A new species of Eriopeltis Signoret (Homoptera: Coccidae) from Britain

Abstract. Eriopeltis varleyi from Wytham in Britain is described as new. The adult female and male are described and all stages are illustrated. Keys are provided for the identification of all known species of Eriopeltis, and to the males of the three species known from Britain. E. varleyi is univoltine and apparently specific to Brachypodiumpinnatum (L.) Beauv. Males and females occur in equal proportions, but many more males were produced when populations were reared under very warm dry conditions in the laboratory. The population studied at Wytham was parasitized by a number of species of chalcid wasps and a chamaemyid fly egg predator.