Gyropsylla Brèthes

(Figs 10, 77)

Diagnosis: Head about as wide as mesoscutum; vertex about 1.75 times wider than long; genae not forming processes, but expanded as a lobe-like swelling between antennae and eyes; frons forming elliptical/elongate sclerite, closed below the genae. Clypeus tubular, extended perpendicularly to lower head surface, with shoulderlike constriction medially (Fig. 10, arrow). Antenna longer than head width; both terminal setae truncate, one approximately 3 times the length of the other. Forewing with costal break; pterostigma from short and broad to long and very narrow. Veins R and M+Cu1 subequal, vein M moderately curved; cell cu1 much larger than m1. Hind leg with small meracanthus; area beneath meracanthus forming a rounded swelling (Fig. 39); metafemur apically and metatibia basally with a group of long stout bristles (Fig. 40); metatibia without genual spine, with a dense crown of about 10 apical spurs; metabasitarsus with two apical spurs.

Biology and damage: Immatures feeding on young shoots and leaves on which they induce blister-shaped galls. Immatures are covered in waxy secretions and produce lots of honeydew (Brèthes 1921; Iede & Machado 1989; Leite & Zanol 2001).

Host-plants: Ilex (Aquifoliaceae) (Hodkinson 1989; Burckhardt & Queiroz 2013).

Distribution: Neotropic, Neartic and Oriental regions (Burckhardt & Queiroz 2013).

Examined material: Gyropsylla sp.: Nariño: 15 (female) Pasto, Obonuco, Feb-1985, potato (N. Ruiz), CTNI 59.