Nidularia balachowskii Bodenheimer

Nidularia balachowskii Bodenheimer (Fig. 68, Plate 4G, distribution map Fig. 91E) Nidularia balachowskii Bodenheimer, 1941: 78–80. Field characters: Pre-reproductive adult female oval, soft and flat; dorsum brownish and venter yellowish-white; dorsal surface covered with 10 longitudinal rows of rectangular wax plates. Post-reproductive adult female oval, moderately convex and sclerotized, each side with 5 longitudinal rows of almost fused dark brown wax plates; with lighter brown wax in between rows of plates. A waxy ovisac is produced. Microscopic diagnosis: Slide-mounted adult female fusiform. Marginal setae spinose. Antennae each with 1 segment, bearing 2–6 fleshy setae. Labium triangular, with 3 segments, apical segment with 4 pairs of setae. Dorsum: Margin with a single row of slender setae; setae absent from rest of dorsum. Microtubular ducts and small, circular simple pores present throughout. Venter: Setae of 2 sizes: longer setae forming a single row across medial area of each abdominal segment, accompanied by spinules; and shorter setae sparsely present on medial areas of thorax and head. Quinquelocular pores numbering 8–11 between each anterior spiracle and submarginal band of tubular ducts, but only 2‒4 laterad to each posterior spiracle; quinquelocular pores also present in a broad band of 10–13 pores medially between posterior spiracles and in a single, complete submarginal band 1 pore wide, totaling about 50–70 pores on each side. Submarginal tubular duct band also containing dispersed bilocular pores, numbering 103–135 per side. Multilocular pores, each with 9 or 10 loculi, forming group of 3 or 4 pores between anterior and posterior spiracles on each side, and present in transverse bands across abdominal segments. Tubular ducts forming complete submarginal band 2 or 3 ducts wide, and sparsely present medially on thorax. Anal ring ventral, composed of 2 sclerotized semicircles, each half bearing 3 spinose setae and 10–12 pores. Distribution: Nidularia balachowskii is known from Israel, Türkiye (Turkey) and Iran (Bodenheimer 1941; Spodek et al. 2014), where it has been recorded from Kermanshah and Lorestan provinces (Moghaddam 2013). Host-plants: The species is oligophagous, having been recorded on Quercus ithaburensis and Quercus spp. (Fagaceae) (Bodenheimer 1941; Spodek et al. 2014). Economic importance: Nidularia balachowskii is of no economic importance in Iran. Natural enemies: None recorded in Iran.