Asterodiaspis minor (Russell)

(Fig. 3, distribution map Fig. 89A)

Asterolecanium minus Russell, 1941: 132 . Asterodiaspis minus (Russell); Tang & Hao 1995: 300. Asterodiaspis minor (Russell); Pellizzari & Williams 2013: 406.

Field characters: Adult females live on the bark, in pits. Body of adult female slightly longer than wide or circular, with posterior end slightly produced; greenish yellow to fairly clear yellow.

Microscopic diagnosis: Slide-mounted adult female body slightly longer than wide, with posterior end slightly produced. Antennae globular, each with 2 setae as long as diameter of antenna. Anal lobes not developed. Anal opening situated on dorsal surface, well removed from margin, circular, bearing 2 setae on anterior edge.

Dorsum. Marginal 8-shaped pores present in a single row around body. Dorsal 8-shaped pores absent. Tubular ducts scattered. Minute 8-shaped pores numerous; disc-pores also quite numerous.

Venter. Quinquelocular disc-pores present in a single row on inner ventral edge of marginal 8-shaped pore row. Spiracles each with 4–6 quinquelocular disc-pores outside spiracular opening; spiracular furrow between each spiracle and margin of body containing 25‒50 quinquelocular disc-pores. Multilocular disc-pores numbering fewer than 10, in 3 transverse rows on posterior abdominal segments.

Distribution: Asterodiaspis minor is known from 13 countries in the Nearctic and Palaearctic regions; in Iran (García Morales et al. 2016), it has been recorded from Fars and Golestan provinces (Moghaddam 2013).

Host-plants: The species has been recorded only on Quercus spp. ( Fagaceae) (García Morales et al. 2016).

Economic importance: None in Iran.

Natural enemies: None recorded in Iran.