Rhizococcus avicennae Moghaddam

(Fig. 60, Plate 4C, distribution map Fig. 93D)

Rhizococcus avicennae Moghaddam, 2018: 520 .

Field characteristics: Live adult female oval, with dark green body contents; ovisac white, rounded, and completely covering body.

Microscopic diagnosis: Slide-mounted adult female body elongate oval, tapering posteriorly. Antennae each with 7 segments. Frontal lobes and frontal tubercles absent. Eyes situated on margins. Legs well developed; hind coxae each with translucent pores; tarsal and claw digitules knobbed apically and longer than claw; claw with a denticle. Anal lobes strongly developed, dorsum of each with 4 enlarged setae and 1 or 2 microtubular ducts. Anal ring with a partial double row of pores and bearing 6 setae. Cauda absent. Large setae on margins few or absent.

Dorsum with enlarged conical setae of 2 types, both with pointed tips: (i) longer type situated on margin, few; and (ii) smaller type forming transverse rows across each segment, and irregular rows across head. Margin of abdominal segment VII with 3 lateral enlarged setae on each side. Macrotubular ducts of 3 sizes: (i) large ducts present on head, thorax and abdominal segments; (ii) intermediate-sized ducts present on all segments but much fewer than large ducts; and (iii) small ducts forming transverse rows across each abdominal segment.

Venter with normal flagellate setae of various sizes, present from median area to margin. Labium basal segment bearing 2 unequal pairs of setae. Disc-pores each with 7 loculi in a single ring, forming transverse rows across abdominal segments III–VIII+X, plus a few near each anterior spiracle. Hind femur without translucent pores. Quinquelocular pores present on abdominal segments I–VI and near anterior and posterior spiracles. Macrotubular ducts of 3 sizes, similar to those on dorsum: large ducts forming transverse bands in marginal areas; intermediate-sized ducts scattered but absent from margins; and small ducts forming transverse rows across abdominal segments IV–VI. Cruciform pores few, present on submargins of prothorax and head.

Distribution: Rhizococcus avicennae has been recorded only from Iran, Hamadan province (Moghaddam 2018).

Host-plants: The scale was found on an unidentified grass (P oaceae) (Moghaddam 2018).

Economic importance: Not known as a pest in Iran.

Natural enemies: None recorded in Iran.