Rhyncaphytoptus buxifoliae, Song, Zi-Wei, Xue, Xiao-Feng & Hong, Xiao-Yue, 2009

Song, Zi-Wei, Xue, Xiao-Feng & Hong, Xiao-Yue, 2009, Four new species of Rhyncaphytoptus from Tibet Autonomous Region, China (Acari: Eriophyoidea: Diptilomiopidae), Zootaxa 2196, pp. 31-47 : 43-46

Rhyncaphytoptus buxifoliae sp. nov.

( Figs 7 & 8 )

Description. FEMALE: (n = 8) Body fusiform, 288 (240–290), 71 (68–72) wide, 70 (69–72) thick; light yellow. Gnathosoma 70 (70–73), projecting downwards, pedipalp coxal seta (ep) 5 (4–5), dorsal pedipalp genual seta (d) 8 (7–8), cheliceral stylets 66 (66–70). Prodorsal shield sub-trapeziform, 31 (31–32), 57 (55– 60) wide; prodorsal shield with lobe anteriorly slightly emarginate; shield design with incomplete median line on posterior 1/2, complete admedian and submedian lines. Scapular tubercles 10 (5–13), ahead of rear shield margin, 29 (28–29) apart, scapular setae (sc) 30 (30–32) projecting forward. Coxal plates smooth; anterolateral setae on coxisternum I (1b) 18 (18–20), 9 (9–10) apart, proximal setae on coxisternum I (1a) 30 (30–32), 9 (9–10) apart, proximal setae on coxisternum II (2a) 35 (30–40), 25 (25–26) apart. Prosternal apodeme present. Legs with usual series of setae. Leg I 47 (45–48), femur 14 (13–14), basiventral femoral seta (bv) 10 (10–12); genu 6 (5–6), antaxial genual seta (l ʺ) 25 (24–25); tibia 10 (9–10), paraxial tibial seta (l ʹ) 10 (9–10), located in proximal 1/3; tarsus 8 (7–8); paraxial unguinal tarsal seta (u ʹ) 6 (5–6); tarsal empodium 8 (7–8), simple, 9-rayed, tarsal solenidion rod-like. Leg II 43 (41–43), femur 14 (13–14), basiventral femoral seta (bv) 11 (11–12); genu 6 (5–6), antaxial genual seta (l ʺ) 11 (10–13); tibia 6 (6–7); tarsus 7 (7–8); paraxial unguinal tarsal seta (u ʹ) 6 (5–6); tarsal empodium 8 (7–8), simple, 9-rayed, tarsal solenidion rod-like. Opisthosoma: opisthosoma dorsally with 39 (34–40) annuli, smooth except rear 7 annuli with microtubercles; ventrally with 66 (66–76) annuli, with round microtubercles. Setae c2 20 (15–20) on ventral annulus 13 (13–15); setae d 45 (40–45) on ventral annulus 27 (27–34), 26 (26–28) apart; setae e 25 (22–25) on ventral annulus 41 (41–44), 13 (12–13) apart; setae f 25 (22–25) on 7th ventral annulus from rear, 19 (19–20) apart. Setae h1 5 (4–5). Female genitalia 13 (12–13), 28 (25–28) wide, coverflap smooth, setae 3a 14 (14– 16), 16 (15–16) apart.

MALE: (n = 1) Body fusiform, 248, 63 wide, light yellow. Gnathosoma 70, projecting downwards, pedipalp coxal seta (ep) 4, dorsal pedipalp genual seta (d) 10, cheliceral stylets 67. Prodorsal shield 29, 50 wide, smooth. Scapular tubercles ahead of rear shield margin, 23 apart, scapular setae (sc) 30 projecting forward. Coxal plates smooth; anterolateral setae on coxisternum I (1b) 15, 7 apart, proximal setae on coxisternum I (1a) 30, 6 apart, proximal setae on coxisternum II (2a) 45, 22 apart. Prosternal apodeme present. Legs with usual series of setae. Leg I 44, femur 13, basiventral femoral seta (bv) 10; genu 5, antaxial genual seta (l ʺ) 23; tibia 9, paraxial tibial seta (l ʹ) 9, located in proximal 1/3; tarsus 7; paraxial unguinal tarsal seta (u ʹ) 5; tarsal empodium 7, simple, 9-rayed, tarsal solenidion rod-like. Leg II 40, femur 13, basiventral femoral seta (bv) 11; genu 5, antaxial genual seta (l ʺ) 12; tibia 6; tarsus 7; paraxial unguinal tarsal seta (u ʹ) 5; tarsal empodium 7, simple, 9-rayed, tarsal solenidion rod-like. Opisthosoma: opisthosoma dorsally with 36 annuli, smooth; ventrally with 71 microtubercular annuli. Setae c2 23 on ventral annulus 15; setae d 45 on ventral annulus 28, 33 apart; setae e 25 on ventral annulus 40, 19 apart; setae f 27 on 7th ventral annulus from rear, 21 apart. Setae h1 5. Male genitalia 20 wide, setae 3a 13, 17 apart.

Type material. Holotype, female (slide marked 967/970A holotype), from Cotoneaster buxifolius Lindl. (Rosaceae) , Pai town, Linzhi District, Tibet Autonomous Region, P. R. China, 18 August, 2007, coll. Zi-Wei Song, Xiao-Feng Xue & Zhen Wang. Paratypes, 7 females and 1 male (slides no. 967/970A) with the same data as holotype.

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

Etymology. The specific designation buxifoliae is from the species name of host plant “ buxifolius ”.

Differential diagnosis. This species is similar to R. betulae Kuang & Hong, 1990 , but can be differentiated from the latter by the prodorsal shield with incomplete median line (prodorsal shield with median line absent in R. betulae ); dorsal rear 7 annuli with microtubercles (dorsal annuli smooth in R. betulae ); setae f on 7th ventral annulus from rear (setae f on 5th ventral annulus from rear in R. betulae ); tarsal solenidion rod-like, empodium 9-rayed (tarsal solenidion knobbed, empodium 5-rayed in R. betulae ).

Figures

FIGURE 7. Rhyncaphytoptus buxifoliae sp. nov. D, dorsal view of female; CG, coxae and genitalia of female; L 1, leg I; L 2, leg II.

FIGURE 8. Rhyncaphytoptus buxifoliae sp. nov. L, lateral view of female; em, empodium; CGM, coxae and genitalia of male; LO, enlarged lateral view of opisthosoma.