Resolving a curly problem: Resurrection of Apiomorpha crispa (Fuller, 1896) reinst. stat. (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha)

Abstract

For about the past 120 years, Apiomorpha crispa (Fuller, 1896) has been considered to be a junior synonym of A. strombylosa (Tepper, 1893). Although some morphological variation among specimens of A. strombylosa has been recognised across its range, geographic separation and different host associations led to coccidologists treating the variation as belonging to two forms rather than there being distinct species. Here, we use allozyme electrophoresis and DNA sequencing of mitochondrial and nuclear genes to test the hypothesis that A. strombylosa, as currently treated, is a single biological species. We find that the ‘eastern’ and ‘western’ forms of A. strombylosa sens. lat. are distinct species with no evidence of recent gene flow despite both forms sometimes being in close geographic proximity. The two species are morphologically distinct and induce galls on different Sections of Eucalyptus L'Herit. We hereby resurrect Brachyscelis (=Apiomorpha) crispa (Fuller, 1896) reinst. stat. from synonymy with Brachyscelis (=Apiomorpha) strombylosa (Tepper, 1893) and provide a revised description of the species.