Abdominal spiracle:
Respiratory opening (spiracle) located on the lateral areas of 1 or more abdominal segments in the more primitive families of scale insects including the ensign scales and margarodoid groups.
Anal area:
The region of the body that bears the anus; usually near the posterior end. Many important taxonomic characters are to be found in the anal area of scale insects. These characters usually correspond to adaptations that help excrete honeydew away from the relatively immobile, phloem-feeding adult female.
Antenna:
(pl. antennae) Pair of jointed appendages located on the head of an insect above the mouthparts. Each antenna usually consists of one or more articulated segments bearing sensory organs.In some scales, such as adult female diaspidids, the antenna is reduced to an unarticulated, unsegmented stub.
Antennal bar:
A narrow, heavily sclerotized area that extends from the base of the first antennal segment toward the distal part of the segment. See also antenna.
Antennal segments:
Distinctly sclerotized section(s) of the antenna separated by membranous unsclerotized membranes. See also antenna.
Brachial plate:
Heavily chitinized areas perforated by pores of various types, associated with the spiracles. As a rule, the brachial plates are borne upon a process called a brachium, but in some cases they are sessile. Characteristic of lac scales.
Brachium:
A more or less elongate and chitinous, or sometimes membranous process, bearing a series of brachial plates. Characteristic of lac scales.
Cicatrices:
Minute to large pore-like structures overlying glandular cells and surrounded by a slightly sclerotized rim (Foldi 1991); they occur on the ventral and/or dorsal cuticle of females and sometimes males of many species belonging in the margarodoid families.
Circulus:
Circular, oval, rectangular, or hourglass shaped areas of cuticle on the ventral side of the abdomen, present in mealybugs (Pseudococcidae), rhizoecids and putoids. The circulus functions as an adhesive organ in the mature female (Williams 1978).
Claw:Apical segment of leg, attached to tarsus. When present, always single. See also leg.
Claw denticle:
Typically a single tooth on the plantar surface of the claw.
Claw digitules:
Typically 2 setae originating at the base of the claw; these setae may or may not have enlarged apices.
Coxal cavity:
Concave depression on coxae of hind two pairs of legs of Kilifia species.
Crenulations:
Irregular raised areas usually along posterolateral margin of abdomen especially on aclerdids.
Cribriform plates:
Sclerotized cuticular plates bearing numerous pores or projections that occur on the posteriordorsal portion of the abdomen of some Coccidae, Cerococcidae, and Lecanodiaspididae.
Dermal pocket:
A series of dorsal invaginations that contain several pores and usually are arranged in longitudinal lines on certain species of stictococcids.
Dorsomedial spine:
(dorsal spine) Spire-shaped structure that occurs on the dorsomedial area of the abdomen on lac scales.
Duct cluster:
Relatively round regions with a concentration of microducts. Characteristic of lac scales.
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Enlarged setae:Setae that are not slender and filamentous. Common in eriococcids.
Eye:
Generally a dome-shaped structure on the lateralmargin of the head that is simple, without facets except in some adult males.
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Femur:Leg segment between the trochanter and tibia. The third leg segment when all segments are present. In some families, such as Ortheziidae, the trochanter and femur are fused.
Ferrisia-like tubular duct:
An oral-rim like tubular duct that has a heavily sclerotized area surrounding the duct orifice comprising sclerotizations A & B; occurring on Ferrisia species.
Filamentous duct:
Thin dendritic ducts near body margin of certain species of Ceroplastes.
Gland spines:
Simple projections occurring between the pygidial lobes of armored scales; usually with 1 or more associated microducts; found in armored scales.
Instar:
The stage in an insect's life history that occurs between any two molts; e.g. the first instar is the insect that hatches from the egg, the second instar is the insect that occurs between the first and second molt.
Internal tube:
Same as anal tube.
Invaginated setae:
Setae that are in a pocket in the derm, i.e., sheathed.
Leg:
When present, the ambulatory structures on each side of the thoracic segments comprising the coxa, trochanter, femur, tibia, tarsus, and claw. In adult female scales, legs vary from well-developed to completely absent.
Loculus:
(pl. loculi) Section(s) of various kinds of wax pores. For example, a trilocular pore has 3 sections or loculi.
Marsupial band:
A band of pores surrounding the external opening of the marsupium located on the ventralabdomen; occurring in some species of Steatococcus. Homologous with the ovisac band but usually smaller and located more centrally around the marsupium.
Marsupium:
An internal pouch that holds the eggs or first instar nymphs after they are produced by some species of monophlebids; the pouch contains the vulva and cicatrices.
Midlegs:
The middle pair of legs; projecting from an insect's mesothorax.
Mouthparts:
The mouthparts of scale insects are composed of a clypeolabral shield, a labium, and 4 needle-like stylets. The mouthparts are found on the ventral side of the body, between the fore-coxae. They project backwards and are modified for piercing and sucking. Some adult females have reduced, or vestigial mouthparts.
Ocellar spot:
2 round or circular areas normally with radiating wrinkles on the dorsum of the head on conchaspidids.
Open center pores:
Unusually large pores with central area clear and perimeter with many loculi; usually present around body margin; occurring in some species of Icerya and Steatococcus.
Oral collars:
(oral-collar tubular ducts) Oral-collar tubular ducts are cylindrical structures that have a narrow area surrounding the orifice of the duct.
Oral rims:
(oral-rim tubular ducts) Cylindrical structures that have a broad area surrounding the orifice of the duct.
Ornate setae:
Multibranched or feather-shaped setae on caryonemid scales.
Ostioles:
A pair of slit-like organs located between the head and prothorax and on the sixth abdominal segment (Williams 1985) of nymphs and adult females of the Phenacoleachiidae, Putoidae, most Pseudococcidae and Rhizoecidae. They discharge a fluid apparently derived from the hemolymph that solidifies on contact with air (Ferris 1950). Ostiolar secretions appear to have dual functions in defense and releasing alarm pheromones (Williams 1978).
Ovisac:
A waxy secretion produced by the adult female that encloses the eggs.
Ovisac band:
A marginal area on ortheziids and some monophlebids containing a concentration of pores and setae. Homologous with the marsupial band in monophlebids but usually much larger, encompassing most of the ventralabdomen.
Pygidium:Posterior portion of the abdomen which has the segments coalesced into a sclerotized structure that acts like a trowel for forming the wax cover of armored scales.
Sclerotization:
Hardened area that stains more darkly in slide-mounted specimens.
Sclerotization A:
Inner portion of sclerotized rim of Ferrisia-like tubular duct that surrounds duct opening; in some species this area is conspicuous, in others it is inconspicuous.
Sclerotization B:
Outer portion of sclerotized rim of Ferrisia-like tubular duct normally less sclerotized than sclerotization A; in some species this sclerotization may be weak or absent.
Setal base: The base of the seta. See also base (basal).
Simple pore:
Another name for discoidal pore.
Spiracle: Sclerotized area surrounding the opening of the respiratory system or tracheae. Spiracles are present on the thorax and, in some cases, the abdomen.
Spiracular furrow:
Narrow area connecting the spiracular opening with the body margin that appears as a tubular depression in the derm and generally contains a concentration of wax pores. See also spiracle.
Tarsus:Leg segment between the tibia and the claw. The fifth segment of the leg when all segments are present. In some families, such as Micrococcidae, the tibia and tarsus are fused.
Test:
Covering of scale insect body.
Thoracic spiracles:
Sclerotized areas surrounding the opening of the respiratory system or tracheae. Normally located behind the first two pairs of legs or near the junction of the pro- and mesothoracic segments and between the meso- and metathoraic segments.
Tibia:Leg segment between the femur and tarsus. The fourth segment of the leg when all segments are present. In some families, such as Micrococcidae, the tibia and tarsus are fused.
Translucent pores:
Clear areas on the surface of any or all of the coxa, trochanter, femur, or tibia. Usually appearing as small clear dots in the more heavily sclerotized derm of the leg. Occurring in pseudococcids, dactylopiids and eriococcids.
Trilocular pores:Pores with 3 loculi. Common on mealybugs where they have a swirled appearance when focusing up and down with a compound microscope.
Trochanter:Leg segment located between the coxa and femur. Second leg segment when all segments are present. In some families, such as Ortheziidae, the trochanter and the femur are fused.
Truncate setae:Setae that look abbreviated, with the tip cut off. Common in cochineal scales.
Tubular ducts:
Cylindrical structures that are the vestibules of 1 or more wax-producing glands.
Two-ringed duct:
Large tubular duct that often contains two concentric rings located near the dorsal body margin on the coccidae. Especially predominant on Philephedra.
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Venter:
Bottom of the body.
Ventral:
Bottom of the structure. For example, the venter of a scale insect is the bottom of the body.