Rhyncaphytoptus tiliarium, Song, Zi-Wei, Xue, Xiao-Feng & Hong, Xiao-Yue, 2007

Song, Zi-Wei, Xue, Xiao-Feng & Hong, Xiao-Yue, 2007, Four new species and a new name in the genus Rhyncaphytoptus Keifer (Acari: Eriophyoidea: Diptilomiopidae) from China, Zootaxa 1520, pp. 57-68 : 61-63

Rhyncaphytoptus tiliarium sp. nov.

( Fig. 2 )

Description. FEMALE: (n = 8) Body fusiform, 266 (253–289), 67 (65–70) wide, 70 (68–72) thick; light yellow. Gnathosoma 56 (53–61), projecting downwards, pedipalp coxal setae (ep) 3 (2–3), dorsal pedipalp genual setae (d) 10 (9–11). Chelicerae 50 (48–52), oral stylets 56 (53–61). Prodorsal shield 34 (34–35), 40 (39– 42) wide; with a triangular frontal lobe; prodorsal shield design with discontinuous median and complete admedian lines, median line connected at 1/10 rear and at rear with sinuous admedian lines by two arcs forming a two cell pattern at rear margin of the shield. Scapular tubercles ahead of rear margin, 25 (25–26) apart, scapular setae (sc) 22 (19–25) projecting forward. Coxal area smooth; anterolateral setae on coxisternum I (1b) 10 (9–12), proximal setae on coxisternum I (1a) 21 (19–23), proximal setae on coxisternum II (2a) 52 (50–55). Prosternal apodeme present. Legs I 44 (42–46), femur 13 (13–14), basiventral femoral setae (bv) 12 (12–13); genu 7 (6–7), antaxial genual setae (l’’) 24 (22–25); tibia 12 (12–13), paraxial tibial setae (l’) 9 (9– 10), setae located 1/3 from dorsal base; tarsus 8 (8–9), tarsal setae (u’) 5 (4–5), tarsal empodium simple, 6- rayed, tarsal solenidion rod-like. Legs II 37 (35–39), femur 10 (9–11), basiventral femoral setae (bv) 13 (12– 15); genu 5 (5–6), antaxial genual setae (l’’) 9 (8–9); tibia 10 (10–11); tarsus 8 (7–8), tarsal setae (u’) 5 (4–5), tarsal empodium simple, 6-rayed, tarsal solenidion rod-like. Opisthosoma: dorsal opisthosoma with 35 (33– 37) annuli, with round microtubercles, ventrally with 89 (87–92) annuli, with round microtubercles. Setae c2 19 (18–21) on ventral annulus 18 (17–18); setae d 65 (59–68) on ventral annulus 37 (35–37); setae e 33 (31– 36) on ventral annulus 52 (50–53); setae f 26 (25–28) on 8th ventral annulus from rear. Setae h1 7 (7–8). Female genitalia 13 (13–14), 26 (25–26) wide, coverflap smooth, proximal setae on coxisternum III (3a) 15 (14–17).

MALE: (n = 1) Body fusiform, 190, 59 wide, light yellow. Gnathosoma 53, projecting downwards, pedipalp coxal setae (ep) 2, dorsal pedipalp genual setae (d) 9. Chelicerae 48, oral stylets 53. Prodorsal shield 23, 35 wide; with triangular frontal lobe. Scapular tubercles ahead of rear margin, 20 apart, scapular setae (sc) 20 projecting forward. Coxal area smooth; anterolateral setae on coxisternum I (1b) 10, proximal setae on coxisternum I (1a) 20, proximal setae on coxisternum II (2a) 45. Prosternal apodeme present. Legs I 40, femur 10, basiventral femoral setae (bv) 11; genu 6, antaxial genual setae (l’’) 20; tibia 10, paraxial tibial setae (l’) 9, setae located 1/3 from dorsal base; tarsus 6, tarsal setae (u’) 4, tarsal empodium simple, 6-rayed, tarsal solenidion rod-like. Legs II 35, femur 9, basiventral femoral setae (bv) 10; genu 5, antaxial genual setae (l’’) 9; tibia 9; tarsus 6, tarsal setae (u’) 4, tarsal empodium simple, 6-rayed, tarsal solenidion rod-like. Opisthosoma: dorsal opisthosoma with 30 annuli, with round microtubercles, ventrally with 78 annuli, with round microtubercles. Setae c2 17 on ventral annulus 14; setae d 60 on ventral annulus 30; setae e 30 on ventral annulus 45; setae f 23 on 8th ventral annulus from rear. Setae h1 6. Male genitalia 6, 21 wide, proximal setae on coxisternum III (3a) 13.

Types. Holotype, female, China: Henan Province, Neixiang County, Baotianman, 33°31’00N, 111°55’85E. July 25, 2004, from Tilia sp. ( Tiliaceae ), coll. Xiao-Feng Xue. Paratypes, 7 females and 1 male, with the same data as holotype.

Relation to host. Vagrant on leaf undersurface, causing no apparent damage.

Etymology. The specific designation tiliarium is from the generic name of the host plant, Tilia .

Remarks. This species is similar to Rhyncaphytoptus celtis Kuang & Hong, 1991 , but can be differentiated by the following: prodorsal shield design with a discontinuous median line (prodorsal shield design with complete median line in R. celtis ), tarsal solenidion rod-like (tarsal solenidion knobbed), prodorsal shield with frontal lobe acute (prodorsal shield with frontal lobe broad in R. celtis ), dorsal opisthosoma with about 35 annuli (dorsal opisthosoma with about 60 annuli in R. celtis ).

Figures

FIGURE 2. Rhyncaphytoptus tiliarium sp. nov. A, dorsal view of female; B, coxae and female genitalia; C, legs I and II; D, lateral aspect of female; E, tarsal empodium; F, male genitalia.