Reticulaphis inflata Yeh & Hsu

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 : 42

Reticulaphis inflata Yeh & Hsu sp. nov.

( Figs. 8, 9 )

Apterous adult female. A small species, body ovate to elliptical, black with purplish-blue burnish, marginal setae long, some curved to rear, all with blunt to acute apices, body margin with some waxy powder. Body 0.51–0.66 mm long, about 1.45 (1.40–1.54) times as long as wide. Antennae beneath head, shorter than space between them, L-shaped bend without segmentation, long arm about 37.5–45 μm with 2 minute rhinaria and 1 terminal seta near apex. Eyes submarginal, with 3 facets, one located more laterally and ventrally. Prosoma distinctly reticulated with pale thin lines, dorsum with 4 well-defined swellings, largest one semi-oval, corresponding to position of head+prothorax, following two rectangular, corresponding to positions of meso- and metathorax, smallest at position of abdominal tergite I, but sometimes indistinct; 5 pairs of minute setae on central axis of prosoma, but not obvious, 1st pair between eyes; prosoma with 10 pairs of marginal or submarginal setae, some setae curved to rear, all setae long, with acute, blunt, or frayed apices. Legs well developed, front and middle legs concealed under body, hind legs somewhat exposed; front and middle tibiae shorter than or equal to femora, but hind tibiae longer than or equal to 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 170–200 μm wide and 57.5–75 μm long, also reticulated, without siphunculi and with 6 pairs minute setae along converging sides of tergites. Abdominal tergite VIII an equilateral triangle, about 90–100 μm wide and 40–50 μm long, with 4 setae, central two much longer than outer two. Cauda knobbed, constricted basally. Subanal plate deeply bilobed, each lobe with 4–6 setae.

Material examined. Holotype, Taiwan: Yijhu Township, Chiayi Co., on Ficus microcarpa , 5-ii-2007, C. C. Ko (#574). Paratypes, Taiwan: Yijhu Township, Chiayi Co., 25-iii-2007, 54 apterous adults from F. microcarpa (on 8 microscope slides) (C.C. Ko #589) ( ANIC, BMNH, CDFA, NMNS, TARIIC, USNM); Fanlu Township, Chiayi Co., 7-iv-2007, 12 apterous adults from F. microcarpa (C.C. Ko #595); Takao, 25-iii- 1934, 16 apterous adults from unknown host (R. Takahashi) (originally labeled as Thoracaphis fici ) ( TARIIC). China: Wanchai, Hong Kong, 3-iii-1990, 26 apterous adults from F. microcarpa (on 4 microscope slides) (J.H. Martin) ( BMNH); Pok Fu Lam Country Park, Hong Kong, 10-xii-2001, 4 apterous adults from Ficus ? microcarpa (J.H. Martin) ( BMNH).

Etymology. The species epithet is a Latin word, ‘ inflatus ’, meaning swollen, puffed up, emphasizing the conspicuous swellings on the dorsum.

Remarks. This species was first found on a slide produced by Takahashi (originally labeled as T. fici ), but he had lumped it together with R. fici . This species can be distinguished from R. fici by conspicuous swellings on the dorsum of the prosoma, and stout marginal setae curved to rear; and differs from R. foveolatae in the more-ovate body shape, conspicuous swellings on the dorsum of the prosoma, and the apices of marginal setae with acute to blunt or frayed ends.

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.