Orthezia urticae (Linnaeus)

(Fig. 85, distribution map Fig. 91F)

Aphis urticae Linnaeus, 1758: 453 . Orthezia urticae (Linnaeus); Signoret 1876b: 389.

Field characters: Live adult female body ovoid; dorsum covered by 6 rows of wax plates, but without plates at midline; fully developed ovisac longer than body.

Microscopic diagnosis: Slide-mounted adult female body oval. Antennae each with 8 segments. Eye stalks elongate conical, bearing 1 or 2 distinct lateral tubercles. Legs well developed; claws each with 2, rarely 3 small denticles. Atrium of each thoracic spiracle surrounded by a conspicuous collar of spines. Abdominal spiracles numbering 8 pairs.

Distribution: Orthezia urticae is a Palaearctic species that has been recorded from 40 countries (García Morales et al. 2016); in Iran, it has been recorded from the provinces of Ardebil, Azarbaijan -e Gharbi, Azarbaijan -e Shargi, Bushehr, Chaharmahal & Bakhtiari, Esfahan, Fars, Ghazvin, Golestan, Hamadan, Hormozgan, Ilam, Kerman, Kermanshah, Khorasan -e Jounobi, Khorasan -e Razavi, Khorasan -e Shomali, Khouzestan, Kohgiluyeh & Boryerahmad, Kordestan, Lorestan, Markazai, Sistan & Balouchestan, and Zanjan (Moghaddam 2013).

Host-plants: The species is polyphagous, having been recorded on host-plants in 88 genera belonging to 31 families (García Morales et al. 2016); in Iran, it has been found on Eryngium bungei ( Apiaceae); Achillea millefolium, Artemisia sp., Echinops ritro and Gundelia sp. ( Asteraceae), Astragalus sp. ( Fabaceae) and Daphne mucronata ( Thymelaeaceae) (Moghaddam 2013).

Economic importance: Orthezia urticae is of no economic importance in Iran.

Natural enemies: None recorded in Iran.