taxonID	type	description	language	source
AB76C131655C9572131ABEC9FE38FBAC.taxon	description	(Figs 6 – 9) other fluids usually used for the preserving and preparation of scale insects (ethanol, acetic acid, pure water).	en	Gavrilov-Zimin, I. A., Kurochkin, A. S. (2019): Millennial zoological mystery of medieval Persian scientists. Zoosystematica Rossica (China) 28 (2): 201-227, DOI: 10.31610/zsr/2019.28.2.201, URL: https://doi.org/10.31610/zsr/2019.28.2.201
AB76C1316550957C10A3BEC9FD16FDCE.taxon	description	Modeer, 1778: 43 (Coccus); Cockerell, 1899: 268 (Gossyparia); Schrader, 1929: 149 (Gossyparia); Borchsenius, 1949: 330 (Gossyparia); Schmutterer, 1952: 416 (as G. ulmi); Ferris, 1955: 164 (Eriococcus); Kosztarab & Kozár, 1988: 289 (Gossyparia); Kozár et al., 2013: 262 (Gossyparia). Material examined. France: Ile-de-France: Mitry- Mory, VIII. 1974 (A. Courtois leg.), 3 females. Serbia: Brest, on Ulmus campestris, 3. IV. 1981 (E. Kozarzhevskaya leg.), 4 females. Poland: Slavuta, on Alnus, 22. VII. 1904 (A. Mordvilko leg.), 6 females. Ukraine: Kiev, Botanical Garden of Academy of Sciences, on Ulmus foliacea, 1. X. 1958 (collector unknown), 5 female larvae; Sumy Prov.: on Ulmus minor, 28. VI. 1960 (E. Tereznikova leg.), 1 female; Lugansk Prov.: Novo-Pavlovka Vill., on Ulmus suberosa, 20. VI. 1962 (E. Tereznikova leg.), 2 females. Russia: Kaliningrad Prov.: Polessk, on Ulmus pumila, 7. VI. 1972 (Ivanova leg.), 3 females; Lipetsk Prov.: near Manino Vill., on Ulmus glabra, 6. VII. 1997 (I. Gavrilov leg.), 5 females; Kursk Prov.: Tsentralno-Chernozemny Nature Reserve, on Ulmus sp., 26. VI. 2002 (I. Gavrilov leg.), 2 females; Volgograd Prov.: “ Gornaia Poliana ”, 1. VIII. 1950 (H. Burnascheva leg.), 1 female; Krasnodar Terr.: Betta Vill., on Ulmus sp., 2. VII. 1990 (E. Danzig leg.), 2 females; Temryuk Distr., on Ulmus sp., 27. VI. 1990 (E. Danzig leg.), 3 females; Adygeia Republic: Kamennomostskaia Settlm., on Ulmus sp., 7. VI. 1934 (N. Borchsenius leg.), 1 female; Stavropol Terr.: Inozemtsevo Settlm., on Ulmus sp., 15. VII. 1933 (collector unknown), 4 females; Kislovodsk, 23. V. 1957 (collector unknown), 2 females. Crimea: without locality designation, 1929 (N. Borchsenius leg.), 8 females. Armenia: Ayrum, on Ulmus sp., 11. VI. 1947 (N. Borchsenius leg.), 2 females; Armavir [Oktemberian], on Ulmus sp., 14. V. 1949 (M. Ter-Grigorian leg.), 2 females; Dzhrvezh, on Ulmus sp., 9. X. 1956 (V. Trjapitzin leg.), 1 female. Kazakhstan: West-Kazakhstan Prov.: near Uralsk, on Ulmus sp., 16. VI. 1950 (Kravets leg.), 9 females. USA: Utah: Manti, on Ulmus sp., 12. VII. 1971 (Q. F. Knowlton leg.), 1 female. Dried colonies of females from: Austria, Italia, Serbia, Ukraine, Russia, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan. Three series of females fixed in aceto-ethanol from Bulgaria and European Russia. Morphological description. Adult female. Body egg-shaped, up to 3 mm wide, red-brown in life, located inside of grey wax sac which opens on dorsum in ovipositing female. Antennae 6 – 7 - segmented, each about 250 µm long. Legs with all segments normally developed, without translucent pores; claw with denticle; claw digitules with clavate apices. Anal apparatus with outer row of spinulae, incomplete inner row of pores and eight long setae, each about two times as long as diameter of anal ring. Multilocular pores absent. Quinquelocular pores, each about 5 µm in diameter, scattered on all ventral surface of body, excluding marginal zone of ventral thorax and anterior abdominal sternites. Oval discoidal pores (“ cruciform pores ” in some authors) each about 3 µm in diameter, forming marginal band on ventral thorax and anterior abdominal sternites. Macrotubular ducts of two sizes, larger ducts, each about 20 – 25 µm long and 8 µm wide forming marginal band along all dorsal surface; occasional ducts also present in submedial zone of abdominal tegrites; smaller macrotubular ducts, each about 15 µm long and 5 µm wide, forming transverse rows on abdominal sternites and scattered in submedial, submarginal and marginal zones of venter. Microtubular ducts each about 8 µm long and 1 µm wide, scattered on all dorsal surface of body. Conical setae with more or less blunt apices, each about 20 – 25 µm long, forming transverse bands on all tergites; largest conical setae (each about 45 – 55 µm long) present forming marginal row with four setae on each side of each tergite (Fig. 10). Flagellate setae of different sizes forming transverse rows on abdominal sternites and sparsely present on ventral surface of thorax and head. Numerous minute cuticular tubercles covering all dorsal surface of body. Morphology of adult males was described by Afifi (1968). Description of larvae see in Herbert (1924) and Dziedzicka (1961). Ontogenesis and mode of life. The ontogenesis is similar with other species, discussed here (Fig. 9). Only obligatory biparental reproduction is possible (Schrader, 1929). The females are complete ovoviviparous; the oviposited eggs contain fully developed larvae inside. According to Schmutterer (1952) one female produces up to 416 eggs. There is one generation per year overwintering as secundo- or tertiolarvae (Schrader, 1929; Borchsenius, 1949). Strictly monophagous on Ulmus spp. Occasional records of this species from other plants, such as Fraxinus, Alnus, Corylus, Salix, and even Fig. 10. General morphology of Gossyparia spuria (Russia: Lipetsk Prov.) from grasses (see ScaleNet, 2019), are probably based on misidentification or occasional migration of non-feeding females from their host plants to the nearby plants for oviposition. Sometimes, females form large colonies significantly damaging their host plants. Distribution. Originally Palaearctic, but now Holarctic species, widely distributed along natural area of Ulmus spp. in temperate zone of Northern Hemisphere. The species is very common in Azerbaijan (Arutyunova, 1938; Rusanova, 1941) and Iran (Borchsenius, 1949; Moghaddam, 2018 and personal communication).	en	Gavrilov-Zimin, I. A., Kurochkin, A. S. (2019): Millennial zoological mystery of medieval Persian scientists. Zoosystematica Rossica (China) 28 (2): 201-227, DOI: 10.31610/zsr/2019.28.2.201, URL: https://doi.org/10.31610/zsr/2019.28.2.201
AB76C1316552957910A3BDA7FDD8FDEB.taxon	description	Signoret, 1875: 35; Cockerell, 1896: 323 (Eriococcus); Borchsenius, 1949: 347 (Acanthococcus); Schmutterer, 1952: 416 (Eriococcus); Kosztarab & Kozár, 1988: 278 (Acanthococcus); Kozár et al., 2013: 262 (Acanthococcus).	en	Gavrilov-Zimin, I. A., Kurochkin, A. S. (2019): Millennial zoological mystery of medieval Persian scientists. Zoosystematica Rossica (China) 28 (2): 201-227, DOI: 10.31610/zsr/2019.28.2.201, URL: https://doi.org/10.31610/zsr/2019.28.2.201
AB76C1316552957910A3BDA7FDD8FDEB.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined. Germany: on Acer campestris (without other collecting data), 2 females. Bulgaria: 10 km S of Kiustendil, on Quercus sp., 22. VI. 2008 (I. Gavrilov leg.) 1 female. Poland: Krakow, on Quercus rubra, 29. IX. 1966 (E. Danzig leg.), 4 females; unclear locality, on Acer platanoides, 15. V. 1967 (J. Koteja leg.), 4 females. Ukraine: Zakarpatskaia Prov.: near Nevitskoe Settlm., on Acer tatarica, 16. VI. 1956 (N. Borchsenius leg.), 3 females; near Uzhgorod, on Acer sp., 18. VI. 1956 (N. Borchsenius leg.), 4 females; near Uzhgorod, Latoritsa Riv., 19. VI. 1956 (N. Borchsenius leg.), 3 females. Russia: Krasnodar Terr.: Sochi, Agur Riv. Gorge, on Acer campestre, 16. V. 2003 (I. Gavrilov leg.); Karachay-Cherkess Republic: 10 km S of Arkhyz Vill., 1600 m altitude, on Acer sp., 4. VII. 1976 (E. Danzig leg.), 2 females; Dagestan: 15 km SW of Sergokaly, on Acer sp., 16. VII. 1983 (E. Danzig leg.), 8 females; Primorsk Terr.: Vladivostok, on Acer mono, 2. VI. 1963 (E. Danzig leg.), 1 female. Dried colonies of females from Austria, Poland, Ukraine, Russia, and Georgia. Three series of females fixed in ethanol from Bulgaria and Russia (North Caucasus). Morphological description. Adult female. Body egg-shaped, up to 3 mm long, intense red in life, located inside of white-grey wax sac which totally covers female and oviposited eggs. Antennae 6 – 7 - segmented, each about 300 µm long. Legs with all segments normally developed, without translucent pores; claw with denticle; claw digitules with clavate apices. Anal apparatus with outer row of spinulae, incomplete inner row of pores and eight long setae, each about two times as long as diameter of anal ring. Multilocular pores absent. Quinquelocular pores (occasionally 6 - or 7 - locular pores), each about 5 µm in diameter, scattered on all ventral surface of body, excluding marginal zone of ventral head, thorax and anterior abdominal sternites. Oval discoidal pores (“ cruciform pores ” in some authors) each about 3 µm in diameter, forming marginal band on ventral head, thorax and anterior abdominal sternites. Macrotubular ducts of three sizes: larger ducts, each about 25 µm long and 8 µm wide forming transverse rows on dorsum; mid-sized ducts each about 20 µm long and 5 – 7 µm wide, forming marginal band on venter and occasionally present in medial-submedial zones of posterior abdominal sternites; smaller macrotubular ducts, each about 15 µm long and 2 – 3 µm wide, forming transverse rows on II – VII abdominal sternites. Microtubular ducts each about 8 µm long and 1 µm wide, scattered on all dorsal surface of body. Conical setae with more or less blunt apices, each about 15 – 20 µm long, forming transverse rows or bands on tergites and band along margin of dorsum; largest conical setae (each about 30 – 50 µm long) forming row (with 3 – 4 setae on each side of each segment) along body margin. Flagellate setae of different sizes forming transverse rows on abdominal sternites and sparsely present on ventral surface of thorax and head. Morphology of larvae of both sexes and adult males was described by Hodgson & Trencheva (2008). Fig. 11. General morphology of Acanthococcus aceris (Russia: Karachay-Cherkess Republic). Taxonomic notes. Gavrilov (2010: 38) considered in detail the absence of any discrete characters for separation of A. melnikensis from wellknown and widely distributed A. aceris: “ Recently, a new species Eriococcus melnikensis Hodgson & Trencheva (2008), similar to A. aceris, was described from Bulgaria. Unfortunately, the diagnosis of the new species in the original description did not include a comparison of the adult females with those of A. aceris. Moreover, the description of A. aceris in Hodgson & Trencheva (2008) is very brief in comparison with huge description of the new species and was based on the short description by Williams (1985) and several females collected from one population in Padova (Italy). The two characters used by Hodgson & Trencheva (2008) for the separation of these two species were included in the key only (p. 37, l. c.). These two characters were: 1) A. aceris, in contrast to A. (Eriococcus) melnikensis, has setae on antennal segment III. However, there is no enlargement of the antennae in the figure of A. aceris (Fig. 11, page 29, in Hodgson & Trencheva). Based on material preserved in Zoological Institute, St. Petersburg, and on descriptions by Borchsenius (1949) and Williams (1985), A. aceris can have 6 - or 7 - segmented antennae. When a female has 6 segments, segment III is rather long and bears 2 or 3 setae on its distal part. However, segment III is often more or less divided in two parts and then the new! segment III has no setae, because these remain on the new segment IV. It is well known, that the division or fusion of antennal segments often occurs in scale insects and sometimes a female can have different numbers of segments on two her antennae. 2) A. melnikensis has “ ventral medium-sized macrotubular ducts only present submarginally, mainly on head and posterior abdominal segments ” in contrast to A. aceris, which has “ ventral medium-sized macrotubular ducts present medially on most abdominal segments ”. However, in the figure (Fig. 7, p. 18, l. c.), only two sizes of ducts are enlarged. Moreover, the description of the new species does not include the size of these ducts; it is written (p. 14) that they are “ slightly smaller ” than the large ones. In the description of A. aceris (p. 28, l. c.), the sizes of the ducts are not mentioned at all. In the description of A. aceris by Williams (1985), the medium-sized ducts are “ ... not numerous [and are present], in more or less single rows on abdominal segments and around submargins to head ”. So, there is no significant difference in this character even in the descriptions of A. aceris and A. melnikensis. Based on a study of material [in the collection of Zoological Institute] in St Petersburg of A. aceris from different localities, these two species appear to be identical. Unfortunately, this is not surprising because the distribution and number of ducts (or pores) varies very significantly in many scale insect species, especially in widely distributed common species, such as A. aceris Signoret. Differences were also noted by Hodgson & Trencheva (2008) between first-instar larvae of these two species – in particular, the size and form of the spinose setae. These differences were based on a study of 3 larvae from one population of each species. As the variation of morphological characters in the larvae of scale insects has not been well studied, it is not known what the differences between larvae from different localities, different host plants, etc are likely to be significant. Until there is a clearer understanding of this variation, their taxonomic significance is unknown. Therefore, based on the above mentioned comments, I consider that A. melnikensis is a new junior synonym of A. aceris. ” Kozár et al. (2013: 83) tried to dispute this synonymy without providing any counterarguments, but with only the writing of the naive statement: “ there are big differences between first instar nymphs of A. aceris and A. melnikensis which clearly belongs to the Acanthococcus roboris group. On this base we reestablished here A. melnikensis species status ”. Thus, any reader can clearly see and compare here two different approaches to the discussed taxonomic problem. Ontogenesis and mode of life. The ontogenesis is similar with other species, discussed here (Fig. 9). The reproduction is bisexual; females lay each 82 – 378 eggs; primolarvae hatch in about 30 – 35 days after oviposition (Schmutterer, 1952); overwintering as a secundolarva (Kosztarab & Kozár, 1988). The species mainly inhabits trunks and branches of Acer spp., more rarely Aesculus spp., Quercus spp., Fagus spp. and some other forest trees. The record of willow (Salix caprea) as a host plant of this species (Kozár et al., 2013) is probably a mistake, copied from ScaleNet (E. Szita, personal communication). Females usually do not form large colonies or even separate females are located far from each other on the host plant. Distribution. The species is widely distributed in Europe, Transcaucasia and in the Near East; its presence in Iran (Moghaddam, 2018) was based on a student’s note and needs additional checking (M. Moghaddam, personal communication).	en	Gavrilov-Zimin, I. A., Kurochkin, A. S. (2019): Millennial zoological mystery of medieval Persian scientists. Zoosystematica Rossica (China) 28 (2): 201-227, DOI: 10.31610/zsr/2019.28.2.201, URL: https://doi.org/10.31610/zsr/2019.28.2.201
AB76C1316557957910ACBCF1FCF2FBFE.taxon	description	Matesova, 1967: 1195; Kozár et al., 2013: 142. Material examined. Holotype: female, Kazakhstan: Alma-Ata Prov.: Charyn Riv., Sartagoy, on Populus pruinosa, 22. VI. 1964 (G. Matesova leg.); paratypes: female with the same data, but on separate slide; 3 females on 3 slides, with the same data, but road between Chilik Vill. and Ayak-Kaykan Vill., on Populus diversifolia, 9. V. 1963 (T. Makarov leg.). Morphological description. Adult female. Body egg-shaped, up to 4 mm long, dark-bordeaux in life, located inside of grey wax sac which totally covers female and oviposited eggs. Antennae 7 - segmented, each about 250 µm long. Legs with all segments normally developed, without translucent pores; claw with denticle; claw digitules with clavate apices. Anal apparatus with outer row of spinulae, incomplete inner row of pores and eight long setae, each about two times as long as diameter of anal ring. Multilocular pores absent. Quinquelocular pores, each about 5 µm in diameter, scattered on all ventral surface of body, excluding marginal zone of ventral head, thorax and anterior abdominal sternites. Oval discoidal pores (“ cruciform pores ” in some authors) each about 3 µm in diameter, forming marginal band on ventral head, thorax and anterior abdominal sternites. Macrotubular ducts slightly differ in size: dorsal ducts, each about 25 – 30 µm long and 8 – 10 µm wide forming transverse rows on all tergites, excluding three posterior abdominal tergites, where ducts present along margin only; ventral macrotubular ducts, each about 25 µm long and 7 µm wide, forming transverse rows or bands on abdominal sternites and scattered on thorax and head. Microtubular ducts each about 8 µm long and 1 µm wide, scattered on all dorsal surface of body. Small conical setae with pointed apices, each about 10 – 15 µm long, forming transverse rows or bands on tergites; large conical setae with blunt apices (each about 30 – 60 µm long) present along margin of dorsum, 2 – 4 setae on each margin of each tergite (Fig. 12). Flagellate setae of different sizes forming transverse rows on abdominal sternites and sparsely present on ventral surface of thorax and head. Numerous minute cuticular tubercles covering all dorsal surface of body. Morphology of adult males and larvae unknown. Taxonomic note. Kozár et al. (2013) incorrectly placed A. turanicus Matesova, 1967 under synonymy of A. populi Matesova, 1967. It is a junior synonym of A. salicis (Borchsenius, 1938) (see below). Ontogenesis and mode of life. The ontogenesis is similar with other species, discussed here (Fig. 9). Females form dense colonies on trunks and branches of different Populus spp. and Salix spp. Oviposition starts in Late June (Matesova, 1967). Distribution. Kazakhstan (Alma-Ata Prov.), China (Tibet).	en	Gavrilov-Zimin, I. A., Kurochkin, A. S. (2019): Millennial zoological mystery of medieval Persian scientists. Zoosystematica Rossica (China) 28 (2): 201-227, DOI: 10.31610/zsr/2019.28.2.201, URL: https://doi.org/10.31610/zsr/2019.28.2.201
AB76C13165579565130BBA02FB7CFF44.taxon	description	Borchsenius, 1938: 135 (Eriococcus), 1949: 345 (Acanthococcus); Danzig, 1980: 208 (lectotype designation); Kozár et al., 2013: 155.	en	Gavrilov-Zimin, I. A., Kurochkin, A. S. (2019): Millennial zoological mystery of medieval Persian scientists. Zoosystematica Rossica (China) 28 (2): 201-227, DOI: 10.31610/zsr/2019.28.2.201, URL: https://doi.org/10.31610/zsr/2019.28.2.201
AB76C13165579565130BBA02FB7CFF44.taxon	materials_examined	Material. Lectotype and 2 paralectotypes of A. salicis (on the same slide): females, Russia, Primorsk Terr., Guberovo Station, on willow, 25. VI. 1934 (Sh. V. Prun leg.), 3 females; 3 paralectotypes A. salicis with the same data, but on 3 separate slides. Holotype of A. turanicus: female, Kazakhstan: Alma Ata Prov., Chulak-Tau Ridge, Kzyl-Aus Gorge, on Salix wilhelmsiana, 09. VI. 1964 (G. Matesova leg.); 3 paratypes of A. turanicus: females with the same data, but on 3 separate slides; 3 paratypes of A. turanicus: females with the same data, but Chilik Vill., on Salix sp., 8. V. 1963 (T. Makarov leg.), on 2 separate slides; 3 paratypes of A. turanicus: females with the same data, but Chilik Vill., on Salix sp., 3. VII. 1965 (G. Matesova leg.), on 3 separate slides; 5 paratypes of A. turanicus: females, Fig. 12. General morphology of Acanthococcus populi (paratype). Taldy-Kurgan Prov.: Taldy-Kurgan, on 4 slides, on Salix coerulea, 17. V. 1955 (G. Matesova leg.), on 4 slides; paratype of A. turanicus: female, Tajikistan: Pamir, Bari- Tau Gorge, on Salix sp., VIII. 1958 (E. Borovkov leg). Other material. K 1495, Kazakhstan: Kyzylorda Prov.: 3.35 km SE of Tartogay Vill., 44 ° 24´38.0 ´´ N, 66 ° 16´35.1 ´´ E, on trunk of Populus euphratica, 9. V. 2018 (A. S. Kurochkin leg.), 2 females. Series of females with the same collecting data in acetoethanol. Russia: Khabarovsk Terr.: Khabarovsk Distr., on Salix sp., 27. V. 1959 (collector unknown), 3 females; Primorsk Terr.: Ussuriysk, valley of Komarovka [Suputinka] Riv., on Salix sp., 11. VI. 1963 (E. Danzig leg.), 2 females; Ussuriysk, on Salix sp., 27. V. 1950 (B. Chumakova leg.), 2 females; Guberovo Station, on willow, 25. VI. 1934 (Sh. V. Prun leg.), 2 females. Dried colonies of females from Russia. Three series of females in ethanol from Russia. One series of females in acetoethanol from Kazakhstan. Morphological description. Adult female. Body egg-shaped, up to 4 mm long, dark-bordeaux in life, located inside of yellow-white wax sac, which totally covers female and oviposited eggs. Antennae 7 - segmented, each about 250 µm long. Legs with all segments normally developed, without translucent pores; claw with denticle; claw digitules with clavate apices. Anal apparatus with outer row of spinulae, incomplete inner row of pores and eight long setae, each about two times as long as diameter of anal ring. Multilocular pores absent. Quinquelocular pores, each about 5 µm in diameter, scattered on all ventral surface of body, excluding marginal zone of ventral surface of head, thorax and anterior abdominal sternites. Oval discoidal pores (“ cruciform pores ” in some authors) each about 3 µm in diameter, forming Fig. 13. Colony of young adult females and larvae of Acanthococcus salicis on stem of Populus euphratica, attended by ants (Kazakhstan: Kyzylorda Prov.). Fig. 14. General morphology of Acanthococcus salicis (lectotype). marginal band on ventral thorax and anterior abdominal sternites. Macrotubular ducts slightly differ in size: dorsal ducts, each about 20 – 25 µm long and 5 – 6 µm wide forming transverse rows and bands on tergites, excluding three posterior abdominal tergites, where ducts usually present in marginal zone only; ventral macrotubular ducts, each about 20 µm long and 5 µm wide, forming transverse rows or bands on abdominal sternites and scattered on thorax and head. Microtubular ducts each about 8 µm long and 1 µm wide, scattered on all dorsal surface of body. All conical setae more or less cylindrical, with blunt or slightly clavate apices; smaller conical setae, each about 20 – 25 µm long, forming transverse bands on all tergites; large conical setae (each about 30 – 50 µm long) present along margin of dorsum, 2 – 4 setae on each margin of each tergite (Fig. 14) and along dorsal midline. Flagellate setae of different sizes forming transverse rows on abdominal sternites and sparsely present on ventral surface of thorax and head. Numerous minute cuticular tubercles covering all dorsal surface of body. Morphology of adult males and larvae unknown. Taxonomic note. Kozár et al. (2013: 155) provided partially incorrect information on the types: “ Russia (Siberia, Guberoro), on Salix sp., 25. VI. 1934, by S. V. Brown ” (see the correct data above). Probably, this information was simply copied from on-line database ScaleNet, which, unfortunately, is full of such kind of mistakes. Also, Kozár et al. (2013) incorrectly placed A. turanicus Matesova, 1967 under synonymy of A. populi Matesova, 1967, probably in view of an occasional mistake during combining different species information in the book. These species clearly differ from each other in size and form of conical setae (see Key in Matesova, 1967 and new Key below). In reality, A. turanicus is a junior synonym of A. salicis (Borchsenius, 1938). The last two nominal species were not compared previously. Ontogenesis and mode of life. The ontogenesis is similar with other species, discussed here (Fig. 9). Females form colonies on branches of different Salix spp. Here it is also noted from Populus euphratica (Salicaceae). Ovoviviparous species with oviposition during June (Matesova, 1967; Danzig, 1980). Distribution. Turkey, Kazakhstan, Russia (Far East), Mongolia, China.	en	Gavrilov-Zimin, I. A., Kurochkin, A. S. (2019): Millennial zoological mystery of medieval Persian scientists. Zoosystematica Rossica (China) 28 (2): 201-227, DOI: 10.31610/zsr/2019.28.2.201, URL: https://doi.org/10.31610/zsr/2019.28.2.201
AB76C131654B9561130BBF6DFA5AFB66.taxon	description	Borchsenius, 1949: 348. Kozár et al., 2013: 163.	en	Gavrilov-Zimin, I. A., Kurochkin, A. S. (2019): Millennial zoological mystery of medieval Persian scientists. Zoosystematica Rossica (China) 28 (2): 201-227, DOI: 10.31610/zsr/2019.28.2.201, URL: https://doi.org/10.31610/zsr/2019.28.2.201
AB76C131654B9561130BBF6DFA5AFB66.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined. Lectotype and 2 paralectotypes (on the same slide) of A. spiraeae: females, Georgia: Tbilisi, on twigs of Spirea hypericifolia, 17. VII. 1934, (N. Borchsenius leg.). Holotype and 5 paratypes (all on separate slides) of A. altaicus: females, Kazakhstan: Eastern Kazakhstan Prov.: Ubinski Ridge near Orlovka Vill., on Salix sp., 08. VI. 1961 (G. Matesova & T. Makarov leg.). Other material. Russia: Irkutsk Prov.: Bolshoy Lug Settlm., moss bog, on Salix sp., 16. VII. 1970, 3 females, on Betula sp. 10. VII. 1970, 4 females, on Betula nana, 20. VII. 1970, 2 females (E. Danzig leg.); Kyngorgi Riv. valley, 7 km upstream from Arshan, on Salix sp., 26. VII. 1970 (E. Danzig leg.), 5 females; Yakutia: Vitim Settlm., 25. VI. 1961 (collector unknown), 2 females; Fig. 15. Young females of Acanthococcus spiraeae on twig of Spiraea hypericifolia (Kazakhstan: Turkestan Prov.). a b	en	Gavrilov-Zimin, I. A., Kurochkin, A. S. (2019): Millennial zoological mystery of medieval Persian scientists. Zoosystematica Rossica (China) 28 (2): 201-227, DOI: 10.31610/zsr/2019.28.2.201, URL: https://doi.org/10.31610/zsr/2019.28.2.201
AB76C131654B9561130BBF6DFA5AFB66.taxon	description	Fig. 16. Females of Acanthococcus spiraeae on twig of Spiraea hypericifolia (Kazakhstan: Turkestan Prov.). a, older females inside of wax ovisacs; b, crushed female demonstrating purple pigment of body. Verkhoiansk, on Spiraea salicifolia, 24. VII. 1974 (E. Danzig leg.), 2 females; Khaptagay Settlm., on Spiraea salicifolia, 28,29. VI. 1974, 2. VII. 1974 (E. Danzig leg.), 10 females. Georgia: Tbilisi, 17. VII. 1934 (N. Borchsenius leg.), 3 females. Kazakhstan: Alma-Ata Prov.: near lake Issyk, on Spiraea sp., 12. VII. 1936 (collector unknown), 3 females; Talgar Reserve, on Spiraea sp., 12. IX. 1969 (E. Danzig leg.), 5 females; Semipalatinsk Prov.: near Kenderlyk, on Spiraea sp., 5. VI. 1954 (Matesova leg.), 4 females; Kostanay Prov.: 10 km N of Nikitinka, on Spiraea sp., 7. VI. 1971 (E. Danzig leg.), 3 females; K 1497, Turkestan Prov., 42 ° 10´00.2 ´´ N, 70 ° 24´58.8 ´´ E, Western Tian Shan Mts, Ugam Range (1940 m altitude), Sayram-Ugam National Park, valley of Sazanata Riv., on branches and twigs of Spiraea hypericifolia, 31. V. 2018 (A. S Kurochkin leg.), 4 females; K 1500, the same data, but 42 ° 09´59.5 ´´ N, 70 ° 25´07.9 ´´ E, 1946 m altitude, 2 females. Uzbekistan: 5 km N Khumsan, 14. V. 1963 (E. Sugoniaev leg.), 3 females; 20 km N Khumsan, 18. V. 1963 (E. Sugoniaev leg.), 1 female. Mongolia: 10 km W Tariat, 22. VI. 1975 (E. Sugoniaev leg.), 3 females. Two series of females in ethanol from Russia and Georgia. Two large series of females from Kazakhstan (K 1497 and K 1500) fixed in aceto-ethanol. Dried colonies of females from: Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Mongolia. Morphological description. Adult female. Body egg-shaped, up to 2.5 mm long, intense red in life, located inside of grey wax sac which totally covers female and oviposited eggs. Antennae 6 – 7 - segmented, each about 250 µm long. Legs with all segments normally developed, without translucent pores; claw with denticle; claw digitules with clavate apices. Anal apparatus with out- er row of spinulae, incomplete inner row of pores and eight long setae, each about two times s long Fig. 17. General morphology of Acanthococcus spiraeae (Kazakhstan: Turkestan Prov.). as diameter of anal ring. Multilocular pores absent. Quinquelocular pores, each about 5 µm in diameter, scattered on all ventral surface of body, excluding marginal zone of ventral head, thorax and anterior abdominal sternites. Oval discoidal pores (“ cruciform pores ” in some authors) each about 3 µm in diameter, forming marginal band on ventral head, thorax and anterior abdominal sternites. Macrotubular ducts of three sizes: larg- er ducts, each about 25 µm long and 8 µm wide forming transverse rows on dorsum; mid-sized ducts each about 25 µm long and 5 – 7 µm wide, forming marginal band on venter and transverse rows on five posterior abdominal sternites; small- er macrotubular ducts, each about 15 µm long and 2 – 3 µm wide, forming transverse rows on II – VII abdominal sternites. Microtubular ducts each about 8 µm long and 1 µm wide, scattered on all dorsal surface of body. Conical setae with more or less pointed apices, each about 15 – 30 µm long, forming transverse rows or bands on tergites and band along margin of dorsum; largest conical setae (each about 40 – 50 µm long) present pairwise on each margin of each tergite and along midline (Fig. 17). Flagellate setae of different sizes forming transverse rows on abdominal sternites and sparsely present on ventral surface of thorax and head. Numerous minute cuticular tubercles covering all dorsal surface of body. Morphology of adult males and larvae unknown. Taxonomic note. Matesova (1967) did not compare A. altaicus with earlier described A. spiraeae. During our study of the type material of both these nominal species and numerous additional specimens, collected in different regions and iden- Fig. 18. Collecting locality of Acanthococcus spiraeae (Kazakhstan: Turkestan Prov.: Western Tian Shan Mts., Ugam Range, about 1940 m altitude). tified by previous authors as A. altaicus or A. spiraeae, we were unable to find any distinct differences between them. In the result we consider A. altaicus as a new junior synonym of A. spiraeae. Kozár et al. (2013) incorrectly figured macrotubular ducts in medial / submedial zone of thoracic sternites of A. altaicus, whereas the absence of these ducts in this zone is one of the diagnostic characters noted in the original description of A. altaicus. The ducts in this zone are absent in all type and non-type specimens of A. spiraeae (= A. altaicus), studied by us. Ontogenesis and mode of life. The ontogenesis is similar with other species, discussed here (Fig. 9). One female produces 76 – 116 eggs in late May-early June (Matesova, 1967 and present data). Females and larvae inhabiting branches and stems (Figs 15 – 16) of different species of Spiraea, Betula, Salix. On Salix spp. in Kazakhstan females form large dense colonies. Matesova (1967) reported a peculiar symbiosis of Acanthococcus spiraeae (= A. altaicus) with the aphid Phylloxerina salicis (Lichtenstein, 1884) (Aphidinea: Adelgoidea: Phylloxeridae). The aphid female is about three times smaller than the female of A. spiraeae and located under the last inside of the shared wax ovisac. Phenology of both the aphid and the felt scale is very similar and even the oviposition is started in the same time; the eggs of the aphid are smaller and lie in the was sac just under the eggs of the felt scale. Sometimes two aphid females may present in one ovisac with a female of A. spiraeae, whereas about 19 % of the felt scale females in the population lack symbiotic aphids at all. Distribution. Georgia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Russia (Irkutsk Prov., Yakutia), (Turkestan Prov., Eastern Kazakhstan Prov.), and Mongolia. Summarising all available data on the six species of felt scales reviewed above we can presume that three of them, Gossyparia salicicola, Acanthococcus salicis and A. spiraeae could be the most probable source of red dye, associated with Salix spp. in Western and Central Asia. Three oth- er species are less suitable due to different reasons. Both Acanthococcus aceris and Gossyparia spuria associated primary with other host plants and the occasional reports from Salix spp. are dubious; moreover, Acanthococcus aceris usually does not form large female colonies, which are suitable for applied collecting. The last species, A. populi, has a very local distribution in Alma-Ata Province, Eastern Kazakhstan. The only other record of this species from the other locality, Tibet (Tang & Hao, 1995), needs additional verification, because at the time of that publication, there was no general review or key for Asiatic Acanthococcus spp. available, and it was easy to mix A. populi with other similar species during identification.	en	Gavrilov-Zimin, I. A., Kurochkin, A. S. (2019): Millennial zoological mystery of medieval Persian scientists. Zoosystematica Rossica (China) 28 (2): 201-227, DOI: 10.31610/zsr/2019.28.2.201, URL: https://doi.org/10.31610/zsr/2019.28.2.201
