Leipothrix schima, Wang & Tan & Yang, 2014

Wang, Guo-Quan, Tan, Meng-Chao & Yang, Juan, 2014, Three new species of Phyllocoptini (Prostigmata: Eriophyidae: Phyllocoptinae) from South China, Zoological Systematics 39 (3), pp. 380-387 : 383

Leipothrix schima sp. nov. ( Figs 8–15 )

Diagnosis. Yellowish or yellow fusiform body; gnathosoma curved obliquely downward; prodorsal shield frontal lobe; complete median and admedian lines; absent submedian lines; smooth coxisternal plates; prosternal apodeme; coxigenital annuli 9; tarsal empodium entire; four-rayed; tarsal solenidion knobbed; dorsal opisthosoma with median and admedian ridges; smooth dorsal annuli; ventral annuli with rounded microtubercles; absent setae h1; female genitalia coverflap with distal ridges.

Description. Female (n = 5). Body fusiform, yellowish or yellow, 125 (113–150), 58 (56–60) wide, 27 (25–30) thick.

Gnathosoma. Curved obliquely downward, 21 (21), coxal setae (ep) 2 (2–3), dorsal genual setae (d) bifurcated, 15 (15–16); cheliceral stylets 23 (20–25).

Prodorsal shield. 46 (44–48), 55 (53–57) wide, frontal lobe present; median and admedian lines complete, submedian lines absent; scapular tubercles placed ahead rear shield margin, 14 (13–14) apart, scapular setae (sc) 3 (3–4), directed upward.

Coxisternal plates. Prosternal apodeme present, coxisternal plates smooth; anterolateral setae on coxisternum І (1b) 13 (12–13), 17 (16–18) apart; proximal setae on coxisternum І (1a) 9 (8–10), 8 (8–9) apart; proximal setae on coxisternum ІІ (2a) 26 (23–30), 20 (18–23) apart. Coxigenital annuli 9.

Legs. Segments normal. Leg І 33 (32–36), trochanter 2 (2), femur 11 (11–12), femoral setae (bv) absent; genu 4 (4–5), genual setae (l'') 25 (25); tibia 9 (8–9), tibial setae (l ′) located inside from 1/5 base, 5 (5); tarsus 7 (7–8), inner fastigial tarsal setae (ft') 10 (10), outer fastigial tarsal setae (ft'') 20 (18–23), unguinal tarsal setae (u') bent, 5 (5–6); tarsal empodium entire, 7 (6–7), 4-rayed, tarsal solenidion 7 (6–7), knobbed. Leg ІІ 31 (29–34), trochanter 2 (2), femur 11 (10–11), femoral setae (bv) absent; genu 4 (3–4), genual setae (l'') 8 (7–10); tibia 6 (6); tarsus 6 (6–7), inner fastigial tarsal setae (ft') 20 (20), outer fastigial tarsal setae (ft'') 6 (5–8), unguinal tarsal setae (u') 4 (3–4); tarsal empodium entire, 7 (7–8), 4-rayed, tarsal solenidion 8 (8–9), knobbed.

Opisthosoma. Dorsum with median and admedian ridges, dorsal annuli 33 (33), smooth; ventral annuli 62 (62), with rounded microtubercles; setae c2 15 (15), on ventral annulus 14th; setae d 30 (30), 27 (25–28) apart, on ventral annulus 27th; setae e 15 (15), 10 (10–11) apart, on ventral annulus 39th; setae f 20 (20), 18 (15–21) apart, on 6th ventral annulus from rear; setae h1 absent, setae h2 51 (45–55).

Female genitalia. Coverflap with distal longitudinal ridges, 10 (10), 19 (19) wide, proximal setae on coxisternum ІІІ (3a) 13 (13), 11 (10–12) apart.

Male (n = 2). Same as female, body fusiform, 123, 51 wide; male genital 15 wide, proximal setae on coxisternum ІІІ (3a) 11, 9 apart.

Holotype female, Fengyangshan National Nature Reserve (27°53´N, 119°11´E), Longquan City, Zhejiang, China, 28 July 2007, leg. Guo-Quan Wang, from Schima superba Gardn. & Champ ( Theaceae ) . Paratypes 4 females and 2 males, same data as holotype .

Relation to host. The mites are vagrants on the undersurfaces of the leaves, with no visible damage.

Distribution. China (Zhejiang).

Etymology. The specific designation is derived from the generic name of the type host plant, gender feminine.

Remarks. The new species is similar to L. lysimachiae Hong & Kuang, 1989 , but can be distinguished from the latter by the complete prodorsal shield median line, absent submedian lines, and absent setae h1. In L. lysimachiae , the median and submedian lines are incomplete and setae h1 is present (Hong & Kuang, 1989).

Figures

Figs 8–15. Leipothrix schima sp. nov. 8. Dorsal view of female. 9. Coxigenital area of female. 10. Leg I. 11. Leg II. 12. Empodium. 13. Lateral view of annuli. 14. Dorsal genual setae. 15. Genital of male.