Genus RHIZOPULVINARIA Borchsenius

Rhizopulvinaria Borchsenius, 1952b: 301 . Type species: Rhizopulvinaria virgulata Borchsenius by original designation.

Diagnostic characters of the adult female: Live adult female oval or circular, strongly convex, with short anal cleft; producing a large, very convex oval or circular white ovisac. Slide-mounted body with each spiracular pore band broad; stigmatic clefts not developed. Stigmatic setae differentiated, stoutly spinose and of similar lengths, subequal to or shorter than marginal setae, sometimes numbering fewer than 3 per stigmatic area. Marginal setae stoutly spinose, present in 1 or 2 uneven rows, each seta with blunt or pointed tip. Dorsal setae spiniform conical or setose. Preopercular pores present. Anal ring usually bearing 6 (occasionally 8) setae. Duct tubercles absent. Dorsal tubular ducts each with a filamentous inner ductule. Ventral tubular ducts numerous on head. Legs well developed, each claw with a denticle.Anal plates together approximately quadrate, with outer angles angular and posterolateral margins straight.

Comments: According to ScaleNet (García Morales et al. 2016) three species are included in Rhizopulvinaria, two of which are known from Iran (Kaussari 1957). However, Kaydan & Kozár (2010) recognized several synonyms of R. artemisiae as valid species, bringing the total number of species to eight; the genus is in much need of revision.

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

1(0) Ventral tubular ducts with only 1 type having a large terminal gland. Stigmatic setae slightly differentiated, each about half as long as a marginal seta................................................................ artemisiae (Signoret)

- Ventral tubular ducts with 2 types having well-developed terminal glands. Stigmatic setae, if differentiated, each about same length as a marginal seta or slightly shorter, and slightly thicker........................ turkestanica (Archangelskaya)