Metaphycus anneckei and Metaphycus hageni: two discrete species parasitic on black scale, Saissetia oleae

Parasitized black scale, Saissetia oleae, were collected from olives (Olea europaea L.) in Spain and from this material an encyrtid parasitoid was rea red that is taxonomically similar to Metaphycus anneckei Guerrieri and Noye s. Differences were noted between the Spanish Metaphycus nr. sp. anneckei a nd material described as M. anneckei that is resident to California. Althou gh dissimilar in few morphological characters, the ovipositor length and sh ape of the male genitalia and the antennal club of both sexes can be used t o discriminate between M. anneckei resident to California and the Spanish m aterial, which was subsequently named Metaphycus hageni Daane and Caltagiro ne. To determine if morphological differences correspond to biological diff erences, reproductive and oviposition behaviours of Californian M. anneckei and Spanish M. hageni were studied. Mating was not observed between indivi duals of the two types and only male progeny were produced in interspecific pairings. Metaphycus anneckei females deposit eggs through the scale's ven tral side and were never observed to host feed, while M. hageni females ovi posit through the scale's dorsum and frequently host fed. The collective bi ological evidence agrees with morphological evidence, indicating that M. an neckei and M. hageni are discrete species. Specimens from recent collection s in California and Spain were compared with specimens from earlier collect ions (1910s to 1980s) in Australia, California, Greece, Hawaii, Italy, Isra el, Mexico, and South Africa. With the exception of Greek and Spanish mater ial, all specimens examined were M. anneckei. We discuss the significance o f this new information with respect to biological control and provide a key to separate these and other closely related black scale parasitoids.