| Beesoniidae | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Gall of a Beesoniidae | |
Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hemiptera |
| Suborder: | Sternorrhyncha |
| Infraorder: | Coccomorpha |
| Superfamily: | Coccoidea |
| Family: | Beesoniidae Ferris, 1950[1] |
| Genera | |
See text | |
Beesoniidae is a family ofscale insects commonly known asbeesoniids. They typically causegalls on their planthosts. Members of this family mostly come from southern Asia.[2] The family name comes from the type genusBeesonia which is named after the entomologistC.F.C. Beeson who obtained the specimens from which they were described and named.[3]
In the Old World, this members of this family are found on oaks in the genusQuercus and trees in the generaShorea andDipterocarpus in the familyDipterocarpaceae. The New World species targetpalms (Arecaceae).[2]
The AustralianBeesonia ferrugineus forms galls on branches ofMelaleuca (Myrtaceae). However, the genus and family placement ofB. ferrugineus has been questioned.[4]
Most scales in this family have four femaleinstars and five male instars. Members of the genusGallacoccus have only three female instars however.[2]
The females form galls which are often quite ornate. In some species the first instars seem to act as soldiers and attempt to guard the gall. Males appear to develop inside the female galls, and adult males may carry the first-instar females to new host plants (phoresis).[2]
