Aculus toxicodendri, Xue, Xiao-Feng, Song, Zi-Wei & Hong, Xiao-Yue, 2008

Xue, Xiao-Feng, Song, Zi-Wei & Hong, Xiao-Yue, 2008, Eight new species of the genus Aculus Keifer (Acari: Eriophyidae) from China, Zootaxa 1721, pp. 35-52 : 48-51

Aculus toxicodendri sp. nov.

( Fig. 8 )

Description. FEMALE: (n = 3) Body fusiform, 193 (190–193), 69 (65–69) wide, 68 (65–68) thick; light yellow. Gnathosoma 18 (17–20), projecting obliquely down, pedipalp coxal setae (ep) 3 (2–3), dorsal pedipalp genual setae (d) 9 (7–9), cheliceral stylets 17 (17–18). Prodorsal shield 40 (40–41), 43 (40–43) wide; subpentagonal; anterior shield lobe broad; median, admedian and submedian lines present, median and admedian lines connected near base. Scapular tubercles on rear margin, 27 (24–27) apart, scapular setae (sc) 49 (47–50) projecting posteriorly. Coxal plates smooth; anterolateral setae on coxisternum І (1b) 12 (7–12), proximal setae on coxisternum І (1a) 28 (25–28), proximal setae on coxisternum І (2a) 40 (35–40). Prosternal apodeme present. Legs with usual series of setae. Legs І 38 (34–38), femur 11 (10–11), basiventral femoral setae (bv) 12 (11–12); genu 5 (4–5), antaxial genual setae (l'') 23 (22–24); tibia 10 (10–11), paraxial tibial setae (l') 6 (5–6), setae located 1/3 from proximal tibial margin; tarsus 6 (5–6); tarsal empodium simple, 4-rayed, tarsal solenidion knobbed. Legs І 33 (30–34), femur 9 (9–10), basiventral femoral setae (bv) 11 (10–11); genu 5 (4–5), antaxial genual setae (l'') 10 (9–11); tibia 8 (7–8); tarsus 6 (5–6); tarsal empodium simple, 4-rayed, tarsal solenidion knobbed. Opisthosoma: opisthosoma dorsally with 46 (45–51) smooth annuli, ventrally with 66 (65–71) annuli, with round microtubercles. Setae c2 14 (12–16) on ventral annulus 12 (11–12); setae d 47 (42–48) on ventral annulus 26 (25–27); setae e 26 (22–28) on ventral annulus 41 (39–42), setae f 33 (28–33) on 6th ventral annulus from rear. Setae h1 3 (3–4). Female genitalia 15 (15–16), 21 (20–21) wide, coverflap with 8 longitudinal ridges and with 3 transverse lines in two ranks at base, proximal setae on coxisternum ІІ (3a) 22 (22–23).

MALE: (n = 1) Body fusiform, 175, 63 wide; light yellow. Gnathosoma 16, projecting obliquely down, pedipalp coxal setae (ep) 2, dorsal pedipalp genual setae (d) 6, cheliceral stylets 15. Prodorsal shield 36, 38 wide. Scapular tubercles on rear margin, 22 apart, scapular setae (sc) 41 projecting posteriorly. Coxal plates smooth; anterolateral setae on coxisternum І (1b) 7, proximal setae on coxisternum І (1a) 18, proximal setae on coxisternum І (2a) 29. Prosternal apodeme present. Legs with usual series of setae. Leg І 31, femur 10, basiventral femoral setae (bv) 8; genu 4, antaxial genual setae (l'') 20; tibia 8, paraxial tibial setae (l') 5, setae located 1/3 from proximal tibial margin; tarsus 4; tarsal empodium simple, 4-rayed, tarsal solenidion knobbed. Leg І 28, femur 8, basiventral femoral setae (bv) 10; genu 4, antaxial genual setae (l'') 9; tibia 6; tarsus 4; tarsal empodium simple, 4-rayed, tarsal solenidion knobbed. Opisthosoma: opisthosoma dorsally with 42 annuli, smooth, ventrally with 60 annuli, with round microtubercles. Setae c2 8 on ventral annulus 10; setae d 36 on ventral annulus 21; setae e 21 on ventral annulus 35, setae f 27 on 6th ventral annulus from rear. Setae h1 2. Male genitalia 20 wide, proximal setae on coxisternum ІІ (3a) 15.

Type material. Holotype, female, China: Shaanxi Province, Foping County, 33.50°N, 107.97°E, elevation 842m. September 5, 2004, from Toxicodendron sp. ( Anacardiaceae ), coll. Xue, Xiao-Feng and Song, Zi- Wei. Paratypes, 2 females and 1 male, with the same data as holotype.

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

Etymology. The specific designation toxicodendri is from the generic name of host plant, Toxicodendron .

Differential diagnosis. This species is similar to A. persicae Xue & Hong, 2005 , but can be differentiated by coxal area smooth (coxal area with short lines in A. persicae ), dorsal annuli smooth (dorsal annuli with granules in A. persicae ), female genital coverflap with longitudinal ridges (female genital coverflap smooth in A. persicae ).

Figures

FIGURE 8. Aculus toxicodendri sp. nov. D, dorsal view of female; CG, coxae and female genitalia; L 1, legs І; L 2, legs І; LO, lateral microtubercles; em, empodium; GM, male genitalia.