Rhinophytoptus cunninghamiae, Xue, Xiao-Feng, Song, Zi-Wei & Hong, Xiao-Yue, 2006

Xue, Xiao-Feng, Song, Zi-Wei & Hong, Xiao-Yue, 2006, Six new species of Rhyncaphytoptinae from northwestern China (Acari: Eriophyoidea: Diptilomiopidae), Zootaxa 1225, pp. 1-19 : 14-16

Rhinophytoptus cunninghamiae sp. nov.

( Fig. 6 )

Description

FEMALE (n = 10). Body fusiform, 255 (240–390) long, 105 (100–108) wide, 100 (95–105) thick; light yellow in color. Gnathosoma 68 (65–70), projecting downwards. Prodorsal shield 70 (68–71) long, 85 (82–88) wide; median, admedian and submedian lines present, with many short dashes covering entire shield. Dorsal tubercles near rear margin, 46 (44–49) apart, scapular setae (sc) minute. Coxal area with short lines; anterolateral setae on coxisternum I (1b) 12 (10–14), proximal setae on coxisternum I (1a) 30 (27–33), proximal setae on coxisternum II (2a) 35 (31–37). Sternal line absent. Legs with usual series of setae. Leg I 50 (47–52) long, femur 16 (15–17), basiventral femoral setae (bv) 20 (18–23); genu 6 (5–6) long, antaxial genual setae (l’’) 55 (53–56) long; tibia 15 (14–15), paraxial tibial setae (l’) 8 (8–9), setae located at 2/3 from dorsal base; tarsus 9 (9–10) long; tarsal empodium simple, 6­rayed, tarsal solenidion knobbed. Leg II 44 (42–45) long, femur 13 (13–14), basiventral femoral setae (bv) 14 (14–15); genu 5 (4–5) long, antaxial genual setae (l’’) 11 (10–12) long; tibia 11 (10–11); tarsus 9 (8–9) long; tarsal empodium simple, 6­rayed, tarsal solenidion knobbed. Opisthosoma: dorsal opisthosoma with 91 (88–96) annuli, with round microtubercles, ventrally with 94 (88–97) microtuberculate annuli. Setae c2 24 (20–26) on ventral annulus 12 (11–12); setae d 62 (60–65) on ventral annulus 32 (32–35); setae e 45 (40–50) on ventral annulus 50 (48–53); setae f 46 (42–52) on 7th ventral annulus from rear. Setae h1 5 (5–6). Female genitalia 34 (32–35) long, 40 (38–41) wide, coverflap with 7 longitudinal ridges on the base, proximal setae on coxisternum III (3a) 21 (18–22) long.

MALE. Not seen.

Types

Holotype, female, China: Shaanxi Province, Yang County, Maoping, 33°31.08’N, 107°40.14’E. August 10, 2005, from Cunninghamia lanceolata (Lamb.) Hook. (Taxodiaceae) , coll. Xue, Xiao­Feng & Song, Zi­Wei. Paratypes, 9 females, with the same data as holotype.

Relation to host

Vagrant on leaf surface. No damage to the host was observed.

Etymology

Derived from the generic name of the type host plant, Cunninghamia .

Remarks

This species is similar to Rhinophytoptus grewiae Kuang, 2001 , on Grewia biloba G. Don (Tiliaceae) , but can be differentiated by having a prodorsal shield with many dashes, median line present (absent in R. grewiae ), setae h1 present (absent in R. grewiae ) and female genital coverflap with 7 longitudinal ridges at base (smooth in R. grewiae ).

Figures

FIGURE 6. Rhinophytoptus cunninghamiae sp. nov. A, dorsal view of female; B, coxae and female genitalia; C, legs I and II; D, lateral microtubercles; E, empodium.