Cox, J.M., British Museum (Natural History), Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD, United Kingdom
Ben-Dov, Y., Department of Entomology, Agricultural Research Organization, Bet-Dagan, 50 250, Israel

A key is provided to distinguish the three species of Planococcus occurring in the Mediterranean Basin, P. citri (Risso), P. ficus (Signoret) and P. vovae (Nasonov), and their nomenclatural histories are reviewed. Notes on economic importance, host preferences, distribution and taxonomy are given for each species. Pseudococcus citrioides Ferris is synonymized with Planococcus ficus (Signoret), Pseudococcus lindingeri Bodenheimer is transferred to Planococcoides, Pseudococcus inamabilis Hambleton is synonymized with Planococcus vovae, and Allococcus Ezzat & McConnell is regarded as a subjective junior synonym of Planococcus Ferris. A new genus, Delottococcus, is erected to contain a group of species previously placed in Allococcus. © 1986, Cambridge University Press. All rights reserved.