MARGARODIDAE Cockerell

Moghaddam, Masumeh & Watson, Gillian W., 2024, The Scale Insects Of Iran (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha) Part 3 The Soft Scales (Coccidae) And Other Families, Zootaxa 5542 (1), pp. 1-202 : 147

Family MARGARODIDAE Cockerell

Today, the family name Margarodidae sensu stricto is applied to a group of ten genera containing 110 described species ( García Morales et al. 2016). All are highly adapted for life underground, spending part of the life cycle as a dormant cyst in the soil ( Gavrilov-Zimin 2018). The cyst stage, sometimes called a “ground pearl”, can survive for multiple years and is an adaptation to survive long periods of drought when the host-plant cannot grow ( Miller et al. 2014). Adult females have relatively uniform morphology, with the forelegs enlarged and adapted for digging; but the immature stages show a dramatic diversity of structural details. Neither the adult female nor the male feed; their sole function is reproduction. Unless the species is parthenogenetic, the adult female migrates up to the soil surface to mate, and then returns underground to the host’s roots to lay eggs in the soil. Historically, some species of Porphyrophora were used as sources of valuable red dyes for textiles ( Vahedi & Hodgson 2007). The present work covers the margarodid species known from Iran, comprising one genus and seven species that have not been well studied; there may well be more, possibly undescribed species still to be found.

Appearance in life: Members of this family are normally found in soil or sand, usually associated with the roots of annual grasses or perennial shrubs or trees. Body of adult female large, length up to 5.0 mm or more, generally rotund but some species elongate oval. Mouthparts normally absent; anterior legs enlarged for digging (fossorial); usually without wax secretions apart from production of a filamentous wax ovisac in some species. Cyst of immature female ovoid, with hard outer test amber yellow to dark brown, sometimes appearing iridescent or metallic, surface often textured.

Diagnostic characters: The most diagnostic characters of adult female Margarodidae are: derm of adult female covered with long hair-like setae ( Fig. 69A ), small setae and multilocular disc-pores ( Fig. 69I ). Antennae ( Fig. 69B ) each with 7–16 segments, each segment ring-shaped and somewhat sclerotized. Mouthparts always absent. Thoracic spiracles ( Fig. 69C ) well developed, each with a large peritreme; each peritreme with a group of spiracular disc-pores ( Fig. 69D ), usually numbering 4–18. Abdominal spiracles ( Fig. 69J ) apparently absent or, when present, only on anteriormost segments; each with atrium containing disc-pores but otherwise structure quite simple. Anal opening ( Fig. 69E ) probably representing abdominal segment X, situated medially on segment IX, close to posterior end of abdomen. Genital opening (= vulva) ( Fig. 69F ) situated ventrally in intersegmental membrane between abdominal segments VIII and IX, anterior to level of anal opening. Prothoracic legs ( Fig. 69G ) modified for digging, each much larger than meso- and metathoracic legs, comprised of four segments, with enlarged claw fused to tarsus. Meso - and metathoracic ( Fig. 69H ) legs each considerably narrower and generally longer than prothoracic legs, each also comprised of five segments and a claw. Multilocular disc-pores ( Fig. 69I ) present throughout body, more numerous on venter than on dorsum; extremely abundant on some species, fewer in others, sometimes even reduced to a single row.

Comments: Porphyrophora Brandt is the only known genus of Margarodidae recorded from Iran.

Figures

FIGURE 69. General morphology of an adult female of Margarodidae, modified from Vahedi & Hodgson (2007), page 32, fig. 3. A, long hair-like seta; B, antenna; C, anterior thoracic spiracle; D, spiracular disc-pore; E, anal opening; F, genital opening (= vulva); G, prothoracic leg; H, mesothoracic leg; I, multilocular disc-pore; J, abdominal spiracle with disc-pores in atrium.