Systematic studies of the genus Coccobius (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae), parasitoids of hard scales

The genus Coccobius is a group of enigmatic chalcidoid wasps that are mostly parasitoids of armored scales though a few species are known to attack other hemipteran families. The genus currently includes 86 described species. Coccobius species have been used as biological control agents against armored scale pests, most notably the arrowhead scale, Unaspis yanonensis, a significant pest of citrus in Japan. Despite the economic importance of the group, Coccobius is in need of additional taxonomic work. Most treatments of the group have been regional, and there is currently no key to the world species. Also, there have been no attempts thus far to treat the group within a molecular phylogenetic context, leaving open the possibility of cryptic species complexes. The lack of global and phylogenetic context in previous taxonomic work has resulted in a great deal of uncertainty regarding the extent of intraspecific variation, and a need to revise the group on a world basis. We present a preliminary molecular phylogeny indicating strongly supported Australian and Nearctic clades, and a possible cryptic species complex within C. varicornis. We also demonstrate some of the morphological character systems being used to distinguish species.