Porphyrophora tritici

Porphyrophora tritici (Bodenheimer) (Fig. 76, distribution map Fig. 92F) Margarodes tritici Bodenheimer, 1941: 81. Porphyrophora tritici (Bodenheimer); Borchsenius 1950: 30; Jakubski 1965: 26. Field characteristics: Body of adult female more-or-less egg-shaped and slightly hairy, with derm flexible and soft; body pink (Jakubski 1965) or red to bright red; the test is a thick, dense, felt-like cocoon, completely enclosing the insect (Vahedi & Hodgson 2007). Microscopic diagnosis: Slide-mounted adult female with both surfaces of body rather patchily covered by long hair-like setae in sparse, uneven segmental bands each 2–4 setae wide, and small setae. Antennae each with 7 segments; sensillum placodeum on segment IV usually present, circular, containing 3–5 small sensilla, and usually with 1 small fleshy seta next to sensilla placodeum (not illustrated); segment V with 1 seta, other intermediate segments naked; apical segment longer than segment II and longer than wide, with ventral distal margin flattened, bearing some flagellate setae, several fleshy setae and sensilla placodea. Prothoracic legs each with tarsus fused with claw, enlarged claw without a denticle. Thoracic spiracles with each peritreme with an apodeme; with 6–9 spiracular disc-pores; lateral margin of each peritreme usually with 2 or 3 perispiracular sensilla. Abdominal spiracles often absent, but 1 pair occasionally present on abdominal segments I or II. Multilocular disc-pores each with 1–3 rings of evenly distributed loculi, but middle and inner rings almost always incomplete; each outer ring with 7–14 loculi; middle ring with 8–10 loculi; inner ring mostly without loculi but rarely with 1 or 2; some (not all) posterior multilocular disc-pores tending to be larger, particularly around genital opening. Anal opening with sclerotized rim on dorsal margin, surrounded by an area of derm without setae or pores. Vulva membranous, surrounded by radially folded area; atrium long and narrow. Distribution: Porphyrophora tritici is known from Armenia, Iraq, Syria, Türkiye (Turkey) and Iran, where it has been found in Azarbaijan -e Sharghi and Kermanshah provinces (Vahedi & Hodgson 2007; García Morales et al. 2016). Host-plants: The species has been recorded on host-plants belonging to the genus Triticum (family Poaceae) (García Morales et al. 2016). In Iran, it was found on wheat, T. aestivum (Moghaddam & Tavakoli 2010). Economic importance: Porphyrophora tritici is of no economic importance in Iran, but might become a problem on wheat if accidentally introduced to other parts of the world. Natural enemies: None recorded in Iran.