Leipothrix araliae, Xie, 2016

Manchao Xie, 2016, Three new species of eriophyoid mites of the tribe Phyllocoptini Nalepa (Eriophyoidea: Eriophyidae) from Shaanxi, China, Zoological Systematics 41 (2), pp. 158-164 : 160

Leipothrix araliae sp. nov. ( Figs 1–7 )

Female (n =7). Body fusiform, 163 (163–218) long, 65 (64–75) wide, 60 (49–80) thick, yellowish. Gnathosoma 25 (25–28) long, projecting down; dorsal pedipalp genual setae (d) 13 (13–15), bifurcate at about 1/4 from base. Prodorsal shield 56 (54–57) long, 68 (57–68) wide, with a smaller frontal lobe; shield surface sculptured with dashes; median line nearly complete except faint at anterior 1/4; admedian lines complete, subparalel; submedian lines curved; a few lines crossing with median, admedian and submedian lines and forming 4–6 networks at the middle of shield. Scapular tubercles set ahead of rear shield margin, 20 (18–20) apart; scapular setae (sc) 3 (3–4), projecting up and centrad. Coxisternal plates I and II sculptured with lines, prosternal apodeme 7 (6–7); anterolateral setae on coxisternum І (1b) 8 (7–8), 13 (12–13) apart; proximal setae on coxisternum І (1a) 10 (10–12), 8 (7–8) apart; proximal setae on coxisternum ІІ (2a) 25 (25–26), 25 (25–30) apart. Legs with all setae except femoral setae; Leg I 34 (30–35), trochanter 2 (2–3); femur 10 (9–10); genu 5 (4–5), antaxial genual setae (l") 30 (25–34); tibia 10 (9–10), paraxial tibial setae (l') 2 (2–3), located at lateral 1/3 from base; tarsus 7 (6–7), both paraxial fastigial tarsal setae (ft ′) and antaxial fastigial tarsal setae (ft") 20 (18–20); tarsal solenidion 5 (5–6), knobbed; tarsal empodium 4-rayed, entired. Leg ІІ 31 (30–35), trochanter 2 (2–3); femur 9 (9–10); genu 4 (4–5), antaxial genual setae (l") 7 (5–8); tibia 10 (9–10); tarsus 6 (6–7), paraxial fastigial tarsal setae (ft') 5 (5–6), antaxial fastigial tarsal setae (ft") 20 (18–20); tarsal solenidion 5 (5–6), knobbed; tarsal empodium 4-rayed, entired. Opisthosoma with dorsal annuli 60 (58–62), of which 27–30 dorsal annuli forming a longitudinal median ridge, round microtubercles ornamented dorsal annuli; ventral annuli 71 (71–75), with round microtubercles except caudal 6 ventral annuli with elongated microtubercles. Setae c2 17 (17–20), 63 (60–63) apart, on 13-14th ventral annulus; setae d 20 (20–25), 52 (51–52) apart, on 26–27th ventral annulus; setae e 10 (10–12), 17 (16–17) apart, on 50–51st ventral annulus; setae f 25 (20–25), 20 (20–22) apart, on 7th ventral annulus from rear. Setae h1 3 (2–3), setae h2 65 (60–70). Female genital coverflap 15 (15–17) long, 22 (20–22) wide, with basal 10–12 longitudinal lines and terminal smooth, proximal setae on coxisternum ІІІ (3a) 9 (9–10), 15 (15–16) apart.

Male (n =2). Body 130–158 long, 50–58 wide; genitalia 15–16 wide, genitalia area ornamented with several lines; proximal setae on coxisternum ІІІ (3a) 8–10, 13–15 apart.

Material examined. Holotype. female, Muwang Forest Park, Yangsi (33º26′N, 108º39′E; elev. 1 400 m), Zhen’an, Shaanxi, China, 7 August 2008, from Aralia chinensis Linn. ( Araliaceae) , coll. Manchao Xie. Paratypes. six females and two males, the same data as the holotype.

Biology. The mites are vagrant on the undersurfaces of leaves. No obvious damage to the host plant was seen.

Etymology. The specific designation araliae is derived from the generic name of the type host plant, gender feminine.

Remarks. This new species is similar to L. moraceus Castagnoli, 1980 by the prodorsal shield design and the same distribution in Qinling Mountains. But in L. araliae sp. nov., shield surface is sculptured with dashes, and female genital coverflap is ornamented with basal 10–12 longitudinal lines. While in L. moraceus , shield surface is absent dashes, and female genital coverflap is ornamented with granular basally.

Figures

Figures 1 – 7. Leipothrix araliae sp. nov. 1. Female, dorsal view. 2. Female, antero-lateral view. 3. Dorsal pedipalp genual setae d. 4. Male, genital region. 5. Female opisthosoma (enlarged), lateral view. 6. Empodium enlarged. 7. Female, coxal-genital region. Scale bars: 1 = 17 μm; 2 = 15 μm; 4, 7 = 10 μm.