Saissetia oleae (Olivier, 1791)

(Figs 51, 52)

Coccus oleae Olivier 1791: 95 .

Diagnosis. Marginal setae tending towards 2 sizes present, mostly with pointed or slightly fimbriate apices (Fig. 52L); with 5–13 present between anterior and posterior stigmatic clefts on each side (Fig. 51E). Venter with multilocular disc-pores abundant around vulvar area, plus a few pores present laterad of metacoxa (Fig. 52G); tubular ducts each with a narrow inner ductule, present in submarginal areas (Figs 51C, 52H) (partially adopted from Hodgson 2000).

Material examined. 10 ♀♀, LAOS, Phou Khao Khuay National Bio-Diversity Conservation Area,

Thaphabath Dist., Bolikhamsai Prov., 1.v.2015, coll. J.Y. Choi, on Alstonia sp. ( Apocynaceae).

Hosts. Polyphagous. According to García Morales et al. (2016), S. oleae has been recorded from plants belonging to 212 genera in 75 families.

Distribution. All zoogeographical regions; Oriental Region (India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam) (García Morales et al. 2016); Laos (new country record).

Economic importance. Saissetia oleae has been described as an important pest of olive ( Olea europaea) in California (Smith 1921), Brazil (Prado et al. 2015), Greece (Paraskakis et al. 1980), Italy (Cozzi et al. 2000), Israel (Argov & Rössler 1993) and Morocco (Ouguas & Chemseddine 2011); it was also considered as a pest of citrus in California (Lampson & Morse 1992) and Israel (Blumberg & Swirski 1997).

Remarks. Saissetia oleae appears closely related to S. miranda (Cockerell & Parrott) . For a comparison, see the remarks section for S. miranda above. Saissetia oleae also resembles S. neglecta (De Lotto), but differs by having marginal setae with pointed or slightly fimbriate apices and legs with tibio-tarsal articulatory scleroses, whereas S. neglecta has expanded and strongly fimbirate marginal setae, and legs without tibio-tarsal articulatory scleroses (Hamon & Williams 1984; Hodgson 2000).