Caliphytoptus illigerae, Wang & Tan & Yang, 2014

Wang, Guo-Quan, Tan, Meng-Chao & Yang, Juan, 2014, Three new species of Phyllocoptini (Prostigmata: Eriophyidae: Phyllocoptinae) from South China, Zoological Systematics 39 (3), pp. 380-387 : 381

Caliphytoptus illigerae sp. nov. ( Figs 1–7 )

Diagnosis. Yellowish fusiform body; gnathosoma curved obliquely downward; prodorsal shield frontal lobe with ventral spur; absent median and submedian lines; complete admedian lines; coxisternal plates sculptured with lines; prosternal apodeme; coxigenital annuli 3 or 4; tarsal empodium entire; six-rayed; tarsal solenidion unknobbed; dorsal opisthosoma with median and admedian ridges; dorsal annuli smooth; ventral annuli with elongated microtubercles; absent setae h1; female genitalia coverflap with basal granula and distal ridges.

Description. Female (n = 5). Body fusiform, yellowish, 115 (106–123), 34 (31–39) wide, 29 (26–33) thick.

Gnathosoma. Curved obliquely downward, 17 (16–18), coxal setae (ep) 2 (2–3), dorsal genual setae (d) 6 (6–7), subapical pedipalp tarsal setae (v) 3; cheliceral stylets 17 (16–18).

Prodorsal shield. 41 (38–43), 30 (29–31) wide, frontal lobe with ventral spur; median and submedian lines absent, admedian lines complete, connected anteriorly traverse line; scapular tubercles placed ahead rear shield margin, 13 (13) apart, scapular setae (sc) 7 (5–9), directed upward.

Coxisternal plates. Prosternal apodeme present, coxisternal plates I and II sculptured with short lines; anterolateral setae on coxisternum І (1b) 5 (5), 7 (6–8) apart; proximal setae on coxisternum І (1a) 15 (15), 5 (4–5) apart; proximal setae on coxisternum ІІ (2a) 32 (30–35), 14 (13–15) apart. Coxigenital annuli 6 (5–6).

Legs. Segments normal. Leg І 28 (25–32), trochanter 2 (2), femur 12 (12–13), femoral setae (bv) 14 (13–15); genu 4 (3–4), genual setae (l'') 22 (20–23); tibia 6 (5–7), tibial setae (l ′) located median, 12 (10–15); tarsus 6 (5–6), inner fastigial tarsal setae (ft') 20 (20), outer fastigial tarsal setae (ft'') 20 (20), unguinal tarsal setae (u') 4 (3–5); tarsal empodium entire, 7 (6–8), 6-rayed, tarsal solenidion 7 (6–8), unknobbed. Leg ІІ 24 (22–25), trochanter 2 (2), femur 10 (10), femoral setae (bv) 6 (5–7); genu 3 (2–3), genual setae (l'') 12 (11–13); tibia 4 (3–4); tarsus 5 (5–6), inner fastigial tarsal setae (ft') 21 (20–22), outer fastigial tarsal setae (ft'') 6 (6), unguinal tarsal setae (u') 3 (2–3); tarsal empodium entire, 7 (7–8), 6-rayed, tarsal solenidion 8 (8), unknobbed.

Opisthosoma. Dorsum with median and admedian ridges, dorsal annuli 62 (62), smooth; ventral annuli 79 (79), with elongated microtubercles; setae c2 21 (20–23), on ventral annulus 11th; setae d 50 (50), 22 (20–25) apart, on ventral annulus 25th; setae e 21 (20–23), 11 (9–13) apart, on ventral annulus 47th; setae f 25 (25), 11 (9–13) apart, on 8th ventral annulus from rear; setae h1 absent, setae h2 62 (55–65).

Female genitalia. Coverflap with basal granules and distal longitudinal ridges, 12 (10–13), 16 (15–17) wide, proximal setae on coxisternum ІІІ (3a) 19 (18–20), 12 (11–14) apart.

Male. Unknown.

Holotype female, Huanglianshan National Nature Reserve (22°52′N, 102°17′E), Lvchun County, Yunnan Province, China, 16 May 2009, leg. Guo-Quan Wang, from Illigera rhodantha Hance (Illigeraceae) . Paratypes 4 females, same data as holotype.

Relation to host. The mites are vagrants on the undersurfaces of leaves, with no visible damage.

Distribution. China (Yunnan).

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

Remarks. With the description of this new species, the genus Caliphytoptus Keifer, 1938 is first recorded from China. The new species is similar to C. quercilobatae Keifer, 1938 , but can be distinguished from the latter by the coxisternal plates are sculptured with short lines, and tarsal empodium six-rayed and female coverflap are sculptured with basal granules. In C. quercilobatae , the coxisternal plates and female coverflap are smooth and tarsal empodium five-rayed (Keifer 1938).

Figures

Figs 1–7. Caliphytoptus illigerae sp. nov. 1. Antero-lateral view of female. 2. Dorsal view of female. 3. Coxigenital area of female. 4. Leg I. 5. Leg II. 6. Empodium. 7. Lateral view of annuli.