Epitrimerus gnaphali, Xue, Xiao-Feng & Hong, Xiao-Yue, 2005

Xue, Xiao-Feng & Hong, Xiao-Yue, 2005, A new genus and eight new species of Phyllocoptini (Acari: Eriophyidae: Phyllocoptinae) from China, Zootaxa 1039, pp. 1-17 : 10-12

Epitrimerus gnaphali n. sp. ( Fig. 6 )

Female: (n = 12) Body fusiform, 225 long, 77 wide, 73 thick; light yellow in color. Gnathosoma 28, projecting obliquely down. Prodorsal shield 51 long, 58 wide; prodorsal shield with frontal lobe; ornamentation of prodorsal shield reticulated with distinct admedian lines. Dorsal tubercles ahead of rear margin, 20 apart, scapular setae (sc) 4 projecting center. Sternal line absent. Coxal area with granules; anterolateral setae on coxisternum I (1b) 6, proximal setae on coxisternum I (1a) 20, proximal setae on coxisternum II (2a) 28. Legs I 33 long, femur 10, basiventral femoral setae (bv) 10; genu 5 long, antaxial genual setae (l'') 23 long; tibia 7, paraxial tibial setae (l') 3, setae located 1/3 from dorsal base; tarsus 6 long; tarsal empodium simple, 3­rayed, tarsal solenidion knobbed. Legs II 28 long, femur 8, basiventral femoral setae (bv) 10; genu 4 long, antaxial genual setae (l'') 7 long; tibia 7; tarsus 6 long; tarsal empodium simple, 3­rayed, tarsal solenidion knobbed. Dorsal opisthosoma with 50 annuli, with round microtubercles on rear annular margins, ventrally with 82 microtuberculate rings. Setae c2 40 on ventral annulus 14; setae d 60 on ventral annulus 30; setae e 22 on ventral annulus 51; setae f 30 on 7th ventral annulus from rear. Setae h1 3 long. Female genitalia 22 long, 27 wide, coverflap with 12 longitudinal ridges and about 7 diagonal ridges at base, proximal setae on coxisternum III (3a) 25 long.

Male: (n = 3) 195 long, 65 wide; genitalia 4 long, 20 wide, proximal setae on coxisternum III (3a) 20 long.

Type data: Holotype, female, from Gnaphalium luteo­album L. (Compositae), Wutaishan mountain, Shanxi Province, P.R. China, 27 August 2004. coll. X.­F. Xue. Paratypes, 11 feamles and 3 males, with the same data as holotype.

Relation to host: Vagrant on the leaf surface. No damage to the host was observed.

Etymology: The specific designation is derived from the generic name of the host plant, Gnaphalium .

Note: This species is similar to Epitrimerus demissae Keifer, 1959 , but can be differentiated by the coxal area without sternal line, tarsal empodium simple and 3­rayed, and coverflap with diagonal ridges basally.

Figures

FIGURE 6. Epitrimerus gnaphali n. sp. A, dorsal view of female; B, coxae and female genitalia; C, legs I and II; D, lateral microtubercles; E, tarsal empodium; F, male genitalia.