Pseudochermes fraxini (Kaltenbach)

(Fig. 46, distribution map Fig. 92I)

Chermes fraxini Kaltenbach, 1860: 259 . Eriococcus fraxini (Kaltenbach); Newstead 1891: 165–166. Ripersia fraxini (Kaltenbach); Newstead 1892: 147. Pseudochermes fraxini (Kaltenbach); Nitsche 1895: 1247–1249.

Field characters: Live adult female bright red or orange-red, body of mature female ovoid to more-or-less globular, about 0.75 mm long. Ovisac oval and felt-like, about 1.0 mm long, cream coloured, covering entire body. Two or more mature females may occur together within a communal ovisac (Newstead, 1903; Kosztarab & Kozár 1988).

Microscopic diagnosis: Slide-mounted adult female body oval, about 0.75 mm long; anal lobes not developed but position of each lobe indicated by an apical seta. Antennae each with 6 segments. Legs small but well developed; each claw curved, with a denticle near apex. Hind coxa noticeably larger than anterior coxa, with a few large translucent pores. Stylet loop reaching to near apex of abdomen. Anal ring open anteriorly, forming a U-shaped sclerotized plate, with a few pores in a single row and 6 short setae. Suranal setae present just anterior to anal ring, each shorter than an anal ring seta.

Dorsum. Setae short, stiff, evenly scattered, forming transverse rows across abdominal tergites; Quinquelocular disc-pores forming transverse rows. Large macrotubular ducts fairly numerous, evenly distributed. Microtubular ducts present, short.

Venter. Setae short and flagellate, few. Small frontal tubercles (Fig. 46F) present just anterior to antennal bases. Quinquelocular pores scattered, forming transverse rows across abdomen. Macrotubular ducts of 2 sizes, larger ducts same as those on dorsum, present around margins only except on thorax near spiracles; small ducts each with sclerotised cup and filiform tube, sparse, present on abdominal segments only. Microtubular ducts same as on dorsum, few, present on margins.

Distribution: Pseudochermes fraxini is confined to the Palaearctic region, and is known from 32 countries (García Morales et al. 2016); in Iran, it has been recorded from Tehran province (Hoy 1963).

Host-plants: The scale has been recorded on host-plants in five genera belonging to the families Oleaceae, Rosaceae and Salicaceae; in Iran, it has been found on Fraxinus excelsior ( Oleaceae) (Moghaddam 2009).

Economic importance: It is of no economic importance in Iran.

Natural enemies: None recorded in Iran.