CRYPTOCOCCIDAE Kosztarab

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 : 102-104

Family CRYPTOCOCCIDAE Kosztarab

Historically, the two genera discussed here under the family Cryptococcidae have sometimes been placed within the Eriococcidae sensu lato (e.g. Tang & Hao 1995; Miller & Stocks 2022). The uncertain higher classification around the Eriococcidae is discussed further under that family below. Molecular evidence using 18S places the Cryptococcidae in the Gondwanan clade of Eriococcidae ( Cook & Gullan 2004; Gwiazdowski et al. 2006; Nan et al. 2013). However, the higher classification of the family-groups related to Eriococcidae is still uncertain, so the Cryptococcidae is treated separately here for convenience.

The Cryptococcidae contains two genera and eight described species worldwide ( García Morales et al. 2016); in Iran, two species in separate genera are known.

Appearance in life: Adult female living in bark crevices on trees; each insect is covered with a feltlike ovisac formed of fine, white, waxy secretions.

Diagnostic characters: Body of adult female oval ( Fig. 45 ), derm becoming sclerotized at full maturity in most species (but not in Cryptococcus fagisuga ); antennae ( Fig. 45A ) each with 1–6 segments; legs ( Fig. 45B ) present / reduced to unsegmented stubs / entirely absent; spiracles ( Fig. 45C ) each surrounded by a sclerotized frame containing a group of associated quinquelocular disc-pores; a cluster pore plate present or absent from just below each posterior spiracle ( Fig. 45B ); simple disc-pores usually present on dorsal submargin; trilocular pores ( Fig. 45D ) normally present on dorsum; quinquelocular disc-pores ( Fig. 45E ) often present on both surfaces, occasionally scattered near spiracles; tubular ducts ( Fig. 45F ) present on both surfaces, often of two types; anal ring ( Fig. 45G ) surrounded by large setae, the ring heavily sclerotized, bearing 4–6 short setae and with or without pores.

KEY TO GENERA OF CRYPTOCOCCIDAE IN IRAN, based on slide-mounted adult females.

1(0) Legs developed, hind coxae with translucent pores. Without a cluster pore plate posterior to each hind spiracle. Antennae 6 segmented........................................................................ Pseudochermes Nitsche

- Legs absent or reduced to unsegmented stubs. A cluster pore plate present posterior to each hind spiracle ( Fig. 45B ). Antennae 1–5 segmented..................................................................... Cryptococcus Douglas

Figures

FIGURE 45. Adult female of Cryptococcus fagisuga Lindinger, modified from Miller & Miller (1993a), page 69, fig. 30, with kind permission from the authors and the publisher of The American Entomological Institute. A, antenna; B, hind leg represented by cluster pore plate; C, spiracle; D, trilocular pore; E, quinquelocular disc-pores; F, macrotubular duct; G, anal ring; H, microtubular duct.