The Scale Insects Of Iran (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha) Part 3 The Soft Scales (Coccidae) And Other Families Author Moghaddam, Masumeh Department of Insect Taxonomy Research, Iranian Research Institute of Plant Protection, Agricultural Research Education and Extension Organisation, Tehran, Iran. Author Watson, Gillian W. 0000-0001-9914-0094 Department of Insect Taxonomy Research, Iranian Research Institute of Plant Protection, Agricultural Research Education and Extension Organisation, Tehran, Iran. & Science: Research, Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW 7 5 BD, U. K. gillian. watson @ nhm. ac. uk; https: // orcid. org / 0000 - 0001 - 9914 - 0094 * Corresponding author. moghadam @ iripp. ir; https: // orcid. org / 0000 - 0003 - 0908 - 838 X & Department of Insect Taxonomy Research, Iranian Research Institute of Plant Protection, Agricultural Research Education and Extension Organisation, Tehran, Iran. gillian.watson@nhm.ac.uk text Zootaxa 2024 2024-11-29 5542 1 1 202 https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5542.1.1 journal article 306474 10.11646/zootaxa.5542.1.1 b349e73d-c49e-418c-81f7-c5d32e136362 1175-5334 14385386 2DB3A5B7-4292-4CD9-B6D8-FA97EB48DD16 Pulvinaria floccifera (Westwood) ( Fig. 34 , distribution map Fig. 92L ) Coccus flocciferus Westwood, 1870: 308 . Pulvinaria floccifera (Westwood) ; Green 1897: 72 . Chloropulvinaria floccifera (Westwood) ; Borchsenius 1952b: 300 . Pulvinaria floccifera (Westwood) ; Ben-Dov 1993: 261 . Field characteristics: Live adult female elongate oval, slightly convex, cream to tan in colour. Mature adult female produces an elongate white ovisac with 3 shallow longitudinal furrows, which may be straight or curved. Microscopic diagnosis: Slide-mounted adult female body elongate oval, remaining membranous at maturity. Stigmatic clefts rather shallow. Anal cleft of moderate depth. Dorsum . Derm entirely membranous; dermal areolations usually absent. Setae spiniform, scattered throughout. Pores absent. Preopercular pores oval to circular, present anterior to anal plates. Submarginal duct tubercles present, sometimes numbering 8 or more on each side. Tubular ducts absent. Anal plates together quadrate, each plate with 4 apical setae. Anal ring usually bearing 6 setae. Margin . Marginal setae long, acute, fringed or bifid, numerous; with about 20 setae between anterior and posterior stigmatic clefts on each side. Stigmatic clefts distinct but shallow, each containing 3 setae, median seta about 2 times longer than lateral setae. Venter . Derm membranous. Pregenital disc-pores mostly each with 7 loculi, present around anogenital fold, and on mediolateral areas of preceding 3 or 4 abdominal segments; a small group also present lateral to each metacoxa and mesocoxa. Spiracular disc-pores each with 5 loculi, present in a narrow band between each spiracle and margin. Microducts present in a broad submarginal band and scattered throughout. Tubular ducts of 3 types : (i) a duct with short, filamentous inner ductule and minute terminal gland, mainly present in broad submarginal band extending from anal cleft to posterior spiracular disc-pore band, but a few also present on marginal area of head and between spiracular disc pore bands; (ii) a duct rather narrower than type (iii), with shallow cup-shaped invagination, long, slender inner ductule, and well-developed terminal gland, present medially on posterior abdominal segments and also in posterior submarginal band intermingled with ducts of type (i); and (iii) a duct with a fairly wide inner ductule and well-developed terminal gland, present medially on head, thorax, and first 2 or 3 abdominal segments extending laterally to spiracles. Legs well developed, each with free articulation between tibia and tarsus, and with an articulatory sclerosis; each claw without a denticle; both claw digitules broad and shorter than thin tarsal digitules. Antennae each with 8 segments, with segments III and IV subequal. Distribution: Pulvinaria floccifera is a cosmopolitan species ( García Morales et al . 2016 ); in Iran , it is found in Gilan and Mazandaran provinces ( Moghaddam 2013 ). Host-plants: The species is polyphagous, having been recorded on host-plants belonging to 39 families ( García Morales et al . 2016 ). In Iran , it has been found on Mespilus germanica ( Rosaceae ) and Ilex spinigera ( Aquifoliaceae ) ( Moghaddam 2013 ). Economic importance: The species is one of the most important pests of tea ( Camellia sinensis ) gardens in northern Iran ( Naeim Amini et al . 2010 ). Natural enemies: The fungal pathogen Lecanicillium lecanii (Petch Zare & Gams) ( Cordycipitaceae ) has been recorded on P. floccifera in Iran ( Naeim Amini et al . 2010 ). Comments: Please see the comments under P. camelicola above.