Tegolophus liquidambaricola, Ou & Wang & Wei, 2014

Ou, Shan-Sheng, Wang, Guo-Quan & Wei, Sui-Gai, 2014, Five new species of Phyllocoptinae (Acari: Eriophyoidea: Eriophyidae) from China, Zoological Systematics 39 (4), pp. 496-506 : 497-499

Tegolophus liquidambaricola sp. nov. ( Figs 1–6 )

Description. Female (n =13). Body fusiform, whitish, 138 (132–163), 50 (42–50) wide.

Gnathosoma. Curved obliquely downward, 18 (17–19); dorsal pedipalp genual setae (d) 6 (6–7), pedipalp coxal setae (ep) 3 (3–4), cheliceral stylets 16 (15–16).

Prodorsal shield. 46 (45–46), 43 (38–45) wide, frontal lobe 8 (7–9), shield design median line absent, and with faint admedian lines and submedian lines, admedian lines complete, convex in middle, and submedian lines from base to basal 3/5, runs almost parallel to lateral shield margin. Scapular tubercles near rear shield margin, 37 (32–40) apart, scapular setae (sc) 7 (6–8), directed backward and divergently.

Coxae. Prosternal apodeme present, coxal area smooth; anterolateral setae on coxisternum І (1b) 4 (3–4), 10 (9–10) apart; proximal setae on coxisternum І (1a) 9 (8–9), 7 (6–7) apart; proximal setae on coxisternum ІІ (2a) 25 (25–31), 18 (16–18) apart. Coxi-genital annuli 5–6.

Legs. Segments normal. Leg I 24 (21–25), femur 9 (8–9), basiventral femoral setae (bv) 8 (6–8); genu 3 (3–4), antaxial genual setae (l'') 18 (15–20); tibia 5 (4–5), paraxial tibial setae (l') located 1/3 at base, 2 (2–3); tarsus 5 (4–5), paraxial fastigial tarsal setae (ft') 14 (13–16), antaxial fastigial tarsal seta (ft'') 17 (15–19), paraxial unguinal tarsal setae (u') 3 (3–4); tarsal empodium 5 (4–5), 4-rayed, tarsal solenidion 6 (6–7), knobbed. Leg II 23 (22–26), femur 8 (8–9), basiventral femoral setae (bv) 7 (6–7); genu 3 (3–4), antaxial genual setae (l'') 6 (4–6); tibia 5 (4–5); tarsus 5 (5–6), paraxial fastigial tarsal setae (ft') 6 (5–6), antaxial fastigial tarsal setae (ft'') 15 (14–18), paraxial unguinal tarsal setae (u') 4 (3–4); tarsal empodium 5 (4–5), 4-rayed, tarsal solenidion 6 (5–6), knobbed.

Opisthosoma. Dorsum with a median ridge and two lateral ridges, median ridge not ending before submedian ridges, dorsal annuli 31 (31–33), smooth; ventral annuli 65 (64–68), with rounded microtubercles; setae c2 11 (10–13), on ventral annulus 14th; setae d 35 (28–45), 25 (25–28) apart, on ventral annulus 26th; setae e 12 (11–14), 13 (11–13) apart, on ventral annulus 42th; setae f 23 (21–25), 12 (10–12) apart, on 6th ventral annulus from rear; setae h1 3 (3–4), setae h2 53 (45–66).

Female genitalia. Coverflap with 12–14 longitudinal ridges, 15 (13–15), 22 (20–22) wide, setae 3a 9 (8–10), 14 (13–14) apart.

Male. Unknown.

Material examined. Holotype female, Xincheng County (24°0′N, 108°36′E), Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China, 21 May 2011, from Liquidambar formosana Hance var. ( Hamamelidaceae ), coll. Shan-Sheng Ou and Sui-Gai Wei. Paratypes 12 females, mounted on individual slide, same data as holotype.

Biology. The mites are free-living on the undersurface of leaves, no conspicuous damage was observed.

Etymology. This species is named after the generic name of the type host plant.

Remarks. This new species is similar to T. celtus Huang, 2001 , but can be diagnosed by: admedian lines complete and submedian lines from base to basel 3/5, scapular tubercles near rear shield margin, accessory setae h1 present, female genital coverflap with 12–14 longitudinal ridges, empodium 4-rayed. In T. celtus , the admedian lines from base to basal 3/4, scapular tubercles on rear shield margin, submedian lines and accessory setae (h1) absent, empodium 5-rayed, the female genital coverflap smooth ( Huang, 2001b).

Figures

Figs 1–6. Tegolophus liquidambaricola sp. nov. 1. Lateral view of female. 2. Dorsal aspect of female. 3. Coxal-genital area of female. 4. Empodium. 5. Legs I–II. 6. Internal female genitalia. Scale bars: 1–3=20 μm; 4, 6=5μm; 5=10μm.