Trophobiosis between a new species of (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) and new (Hemiptera, Xenococcidae) from Peru, and establishment of the species-group.

We describe a new pair of trophobiotic partners from the ant genus and the root mealybug genus . A recent field study on ants and associated root mealybugs, conducted in the Peruvian Amazon, led to the discovery of LaPolla & Schneider, and its root mealybug symbiont Schneider & LaPolla, The new root mealybug belongs to the family Xenococcidae, whose members are all obligate associates of ants. Providing joint descriptions of new mutualist partners in the same article is a novel approach for this system, and it offers benefits to the ongoing study of mutualism and patterns of association among these symbiotic ants and scales.

A Neotropical complex of species (Hemiptera, Coccomorpha, Rhizoecidae) collected from the nests of ants (Hymenoptera, Formicidae).

We describe five new Neotropical species of living in association with ants: , , , , and We also redescribe and based on type specimens and other collections. Together, these seven species form a morphologically similar group that we informally refer to as the -complex of . All members of the -complex are confirmed or are speculated to be mutualists of ants.