the cochineal insects (Homoptera: Coccoidea: Dactylopiidae). Journal of the Entomological Society of Southern Africa 37: 167-193.

PEREZ GUERRA, G. & KOSZTARAB, M. 1992.

Biosystematics of the family Dactylopiidae (Homoptera: Coccinea) with emphasis on the life cycle of Dactylopius coccus Costa. Bulletin of the Virginia Agricultural Experiment Station 92: 1-87.