Protumescoptes laurifolii, Li & Wang & Wei, 2010

Li, De-Wei, Wang, Guo-Quan & Wei, Sui-Gai, 2010, Description of a new genus and four new species of Acaricalini (Acari, Eriophyidae, Phyllocoptinae) from South China, Zoosystema 32 (2), pp. 233-245 : 237-239

Protumescoptes laurifolii n. sp.

( Fig. 2 )

TYPE MATERIAL. — Holotype: Jinzhong MT., 37 km SW of Longlin County ( 24°8’N, 105°34’E), Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China, 1.XII.2004, from Geniconthus laurifolius (Roxb.) Hook. f. ( Asclepiadaceae ), coll. Sui-Gai Wei, Guo-Quan Wang and De-Wei Li, ♀ ( CAGU) . Paratypes: same data as holotype, 10 ♀♀, 1 ơ ( CAGU) ; 2 ♀♀ ( MNHN) .

ETYMOLOGY. — The specific epithet is derived from the species name of the host plant, laurifolius.

RELATION TO HOST. — The mites are vagrants on the lower surface of the leaves, no visible damage.

DESCRIPTION

Female (n = 13)

Body ( Fig. 2A, B ) spindleform, ivory-white, 181 (171-190) long, 81 (76-85) wide, 59 (55-62) thick.

Gnathosoma 25 (24-26), projecting obliquely down, pedipalp coxal setae ( ep) 2 (2-3); dorsal pedipalp genual setae ( d) 7 (6-8); oryal stylets 25 (23-26).

Prodorsal shield flat, lower than dorsal opisthosoma, with a long, thick frontal lobe; 60 (57-63) long, 70 (66-73) wide; shield lines bold, median line absent, admedian lines discontinuous, submedian undulated lines complete, anterior submedian lines rhomboid-like. Scapular tubercles set ahead of rear shield margin, 20 (20- 21) apart, scapular setae ( sc) 3 (3-4), directed up and mediad.

Coxae ( Fig. 2C ) with a sternal line, forked anteriorly and posteriorly, coxal area smooth, anterolateral setae on coxisternum I ( 1b) 5 (5-6), apart 15 (14-16); proximal setae on coxisternum I ( 1a) 10 (9-12), apart 9 (8-9); proximal setae on coxisternum II ( 2a) 20 (18-23), apart 27 (24-28).

Leg ( Fig. 2F, G ) segments normal. Leg I 29 (28- 30), femur 9 (9-10), basiventral femoral setae ( bv) 6 (6-7); genu 5 (5-6), antaxial genual setae ( l’’) 12 (11-13); tibia 7 (7-8), paraxial tibial setae ( l’) absent; tarsus 6 (6-7), paraxial fastigial tarsal setae ( ft’) 21 (19-23), antaxial fastigial tarsal setae ( ft’’) 19 (17-22), paraxial unguinal tarsal setae ( u’) 5 (5-6); tarsal empodium, 5 (5-6), divided, each branch 4-rayed, tarsal solenidion 6 (6-7), knobbed. Leg II 27 (26-28), femur 8 (7-9), basiventral femoral setae ( bv) 7 (7-8); genu 4 (4-5), antaxial genual setae ( l’’) absent; tibia 6 (6-7); tarsus 6 (6-7), paraxial fastigial tarsal setae ( ft’) 20 (18-24), antaxial fastigial tarsal setae ( ft’’) 6 (6-8), paraxial unguinal tarsal setae ( u’) 5 (4-6); tarsal empodium, 5 (5-6), divided, each branch 4-rayed, tarsal solenidion 6 (6-7), knobbed.

Opisthosoma ( Fig. 2A, B ): dorsally with a broad furrow and 4 anterior projecting annuli form an arching transverse ridge, dorsum with 18 (17-19) annuli, with filamentous microtubercles except the part of the furrow; ventrally with 36 (35-38) annuli, with filamentous microtubercles; setae c2 18 (17- 20), on ventral annulus 6 (5-6), apart 63 (58-66); setae d and setae e absent; setae f 15 (14-16), on 5th ventral annulus from rear, apart 21 (19-22); setae h1 absent; setae h2 25 (22-28).

Female genitalia ( Fig. 2C ) 21 (20-22) long, 24 (22-25) wide, coverflap with a middle transverse suture and many longitudinal ridges, proximal setae on coxisternum III ( 3a) 9 (9-10), apart 18 (17-19).

Male (n = 1)

Body spindleform, ivory-white, 147 long, 66 wide.

Gnathosoma 22, projecting obliquely down, pedipalp coxal setae ( ep) 2; dorsal pedipalp genual setae ( d) 6; oryal stylets 22.

Prodorsal shield flat, lower than dorsal opisthosoma, with a long, thick frontal lobe; 55 long, 64 wide; shield lines bold, median line absent, admedian lines discontinuous, submedian undulated lines complete, anterior submedian lines rhomboidlike. Scapular tubercles set ahead of rear shield margin, 19 apart, scapular setae ( sc) 3, directed up and mediad.

Coxae with a sternal line, forked anteriorly and posteriorly, coxal area smooth, anterolateral setae on coxisternum I ( 1b) 5, apart 13; proximal setae on coxisternum I ( 1a) 9, apart 8; proximal setae on coxisternum II ( 2a) 18, apart 24.

Leg segments normal. Leg I 27, femur 8, basiventral femoral setae ( bv) 6; genu 5, antaxial genual setae ( l’’) 11; tibia 6, paraxial tibial setae ( l’) absent; tarsus 6, paraxial fastigial tarsal setae ( ft’) 20, antaxial fastigial tarsal setae ( ft’’) 17, paraxial unguinal tarsal setae ( u’) 5; tarsal empodium, 5, divided, each branch 4-rayed, tarsal solenidion 6, knobbed. Leg II 25, femur 7, basiventral femoral setae ( bv) 6; genu 4, antaxial genual setae ( l’’) absent; tibia 6; tarsus 6, paraxial fastigial tarsal setae ( ft’) 18, antaxial fastigial tarsal setae ( ft’’) 6, paraxial unguinal tarsal setae ( u’) 4; tarsal empodium, 5, divided, each branch 4-rayed, tarsal solenidion 5, knobbed.

Opisthosoma: dorsally with a broad furrow and 4 anterior projecting annuli forming an arching transverse ridge, dorsum with 17 annuli, with filamentous microtubercles except the part of the furrow; ventrally with 35 annuli, with filamentous microtubercles; setae c2 16, on ventral annulus 6, apart 58; setae d and setae e absent; setae f 14, on 5th ventral annulus from rear, apart 18; setae h1 absent; setae h2 21.

Male genitalia 16 wide, proximal setae on coxisternum III ( 3a) 8; apart 15 ( Fig. 2D ).

REMARKS

This species is similar to Protumescoptes antidesmae Pandit & Chakrabarti, 2000 , but can be differentiated by female genitalia away from coxal base and tarsal empodium 4-rayed (female genitalia near coxal base and tarsal empodium 5-rayed in P. antidesmae ; see Pandit & Chakrabarti, 2000).

Figures

FIG. 2. — Protumescoptes laurifolii n. sp.:A, dorsal view of female;B, lateral view of female;C, coxal-genital region, female; D, genital region, male; E, empodium; F, leg I; G, leg II. Scale bar: A, B, 40 μm; C, D, 28 μm; F, G, 19 μm.