MORPHOMETRIC ANALYSES OF THE MALES OF QUADRASPIDIOTUS SPECIES (HOM, DIASPIDIDAE) FOUND IN EUROPEAN ORCHARDS OR THEIR VICINITY

Morphological characteristics (antenna, scutellum) of the males of Qua draspidiotus gigas, Q. marani, Q. ostreaeformis, Q. perniciosus, Q. py ri and Q. zonatus were studied and analysed. The length of the scutell um and the width of the third antennal segment proved to be the most d istinct characters for the differentiation of certain species. They al low to identify individual males of Q. gigas and Q. pyri. When large s amples of males are studied, the average and the frequency distributio n of the data are typical and different for most of the species.