Diptacus wenisis, Song, Zi-Wei, Xue, Xiao-Feng & Hong, Xiao-Yue, 2007

Song, Zi-Wei, Xue, Xiao-Feng & Hong, Xiao-Yue, 2007, Description of seven new species in the genus Diptacus Keifer (Acari: Eriophyoidea: Diptilomiopidae: Diptilomiopinae) from northwestern China, Zootaxa 1429, pp. 39-53 : 46-48

Diptacus wenisis sp. nov.

( Fig. 4 )

Description. FEMALE: (n = 14) Body fusiform, 235 (220–244), 65 (60–75) wide, 60 (55–65) thick; light yellow. Gnathosoma 52 (50–52), pedipalp coxal setae (ep) 2 (2–3), dorsal pedipalp genual setae (d) 10 (10–12), gnathosoma projecting downwards. Prodorsal shield 35 (30–38), 60 (55–65) wide; prodorsal shield anteriorly emarginate and prodorsal shield without frontal lobe; prodorsal shield smooth. Scapular tubercles ahead of rear margin, 35 (32–37) apart, scapular setae (sc) 16 (15–17) projecting up and ahead. Coxal area with granules; anterolateral setae on coxisternum I (1b) 15 (10–18), proximal setae on basal coxisternum I (1a) 17 (15–20), proximal setae on coxisternum II (2a) 48 (40–56). Prosternal apodeme present. Legs I 49 (47–50), femur 13 (12–15), basiventral femoral setae (bv) absent; genu 5 (4–5), antaxial genual setae (l'') 42 (38–45); tibia 14 (13–15), paraxial tibial setae (l') 7 (6–7), setae located 2/3 from dorsal base; tarsus 7 (7–8), tarsal setae (u') 5 (4–5), tarsal empodium divided, each empodial branch three-rayed, tarsal solenidion knobbed. Legs II 47 (46–47), femur 12 (11–13), basiventral femoral setae (bv) absent; genu 5 (4–5), antaxial genual setae (l'') 9 (8–11); tibia 12 (12–13); tarsus 7 (7–8), tarsal setae (u') 5 (4–5), tarsal empodium divided, each empodial branch three-rayed, tarsal solenidion knobbed. Opisthosoma: dorsal opisthosoma with 40 (39–43) annuli, smooth, opisthosoma with a middorsal ridge ending at 1/3 from rear; ventrally with 75 (71–77) microtuberculate annuli. Setae c2 20 (20–21) on ventral annulus 18 (16–20); setae d 43 (36–50) on ventral annulus 32 (30– 36); setae e 12 (10–15) on ventral annulus 50 (49–54); setae f 30 (27–32) on 7th ventral annulus from rear. Setae h1 absent. Female genitalia 17 (16–20), 32 (30–32) wide, coverflap with 12–18 longitudinal ridges, proximal setae on coxisternum III (3a) 7 (6–8).

MALE: (n = 9) 200 (190–210), 60 (55–65) wide, genitalia 4 (3–4), 24 (23–25) wide, proximal setae on coxisternum III (3a) 6 (5–6).

Types. Holotype, female, from Viburnum sp. L. ( Caprifoliaceae ), Wen County, Longnan City, Gansu Province, China, 32°56’43’’N, 104°40’27”E, September 8, 2005, collected by Zi-Wei Song and Xiao-Feng Xue. Paratypes, 13 females and 9 males, with the same date as holotype.

Relation to host. Mites are vagrant on the undersurface of leaves, causing no apparent damage.

Etymology. The specific designation wenisis is from the county name, Wen County, where the host plant and the mites were collected.

Note. This species is similar to Diptacus tristylaus Huang, 2001 , but can be differentiated by prodorsal shield anteriorly emarginate (prodorsal shield not emarginate in D. tristylaus ), coxal area with granules (coxal area smooth in D. tristylaus ), empodium divided, each empodial branch three-rayed (seven-rayed in D. tristylaus ).

Figures

FIGURE 4. Diptacus wenisis 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.