Coccus hesperidum Linnaeus

Coccus hesperidum Linnaeus (Fig. 18, Plate 2B, distribution map Fig. 89I) Coccus hesperidum Linnaeus, 1758: 455. Field characteristics: Live adult female elongate oval to broadly oval, either flat or slightly convex; generally pale green to brown mature specimens with darker brown patches and speckles, particularly across body at widest part; also with a small white wax patch at each spiracular cleft. Stigmatic clefts small but distinct. Microscopic diagnosis: Body of slide-mounted adult female elongate oval to oval, with distinct stigmatic clefts. Anal cleft of moderate depth. Dorsum. Derm membranous in young females, old females with a few small, pale areolations. Setae each with parallel sides, more-or-less bluntly pointed, scattered throughout. Pores of 2 types: (i) indistinct circular flat pores, possibly with a finely granulate surface, present throughout; and (ii) areolations (not shown in illustration), each containing a minute microduct, present throughout. Preopercular pores slightly larger than type (i) simple pores, present in a scattered group anterior to anal plates and extending forwards to first abdominal segment. Tubular ducts, each with a long thin outer ductule with small terminal gland, sometimes very sparsely present submarginally. Duct tubercles present submarginally. Anal plates together quadrate, each with 4 subterminal or terminal setae. Anal ring with 6 setae. Margin. Marginal setae each typically with flattened, fimbriate apex, but some apices can appear pointed (depending on their orientation); with 8‒14 setae present on each side between anterior and posterior stigmatic clefts. Stigmatic clefts developed, rather shallow, each containing 3 (rarely 4) stigmatic setae, each median seta longest, generally slightly curved, with a blunt apex. Venter. Derm entirely membranous. Pregenital disc-pores usually each with 10 loculi, present in a sparse group around anogenital fold and mediolaterally on preceding 1 or 2 segments. Spiracular disc-pores each with 5 loculi, present in narrow band between each spiracle and margin. Ventral tubular ducts of 1 type, each with a well-developed terminal gland, present in a distinct pattern: with a small group just mesad to each procoxa, a larger group mesad to each mesocoxa and usually extending into median area of mesothorax, and a few present laterally between meso- and metacoxa. Three pregenital segments each with a pair of long setae; also with a pair of long setae and 1 or 2 pairs of short setae between antennal bases, and with smaller setae present rather sparsely throughout. Antennae each with 7 segments. Legs well developed, each with a distinct tibio-tarsal articulatory sclerosis; each claw without a denticle; claw digitules both broad; tarsal digitules longer than claw digitules. Distribution: Coccus hesperidum is a cosmopolitan species; in Iran, it is found in Elborz, Esfahan, Fars, Gilan, Golestan, Khouzestan, Markazi, and Mazandaran, Sistan & Balouchestan, Tehran, Yazd provinces (Moghaddam 2017). Host-plants: The scale is highly polyphagous; in Iran, it has been found on Nerium oleander (Apocynaceae); Ilex sp. (Aquifoliaceae); Yucca baccata (Asparagaceae); Gynura aurantiaca (Asteraceae); Diospyros kaki (Ebenaceae); Alhagi camelorum, Cercis siliquastrum and Robinia pseud-acacia (Fabaceae); Castanea sativa (Fagaceae); Saintpaulia shumensis (Geshneriaceae); Laurus nobilis (Lauraceae); Lycopodium clavatum (Lycopodiaceae); Punica granatum (Lythraceae); Ficus benjamina, F. carica and Morus alba (Moraceae); Cyclamen sp. (Myrsinaceae); Mirabilis jalapa (Nyctaginaceae); Peperomia magnoliifolia (Piperaceae); Armeniaca vulgaris (Rosaceae); Citrus spp. including C. aurantium (Rutaceae); Acer circinatum (Sapindaceae), and Ulmus campestris (Ulmaceae) (Moghaddam 2013). Economic importance: Coccus hesperidum is an agricultural pest in Iran, particularly on commercial greenhouse crops. Natural enemies: In Iran, a large number of parasitoid wasps (Hymenoptera) attack C. hesperidum, including Coccophagus lycimnia (Walker) (Aphelinidae); and Blastothrix sericea (Dalman), Encyrtus aurantii (Geoffroy), E. lecaniorum Mayr, Metaphycus angustifrons Compere, M. claviger (Timberlake), Microterys ericeri Ishii, M. hortulanus Erdös, and M. nietneri (Motschulsky) (Encyrtidae) (Davoodi et al. 2002, 2003, 2004; Lotfalizadeh 2010).