Anophococcus kondarensis (Borchsenius)

(Fig. 54, distribution map Fig. 88J)

Rhizococcus kondarensis Borchsenius, 1949a: 353–354 . Eriococcus kondarensis (Borchsenius); Hoy 1963: 98. Acanthococcus kondarensis (Borchsenius); Ter-Grigorian 1983: 880. Anophococcus kondarensis (Borchsenius); Kozár et al. 2013: 221.

Field characteristics: Body of live adult female elongate oval, completely enclosed in grey, white or yellowish ovisac.

Microscopic diagnosis: Slide-mounted body of adult female elongate oval. Antennae each with 7 (rarely 6) segments. Frontal lobe absent, frontal tubercle present. Legs well developed, hind coxa and femur each with a group of translucent pores and spinulae; tarsal and claw digitules all slightly knobbed, longer than claw; claw with a denticle. Anal lobes each with 3 dorsal setae, lateral seta truncate. Anal ring dorsal, with a partial double row of pores and bearing 8 setae. Cauda quite well developed.

Dorsum. Margin with sharply pointed enlarged setae, each segment with 3 on each margin; medium-sized setae and small setae forming rows across segments. Macrotubular ducts numerous throughout. Microtubular ducts short, scattered throughout.

Venter with mainly short hair-like setae; small, enlarged setae present along body margin. Apical labial segment with 6 pairs of long setae, the medial setae much shorter than others (not illustrated). Disc-pores each with 2 concentric rings of loculi, with 5 or 7 loculi in inner ring, numerous throughout. Macrotubular ducts of 2 sizes: (i) larger ducts present in marginal band; and (ii) smaller, narrower ducts scattered throughout. Microtubular ducts present on margin. Cruciform pores few, present on margin.

Distribution: Anophococcus kondarensis is a Palaearctic species that has been recorded from China (Xinjiang Uygur), Russia, Tajikistan, Türkiye (Turkey), Uzbekistan and Iran (García Morales et al. 2016), where it has been collected in Elborz, Golestan, Khorasan -e Razavi, Khorasan -e Shomali, Markazi, Semnan and Zanjan provinces (Moghaddam 2013).

Host-plants: The scale has been recorded on hosts in four genera of grasses ( Poaceae): Agropyron, Bromus, Elymus and Hordeum (García Morales et al. 2016, Moghaddam 2013).

Economic importance: Not known as a pest in Iran.

Natural enemies: None recorded in Iran.