Neoacanthococcus pamiricus

Neoacanthococcus pamiricus (Bazarov) (Fig. 57, distribution map Fig. 91C) Acanthococcus pamiricus Bazarov, 1968: 73. Eriococcus pamiricus (Bazarov); Tang & Hao 1995: 485‒486. Proteriococcus pamiricus (Bazarov); Kaydan & Kozár 2010: 174. Neoacanthococcus pamiricus (Bazarov); Kozár et al. 2013: 345‒346. Field characteristics: Body of live adult female light green, covered with powdery white wax; ovipositing female fully enclosed in white, oval ovisac. Microscopic diagnosis: Body of slide-mounted adult female oval. Antennae each with 7 segments. Frontal lobes well developed; frontal tubercles absent. Anal lobes developed, each lobe with 3 enlarged setae and 2 or 3 microtubular ducts on dorsal surface. Anal ring oval, medium sized, situated on margin of dorsum, with row of pores, partially double, and bearing 8 setae. Cauda present. Dorsum with marginal setae not strongly differentiated from dorsal setae, forming a marginal band, each hair-like or slightly enlarged, with apex acute or slightly rounded; other dorsal setae more conical and spine-like. Quinquelocular pores absent. Macrotubular ducts scattered throughout, generally in bands around margin and across segments. Microtubular ducts scattered throughout. Venter with flagellate hair-like setae. Labium large; basal segment with 2 unequal pairs of setae. Body submargin with enlarged setae forming 2 or 3 rows. Hind leg with translucent pores on coxa only. Disc-pores each with 3–5 loculi in a single ring, present across all abdominal and thoracic segments and head. Macrotubular ducts of 2 sizes: (i) larger type present in band along submargin and in medial areas of abdomen, thorax and head; (ii) smaller type present in submedial areas of abdomen. Microtubular ducts scattered on margin. Cruciform pores absent. Distribution: Neoacanthococcus pamiricus is only known from Tajikistan and Iran (García Morales et al. 2016), where it was found in Sistan & Balouchestan province (Moghaddam 2013). Host-plants: The scale has been recorded only on Tamarix sp., family Tamaricaceae (García Morales et al. 2016). Economic importance: Not known as a pest in Iran. Natural enemies: None recorded in Iran.