NOTES ON THE MINDARUS SPP (HOMOPTERA, APHIDIDAE) OF NORTH-AMERICA WITH DESCRIPTIONS OF 2 NEW SPECIES

A background of the biology and taxonomy of Mindarus spp. in North America is presented. A previously unused character, wax gland plates on apterous adult female morphs, has been found to be relatively conservative and useful for discriminating between species. An extensive study of specimens from western North America and Europe suggests that M. abietinus Koch, a European aphid to which most specimens have been assigned, may not be present in the western Nearctic. Two species, Mindarus kinseyi, n. sp. living on Abies concolor and M. remaudierei, n. sp. living on Abies religiosa, are described. The distribution of M. victoria Essig is extended to California and Idaho where it lives on A. concolor.