Reticulaphis mirabilis (Takahashi)

Yeh, Hsin-Ting, Ko, Chiun-Cheng & Hsu, Tung-Ching, 2008, Review of the East-Asian genus Reticulaphis (Aphididae: Hormaphidinae), with two new species, Zootaxa 1782, pp. 34-48 : 43-44

Reticulaphis mirabilis (Takahashi)

( Figs. 10, 11 )

Thoracaphis mirabilis Takahashi, 1939: 31 .

Reticulaphis mirabilis ( Takahashi) : Takahashi, 1958: 13.

Apterous adult female. A small species, body ovate, black with purplish-blue burnish, marginal setae stout, with blunt or flattened apices, body margin without waxy powder. Body 0.53–0.65 mm long, about 1.43 (1.33–1.49) times as long as wide, widest part at front 1/2–1/3 of body. Antennae on front of to beneath head, shorter than space between them, L-shaped bend with 2 indistinct segments, long arm about 32.5–45 μm with 2 minute rhinaria and 1 terminal seta near apex. Eyes submarginal to marginal, with 2 or 3 facets. Prosoma distinctly reticulated with pale thin lines, dorsum with 3 pairs of oblong lower areas on median, sometimes connecting together to form lower transverse ridges and several rounded areas surrounding prosoma; 5 pairs of stout setae on central axis of prosoma, 1st pair between eyes noticeably thick, with blunt apices, as long as marginal setae of prosoma, the others short; prosoma with 10 pairs of marginal setae, these setae stout, with blunt or flattened apices. Legs short, front and middle legs concealed under body, hind legs exposed; tibiae of all legs shorter than femora; tarsi narrower than tibiae, longer than wide; 1 long fine capitate seta on dorsal front tarsi, 2 such setae on middle and hind tarsi. Abdominal tergites II–VII about 150–170 μm wide and 60– 75 μm long, also reticulated, without siphunculi and with 6 pairs minute setae along converging sides of tergites. Abdominal tergite VIII an equilateral triangle, about 87.5–102.5 μm wide and 40–45 μm long, with 2 long blunt apical setae. Cauda knobbed, constricted basally. Subanal plate deeply bilobed, each lobe with 5 or 6 setae.

Material examined. Taiwan: Sinyi District, Taipei City, 26-xi-2006, 21-iv-2007, 58 apterous and 6 alate adults from F. irisana (on 8 microscope slides) (T.C. Hsu #568 and #597) ( ANIC, BMNH, CDFA, NMNS, TARIIC, USNM); Hengchun Township, Pingtung Co., 26-v-2007, 12 apterous adults from Ficus ? virgata (H.T. Yeh #606); Dainano, Formosa, 19-x-1937, 15 apterous adults from Ficus sp. (R. Takahashi) (originally labeled as Thoracaphis mirabilis ) ( TARIIC).

Remarks. This species is always found on mature, defoliating leaves of hosts, and is adapted to hills or lower mountainous areas. This species is conspicuous by a pair of long, thick setae between the eyes on the dorsal prosoma, and differs from R. septica sp. n. in the comparatively longer marginal setae of the prosoma.

Figures

FIGURES 8 – 11. 8, 9. Reticulaphis inflata apterous adults, (8) alive; (9) dorsal view. 10, 11. Reticulaphis mirabilis apterous adults, (10) alive; (11) dorsal view.