These are the paired, approximately triangular plates, that lie at the anterior end of the anal cleft, and are also called as anal opercula. They are a major recognition character of the family Coccidae. These plates are `hinged' along their anterior margin and open anterolaterally. On most species, there are two setae along the inner margins (inner margin setae), one or more setae on the posterior apex (apical setae), and another either along the posterior outer margin (outer margin setae) or on the dorsal surface. On species in some genera (e.g. Saissetia, the dorsal setae are in the middle of the posterior half of each plate and, when they are distinctly enlarged, are referred to as the discal setae, in the discal position