Scutellista Motschulsky, 1859

Uan, H Ui Xiao D A-Wei H, 2001, A review of Eunotinae (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea: Pteromalidae) from China, Journal of Natural History 35, pp. 1587-1605 : 1603

Scutellista Motschulsky, 1859

Scutellista M otschulsky, 1859: 172–173. Type-species: S. cyanea M otschulsky, by monotypy. Aspidocoris Costa, 1863: 25 . Type-species: A. cyaneus Costa, by monotypy. Synonymized by

Schmiedeknecht, 1909: 305. Enargopelte Förster, 1878: 42–82 . Type-species: E. Obscura Förster, by monotypy.

Synonymized by BoucÏek, 1965: 35. Scutellista M otschulsky, Schmiedeknecht, 1909: 305. G raham, 1969: 75. BoucÏek, 1988: 351. Eugastropelte Masi, 1931: 452–454 . Type-species: Scutellista gigantea Berlese ; by original

designation. Synonymized by BoucÏek, 1988: 351.

Generic characters. Face with densely piliferous punctures except clypus shiny; antennal insertion above clypeal margin; clypeal margin truncate; thorax with dense microsculpture; scutellum enlarged and expanded as a at roof over at least a part of gaster; metapleuron shiny between transverse carinae; fore wing mostly with brown setose; rst gastral tergite largest.

This genus is closest to Cephaleta Motschulsky. The diOEerences are the more expanded scutellum and dense microsculpture on the thorax.

Biology. Hosts have been reported in the following coccid families: Asterolecaniidae ( Asterolecanium , Cerococcus ), Coccidae ( Ceroplastes , Ceroplastodes Parasaissetia , Pulvinaria , Saissetia ) and Pseudococcidae (Ferrisia) .

There are eight species recorded in the world. This genus is distributed in every region except Neotropical region.