Biogeography of theCinara cupressicomplex (Hemiptera: Aphididae) on Cupressaceae, with description of a pest species introduced into Africa

In recent decades, aphids identified asCinara cupressi(Buckton) have seriously damaged commercial and ornamental plantings and native stands ofCupressus,Juniperus,Widdringtoniaand other Cupressaceae in Africa, Italy, Jordan, Yemen, Mauritius and Colombia. Aphids currently identified asCinara cupressiappear to belong to a species complex. This work was undertaken to identify the pest, its likely area of origin and any specific natural enemies, to facilitate a biological control programme. The biogeography of the species complex was studied using morphometric analysis of specimens from all the major regions where they have been collected, and analysis of host-plant ranges, parasitoid records and host association information. The cause of tree damage is shown to be an unnamed species, here described asC. (Cupressobium)cupressivoraWatson & Voegtlinsp. n., which probably originated onCupressus sempervirensin a region from eastern Greece to just south of the Caspian Sea. The remainder of the complex,Cinara cupressisensu lato, apparently consists of three morphologically similar species (C. sabinae(Gillette & Palmer) andC. cupressi(Buckton), probably originating in North America, and an unidentified species). There is insufficient data available to separate these taxa, or to determine the status ofC. canadensisHottes & Bradley, soC. sabinaeandC. canadensisare left in synonymy underC. cupressi(Buckton).Lachniella tujaedel Guercio andL. juniperi signatadel Guercio, thought to be part of theC. cupressicomplex, were found to be junior synonyms ofC. tujafilina(del Guercio); these new synonymies are proposed and lectotypes ofL. tujaeandL. juniperi signataare designated.