Molecular data and species diagnosis in Essigella Del Guercio, 1909 (Sternorrhyncha, Aphididae, Lachninae)

Abstract

Morphological and molecular data are used to describe three new species of Essigella (Sternorrhyncha: Aphididae: Lachninae): Essigella domenechi sp. n., Essigella gagnonae sp. n., and Essigella sorenseni sp. n.; and to re-establish as valid Essigella patchae Hottes, 1957, stat. n., until now considered a synonym of E. pini Wilson, 1919. The catalogue of Essigella species is updated. This study highlights the need and utility to use discreet DNA characters in aphid species diagnoses.