Tetra polygonumnis, Song, Zi-Wei, Xue, Xiao-Feng & Hong, Xiao-Yue, 2008

Song, Zi-Wei, Xue, Xiao-Feng & Hong, Xiao-Yue, 2008, Eriophyoid mite fauna (Acari: Eriophyoidea) of Gansu Province, northwestern China with descriptions of twelve new species, Zootaxa 1756, pp. 1-48 : 36-38

Tetra polygonumnis sp. nov.

( Fig. 11 )

Description. FEMALE: (n = 7) Body fusiform, 215 (215–242), 72 (70–75) wide, 75 (73–75) thick; light yellow. Gnathosoma 20 (20–22), projecting obliquely down, pedipalp coxal setae (ep) 5 (4–5), dorsal pedipalp genual setae (d) 10 (9–10), chelicerae 17 (16–17). Prodorsal shield 47 (46–47), 65 (60–65) wide; with frontal lobe acuminate; prodorsal shield design with a short median line on the rear 1/2 and incomplete admedian lines which appear to be sinuous at 1/2. Scapular tubercles on rear margin, 35 (34–35) apart, scapular setae (sc) 10 (9–10) projecting posteriorly. Coxal area with short lines and granules; anterolateral setae on coxisternum I (1b) 10 (9–10), proximal setae on coxisternum I (1a) 23 (20–25), proximal setae on coxisternum II (2a) 55 (50–60). Prosternal apodeme present. Legs: Leg I 45 (44–45), femur 12 (11–12), basiventral femoral seta (bv) 13 (11–13); genu 7 (6–7), antaxial genual seta (l'') 25 (24–25); tibia 10 (10–11), paraxial tibial seta (l') 7 (5–7), seta located 1/3 from dorsal base; tarsus 7 (6–7), tarsal seta (u') 5 (5–6), tarsal empodium simple, 5- rayed, tarsal solenidion rodlike. Leg II 41 (40–41), femur 12 (11–12), basiventral femoral seta (bv) 10 (7–12); genu 6 (5–6), antaxial genual seta (l'') 8 (8–9); tibia 9 (9–10); tarsus 7 (6–7), tarsal seta (u') 5 (5–6), tarsal empodium simple, 5-rayed, tarsal solenidion rodlike. Opisthosoma: dorsal opisthosoma with 41 (40–43) annuli, with elliptical microtubercles on rear annular margins, dorsal opisthosoma with a broad central furrow, ventrally with 81 (78–86) microtuberculate annuli. Setae c2 40 (38–40) on ventral annulus 14 (12–15); setae d 55 (40–60) on ventral annulus 31 (30–32); setae e 15 (12–15) on ventral annulus 52 (50–53); setae f 33 (30– 35) on 6th ventral annulus from rear. Setae h1 5 (4–5). Female genitalia 15 (14–15), 23 (23–27) wide, coverflap with 12–14 longitudinal ridges, proximal setae on coxisternum III (3a) 18 (16–20).

MALE: (n = 14) Body fusiform, 200 (200–203), 70 (66–70) wide, 73 (70–74) thick; light yellow. Gnathosoma 18 (16–18), projecting obliquely down, pedipalp coxal setae (ep) 5 (4–5), dorsal pedipalp genual setae (d) 9 (9–10), chelicerae 15 (15–16). Prodorsal shield 43 (40–43), 60 (60–62) wide. Scapular tubercles on rear margin, 35 (34–35) apart, scapular setae (sc) 12 (10–12) projecting posteriorly. Coxal area with short lines and granules; anterolateral setae on coxisternum I (1b) 12 (10–12), proximal setae on coxisternum I (1a) 20 (20–23), proximal setae on coxisternum II (2a) 52 (50–54). Prosternal apodeme present. Legs: Leg I 42 (40– 42), femur 10 (10–11), basiventral femoral seta (bv) 10 (10–11); genu 6 (6–7), antaxial genual seta (l'') 23 (22–23); tibia 10 (10–11), paraxial tibial seta (l') 9 (8–9), seta located 1/3 from dorsal base; tarsus 7 (6–7), tarsal seta (u') 5 (4–5), tarsal empodium simple, 5-rayed, tarsal solenidion rodlike. Leg II 38 (38–40), femur 10 (10–11), basiventral femoral seta (bv) 10 (9–11); genu 5 (5–6), antaxial genual seta (l'') 10 (9–10); tibia 9 (9– 10); tarsus 6 (6–7), tarsal seta (u') 5 (4–5), tarsal empodium simple, 5-rayed, tarsal solenidion rodlike. Opisthosoma: dorsal opisthosoma with 42 (40–42) annuli, with elliptical microtubercles on rear annular margins, dorsal opisthosoma with a broad central furrow, ventrally with 75 (75–80) microtuberculate annuli.

Setae c2 38 (36–39) on ventral annulus 10 (10–11); setae d 50 (40–55) on ventral annulus 28 (28–30); setae e 17 (15–18) on ventral annulus 49 (47–50); setae f 30 (30–32) on 6th ventral annulus from rear. Setae h1 4 (4– 5). Male genitalia 3 (3–4), 21 (21–22) wide, proximal setae on coxisternum III (3a) 13 (13–15).

Types. Holotype, female, from Polygonum sp. ( Chenopodiaceae ), Lanzhou City, Gansu Province, China, 36°05'19N, 103°41'49E, September 15, 2005, collected by Zi-Wei Song and Xiao-Feng Xue. Paratypes, 6 females and 14 males, with the same data as holotype.

Relation to host. Mites are vagrant on the undersurface of leaves, causing no apparent damage. Etymology. The specific designation polygonumnis is from the generic name of the host plant, Polygonum .

Remarks. This species is similar to Tetra pinnatifidae Xue, Song and Hong, 2006 c, but can be differentiated by prodorsal shield without submedian line (prodorsal shield design with submedian lines in T. pinnatifidae ), coxal area with short lines and granules (coxal area with only short lines in T. pinnatifidae ), female genital coverflap with 12–14 longitudinal ridges (female coverflap with 6 longitudinal ridges in T. pinnatifidae ).

Figures

FIGURE 11. Tetra polygonumnis sp. nov. A, dorsal view of female; B, coxae and female genitalia; C, legs I and II; D, lateral aspect of female; E, tarsal empodium; F, male genitalia.