Protaphis carthami (Das, 1918)

Mehrparvar, Mohsen & Mirtadzadini, Mansour, 2024, Aphids associated with Carthamus in Iran with the description of the hitherto unknown male of Uroleucon carthami (Hille Ris Lambers, 1948) (Hemi.: Aphididae), Journal of Insect Biodiversity and Systematics 10 (3), pp. 467-483 : 470

Protaphis carthami (Das, 1918)

Apterae exhibit a dark green or reddish-brown colour, covered in greyish-white wax, often featuring a pair of dark spots on the dorsal abdomen just anterior to the siphunculi. Body length ranges from 1.4 to 2.3 mm. Notably, it closely resembles P. anuraphoides . Apterae possess secondary rhinaria distributed on the third (0–6) and fourth (0–2) antennal segments; however, in the specimens examined in this study, the number for the third antennal segment is elevated to 0–8. Similarly, for alatae, the number is 5–7 on the third segment, but in the examined specimens in this study, it is increased to 7–11. Protaphis carthami is typically found on stems and flowers of Carthamus tinctorius and other Carthamus spp. , often attended by ants. This species is documented in North Africa, Lebanon, Iran, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, and northwest India ( Blackman & Eastop, 2024). This aphid species has been reported only from Alborz, Fars and Kerman provinces in Iran on Carthamus spp. ( Mehrparvar, 2024a); and this is the first report from Razavi Khorasan province.

Material examined. ARG00278: Iran, Fars province, Eghlid , alt. 2198 m., on Carthamus oxyacantha , 07-V-2020, leg. Moein Rokni. ARG00283: Iran, Fars province, Ghader Abad , alt. 1908 m., on Carthamus oxyacantha , 19-VIII-2020, leg. Moein Rokni. ARG00029: Iran, Kerman province, Mahan , alt. 1929 m., on Carthamus oxyacantha , 17-VI-2015, leg. Mohsen Mehrparvar. ARG00115: Iran, Kerman province, Mahan , alt. 1929 m., on Carthamus oxyacantha , 25-V-2015, leg. Mohsen Mehrparvar. ARG00586: Iran, Razavi Khorasan province, Chehelmir road, alt. 878 m., on Carthamus oxyacantha , 3-VI-2015, leg. Mohsen Mehrparvar.