Genus ACANTHOCOCCUS Signoret

Acanthococcus Signoret, 1875: 16 . Type species: Acanthococcus aceris Signoret by monotypy.

Diagnostic characters of the adult female: Body of live adult female covered by waxy ovoid ovisac. Slide-mounted, body elongate oval, tapering posteriorly. Antennae each with 6 or 7 (rarely 8) segments. Frontal lobes or tubercles present. Eyes situated near margin. Legs well developed; mid- and hind coxae often with spinulae on anterior surfaces; translucent pores sometimes present on hind coxa and femur; claw usually with a denticle; tarsal and claw digitules longer than claw, all with apices knobbed. Anal lobes well developed and often sclerotized, frequently with tooth-like projections on inner margins. Anal ring well developed, sclerotized, with partly double rows of pores and bearing 8 setae. Cauda usually present.

Dorsum. Setae often enlarged and spinose. Macrotubular ducts all of 1 size, with macrotubular and microtubular ducts together forming transverse rows throughout.

Venter. Setae hair like with enlarged setae near body margin. Labium with basal segment sometimes weakly developed but bearing 2 unequal pairs of setae. Macrotubular ducts often of 2 or 3 sizes, present throughout. Disc-pores each with 3‒9 loculi, present only on venter; cruciform pores present on ventral prosoma in a marginal band.

Comments: Worldwide, 217 species are included in Acanthococcus at present (García Morales et al. 2016); three species are known from Iran (Rozedar et al. 2013; Torabi et al. 2010).

Key to species of Acanthococcus in Iran, based on slide-mounted adult females.

1(0) Dorsum of abdominal segment VIII with enlarged setae. Many marginal setae more than 2x as long as a dorsal enlarged seta......................................................................................... aceris Signoret

- Dorsum of abdominal segment VIII without enlarged setae. Marginal setae all less than 2x as long as a dorsal enlarged seta..................................................................................................... 2

2(1) Antenna with 6 segments. Anal ring complete, bearing 8 setae..................................... costatus Danzig

- Antenna with 7 segments. Anal ring incomplete, open anteriorly, and bearing 6 setae................ isacanthus Danzig