Anophococcus insignis

Anophococcus insignis (Newstead) (Fig. 53, distribution map Fig. 88I) Eriococcus insignis Newstead, 1891: 164–165. Eriococcus saratogensis Rau, 1938: 157–159. Anophococcus insignis (Newstead); Nast et al. 1990: 120. Field characteristics: Body of live adult female elongate oval, with sides often subparallel; found on leaves of host; ovisac oval or elongate, tough, white or cream-coloured. Microscopic diagnosis: Slide-mounted body of adult female elongate oval. Antennae each with 7 segments. Frontal lobe well developed. Legs well developed, each hind coxa with a few large translucent pores, sometimes a few present on femur also; claw with a denticle. Anal lobes conical, pointed, each lobe with apical seta on dorsum, plus 1 outer and 2 inner enlarged setae. Anal ring dorsal, bearing 8 setae. Cauda present (not illustrated). Dorsum. Margin with enlarged conical setae conspicuously larger than other dorsal setae, each with blunt apex, numbering up to 5 on each side of each abdominal segment. Abdominal segment VII with 4 marginal setae on each side. Macrotubular ducts scattered throughout. Microtubular ducts scattered. Venter with normal slender setae in median areas, a few enlarged setae on head margin, and stiff setae in a marginal zone from head to anterior abdominal segments. Basal labial segment with 2 pairs of short setae. Disc-pores each with 7 or more loculi in a single ring, numerous, present across posterior abdominal segments and scattered in medial area of thorax. Macrotubular ducts of 2 sizes: (i) larger ducts same as dorsal ducts, present on margins only; and (ii) narrower ducts present in median areas as far forward as head margins. Microtubular ducts present on margin. Cruciform pores present mainly in a submedian zone from head to about abdominal segment V. Distribution: Anophococcus insignis is a Palaearctic species but has been accidentally introduced to the Nearctic and is now known from 22 countries (García Morales et al. 2016); in Iran, it has been collected from Kermanshah province (Shirazi et al. 2013). Host-plants: The scale is polyphagous, having been recorded on host-plants belonging to 45 genera in 16 families (García Morales et al. 2016). In Iran, it was found on Cynodon dactylon (Poaceae) (Shirazi et al. 2013). Economic importance: Not known as a pest in Iran. Natural enemies: None recorded in Iran.