Carulaspis silvestrii Lupo (Hemiptera, Coccomorpha, Diaspididae): redescription and neotype designation, with a key to Carulaspis MacGillivray species

The insect genus Carulaspis MacGillivray, associated with Pinidae and Magnoliidae, includes six species: C. juniperi, C. minima, C. visci, C. atlantica, C. taxicola and C. silvestrii. The first description of C. silvestrii lacks key morphological features that are of paramount importance for species identification. Carulaspis silvestrii type specimens also remain undiscovered, suggesting a potential loss of taxon information. This study provides a detailed redescription of C. silvestrii, including drawings, SEM images and neotype designation for taxonomic stability. For the first time, molecular characterization of C. silvestrii was made using a partial 28S ribosomal gene. In addition, a morphological key for distinguishing species of Carulaspis is provided to aid the scientific community in taxonomic and identification endeavors.