KEY TO SEPARATE THE SCALE INSECT FAMILIES RECORDED IN IRAN This key is based on slide-mounted adult females: * indicates families covered in Moghadam & Watson (2021); † indicates families covered in Moghadam & Watson (2022). 1(0) Abdominal spiracles present, numbering 2‒8 pairs.......................................................... 2 - Abdominal spiracles absent............................................................................. 4 2(1) Antenna with 3–8 segments, terminal segment with a stout apical spine-like seta. Ovisac band present, predominantly made of spines. Anal ring present with 6 setae and a band of pores. Eyes often on short sclerotized stalks .............. Ortheziidae - Antenna varying from a flat plate to segmented with up to 11 segments, tip always without an apical spine-like seta. Ovisac band, if present, formed of pores not spines. Anal ring simple, never surrounded by a ring of pores and setae, but sometimes an internal tube present with inner end surrounded by a band of pores. Eyes not on sclerotized stalks..................... 3 3(2) Front legs greatly enlarged for digging. Thoracic spiracles usually with pores in atrium. Anal opening not obvious. Immature stages forming cysts in soil (ground pearls).................................................... Margarodidae - Front legs not greatly enlarged for digging. Thoracic spiracles without pores in atrium. Anal opening usually obvious. Immature stages not forming cysts................................................................... Monophlebidae 4(1) Anal cleft present, with a pair of dorsal, more-or-less triangular anal plates at base of cleft, plates with inner margins usually contiguous, forming an operculum................................................................. Coccidae - Anal cleft usually absent; if present, without paired plates at its base, although there may be 1 plate.................... 5 5(4) 8-shaped pores present somewhere on body................................................................ 6 - 8-shaped pores absent, although tubular ducts, each with a single opening but cross-section of duct 8-shaped, may be present. ................................................................................................... 8 6(5) 8-shaped pores present on dorsum only. Ventral tubular ducts present in a dense submarginal band around body. Antenna with 5 segments. On Quercus and occasionally other Fagaceae ........................................... Kermesidae - 8-shaped pores present on dorsum and on venter in a submarginal zone. Ventral tubular ducts scattered. Antenna with 1–9 segments. On various host-plants including Fagaceae ......................................................... 7 7(6) Anal plate well developed, triangular or butterfly-shaped. Cribriform plates present at least on dorsum of abdomen. Ventral tubular ducts present, each clearly differentiated into outer duct and large inner filament.................. Cerococcidae - Anal plate poorly developed or absent. Cribriform plates absent. Tubular ducts present on dorsum only, each not clearly differentiated into outer duct and inner filament................................................ Asterolecaniidae 8(5) Abdomen with posterior segments fused into a pygidium. Legs absent................................ Diaspididae * - Abdomen with posterior segments not fused into a pygidium. Legs present or absent............................... 9 9(8) Anal ring simple, with 0–2 setae and no pores. Derm with small, rounded papillae all over. Legs absent. Tubular ducts 8-shaped in cross-section......................................................................... Phoenicococcidae - Anal ring bearing more than 2 setae, usually with pores present also. Derm without papillae all over. Legs usually present. Tubular ducts never 8-shaped in cross-section............................................................. 10 10(9) Outer ductule of each tubular duct with a cupped inner end. Without a combination of dorsal ostioles, ventral circuli, trilocular pores and cerarii. Anal ring structure variable.............................................................. 11 - Outer ductule of each tubular duct with inner end straight across, not cupped. With a combination of dorsal ostioles, ventral circuli, swirled trilocular pores and usually 1–18 pairs of cerarii. Anal ring usually with outer and inner rows of pores.... 12 11(10) Anal ring, antennae and legs well developed. Macrotubular ducts large and elongate...................... Eriococcidae - Anal ring, antennae and legs reduced. Macrotubular ducts not large and not elongate................... Cryptococcidae 12(10) Trochanter with 2–5 (usually 3 or 4) placoid sensilla on each surface. Claw usually with a pair of basal spurs. Antenna with intersegmental sensilla present on membranous areas between segments III–IV, IV–V and VI–VII, never present between segments V–VI................................................................................ Putoidae † - Trochanter with 2 placoid sensilla on each surface. Claw without basal spurs. Antenna without intersegmental sensilla.... 13 13(12) Usually living on aerial parts of hosts, but sometimes on roots. Body usually ˃ 1.5 mm long. Antenna not geniculate, with 1–9 segments. Tritubular or bitubular ducts absent. Anal lobes often well developed. Claw sometimes with a denticle. Internal reproductive structures rarely visible........................................................ Pseudococcidae † - Living in moss or underground on roots. Body small, usually <1.5 mm long. Antenna usually geniculate, with no more than 6 segments. Tritubular or bitubular ducts often present. Anal lobes often absent or poorly developed. Claw never with a denticle. Internal reproductive structures often well sclerotized and obvious................................... Rhizoecidae †

Published as part of Moghaddam, Masumeh & Watson, Gillian W., 2024, The Scale Insects Of Iran (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha) Part 3 The Soft Scales (Coccidae) And Other Families, pp. 1-202 in Zootaxa 5542 (1) on pages 20-21, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5542.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/14385386