Phyllocoptruta citricola, Chakrabarti, Samiran & Sarkar, Sanjay, 2011

Chakrabarti, Samiran & Sarkar, Sanjay, 2011, Three new species of eriophyoid mites (Acari: Eriophyoidea) infesting fruit yielding plants from India, Zootaxa 2988, pp. 28-36 : 31-33

Phyllocoptruta citricola n. sp.

( Figs. 7–10 .)

Diagnosis. This species is distinguished by the following combination of characters: prodorsal shield shows a median line at the cell formed between the dorsal tubercles by the admedians and V like cross-line, prodorsal shield lobe shows only admedian lines, direction of scapular setae upward and centrad, presence of seta h1, 4 rayed, tarsal empodium, curved tarsal solenidion, 14 longitudinal scorings on epigynium and both coxal surface ornamented with wavy parallel lines.

FEMALE (n=10): Body 113.8 (113.8–135.3) long, 63.4 (57.8–68.1) wide. Gnathosoma 21.4 (21.4–22.4) long, evenly curved downward. Dorsal pedipalp genual seta d 3.7 (3.2–3.7) and pedipalp coxal seta ep present. Prodorsal shield 42.0 (42.0–42.9) long, 50.4 (50.4–54.14) wide with an anterior lobe overhanging gnathosoma; prodorsal shield design represents clear pattern of curved lines. Median line extends between the middle and posterior V like cross line of admedians; admedian lines wavy with three cross lines first one on 9.2, second one on 22.2 from anterior margin of prodorsal shield, and the third one on 4.7 from posterior margin of the prodorsal shield forming a V-shaped line, widely apart at middle forming an almost rhomboid shaped gap; submedian lines sinuate, extend from the anterior cross line of admedian up to the posterior shield margin touching the base of the scapular setae sc, submedian lines touch the admedian at middle. Dorsal tubercles ahead of rear shield margin, 25.2 apart; scapular seta sc 5.6 (4.6–5.6) long, directed upward and centered. Leg I from base of trochanter 28.0 (28.0–28.9), femur 13.0 (12.1–13.0), basiventral femoral seta bv 13.1 (12.8–13.1), genu 3.7 (3.7–4.6), antaxial genual seta 1 ʺ 23.3 (22.4–24.2), tibia 4.6, paraxial tibial seta 1 ʹ 4.6 (4.6–5.6), tarsus 5.6 (5.1–5.6), paraxial fastigial tarsal seta ft ʹ 14.9 (14.9–18.6), antaxial fastigial tarsal seta ft ʺ 25.2 (21.4–25.2), paraxial unguinal tarsal seta u ʹ 3.2 (3.2–3.7), tarsal empodium em 4.6 (4.1–4.6) and 4 rayed, tarsal solenidion ω knobbed, slightly curved and 6.5 (6.5–7.0). Leg II from base of trochanter 28.9 (28–28.9), femur 14.0 (13.0–14.0), basiventral femoral seta bv 13.0 (12.1–13.0), genu 3.7 (3.7–4.6), antaxial genual seta 1 ʺ 7.4 (7.4–8.4), tibia 3.7 (3.7–4.6); paraxial tibial seta 1 ' 5.6 (4.6–5.6); tarsus 5.6 (5.1–5.6), paraxial fastigial tarsal setae ft ʹ 10.2 (10.2–11.2), antaxial fastigial tarsal seta ft ʺ 23.3 (19.6–23.3), paraxial unguinal tarsal seta u ʹ 3.7 (3.2–3.7), 4-rayed, tarsal empodium em 4.7 (4.1–4.7), tarsal solenidion ω 6.5 (6.1–6.5). Coxae I contiguous, 11.2 (11.2–12.1) long, ornamented with parallel lines between seta 1b and seta 1a, seta 1b 4.6 (4.6–5.6) and 9.2 (9.2–9.8) apart, 1a tubercles with seta a little ahead of the line between the 2a tubercles; seta 1a 12.1 (12.1–13.2) long and 9.2 (9.2–9.8) apart; the distance between setae 1a and 1b is 4.8 (4,8–5.2); coxa II 12.1 (12.1–13.0) and ornamented with wavy parallel lines just below the setae 2a, seta 2a 25.2 (25.2–28.9) long and 22.8 (21.2–22.8) apart. Opisthosoma with 36 (32–36) dorsal annuli with a broad dorsal trough, flanked on either side with ridges, ventral annuli 61 (61–64). Ventral annuli microtuberculated on anterior margin of annuli whereas dorsal annuli devoid of microtubercles, dorsal annuli broader and larger than ventral annuli, seta c2 14.0 (14.0–16.8) on annulus 11 (10–11), seta d 48.5 (46.6–48.5) on ventral annulus 52 (23–25), seta e 4.6 (4.6–5.6) on ventral annulus 39 (39–40), seta f 14.9 (14.0–14.9) on ventral annulus 57 (57–59), seta h1 4.6 (3.7–4.6), seta h2 43.8 (42.0–43.8); last 9 (9–13) annuli micro striated. Epigynium almost triangular in shape, 13.0 (13.0–15.8) long and 22.4 (20.5–22.4) wide, with 14 scorings, seta 3a 36.2 (29.8–39.2).

MALE: Not observed.

Type material. Holotype: Female (marked) on slide (no.1434/85/2006), India: West Bengal: Dakshindinajpur, Doulatpur, Latitude: 25°10ʹ20ʺ N and Longitude: 88°14ʹ50ʺ E, 24 December, 2006 from Citrus maxima (Rutaceae) , Coll. S. Sarkar. Paratypes: 6 females on slide bearing holotype and 72 females on 7 slides (nos. 1435-1441 / 85/2006); collection data same as in holotype.

Relation to host. White, spindle form mites are found as vagrants on undersurface of leaf showing yellow spots on leaf under surface.

Etymology. The specific epithet derived from ‘ Citrus ’ genus of the host plant, ‘ cola ’ from Latin ‘ Colus ’ meaning dwelling in or inhabitant.

Remarks: Among the species of this genus having 4 rayed tarsal empodium the new species comes close to P. daturae Mohanasundaram & Ranganath, 1985 by longitudinal scorings on epigynium and to P. comorensis Keifer, 1974 by curved tarsal solenidion and similar epigynium. However, the new species differs from P. d a t u r a e by having ornamented coxal surface, presence of h1 seta and dissimilar direction of scapular setae and from P. comorensis by dissimilar shield pattern and direction of scapular seta with tubercles. The new species also shows its closeness to Phyllocoptruta oleivora (Ashmead, 1879) in sharing common host genus and by having similar body shape, opisthosomal trough, location and direction of scapular seta (upward and centrad), scoring on epigynium but differs from it by having 4 rayed tarsal empodium, presence of seta h1, smooth basal area of epigynium and the prodorsal shield pattern.

Figures

FIGURE 7 − 10. Phyllocoptruta citricola n. sp.: 7. Dorsal view of the body 8. Laterally dorsal view of the body; 9. Ven t ral view of coxal-genital region; 10. Tarsal empodium with tarsal solenidion.