Bambusaspis bambusae (Boisduval)

(Fig. 5, distribution map Fig. 89C)

Asterolecanium bambusae Boisduval, 1869: 261 . Bambusaspis bambusae (Boisduval); Borchsenius 1960: 136.

Field characters: Adult females live on stems and both surfaces of leaves. Body of adult female distinctly longer than wide; greenish, brownish, or pale yellow; test transparent, thin, and shiny.

Microscopic diagnosis: Slide-mounted adult female body broadly oval to elliptical, posterior end with a notch between slightly developed anal lobes. Antennae circular, flattish, each with 2 setae longer than diameter of antenna and 1 or 2 shorter than diameter of antenna. Anal ring with pores, arranged as an inner row of 6 and an outer row of 18–20, and bearing 6 setae, situated in a dorsal recess with a slender arched plate at its entrance.

Dorsum. Marginal 8-shaped pores present in a single row, terminating 2 or 3 times a pore’s length from base of each apical seta. Disc-pores present, irregularly spaced on dorsal inner margins of marginal 8-shaped pores. 8- shaped pores present, often numbering 3–30 in median area, or present in submarginal and lateral areas. Tubular ducts scattered, usually absent from median area of dorsum. A pair of submedian dorsal tubes present near posterior end of abdomen.

Venter. Marginal quinquelocular disc-pores present in a complete row on inner ventral edge of marginal 8- shaped pore row, terminating near posterior-most marginal 8-shaped pores. Spiracles each with a subcircular bar; spiracular furrow between each spiracle and margin of body containing a group of 22–42 quinquelocular disc-pores. Multilocular disc-pores numbering 90–154, present both anterior to and posterior to vulva.

Distribution: Bambusaspis bambusae is a cosmopolitan species known from 74 countries (García Morales et al. 2016); in Iran, it has been recorded from Gilan province (Farahbakhsh 1961).

Host-plants: The scale has been recorded on host-plants in 19 genera belonging to eight families; the majority of these host records are from bamboos ( Poaceae) (García Morales et al. 2016). In Iran, it has been found on Bambusa sp. ( Poaceae) (Farahbakhsh 1961).

Economic importance: Not recorded.

Natural enemies: None recorded in Iran.