Calacarus smilax, Li, De-Wei, Wang, Guo-Quan & Wei, Sui-Gai, 2009

Li, De-Wei, Wang, Guo-Quan & Wei, Sui-Gai, 2009, Three new species of Phyllocoptinae (Acari: Eriophyidae) from South China, Zootaxa 2205, pp. 62-68 : 64

Calacarus smilax sp. nov.

( Fig. 2 )

Description. Female: (n = 11) Body spindleform, light yellow, 236 (225−242), 96 (92−98) wide, 87 (85−89) thick. Gnathosoma 47 (46−48), projecting obliquely down. Prodorsal shield with frontal lobe; 60 (56−63), 86 (84−87) wide; median line, admedian lines and submedian lines complete, admedian lines bifurcate at basal 1/4, admedian lines and submedian lines undulated, shield with tiny specks, all lines with wax cover. Scapular tubercles and scapular setae absent. Coxae with a sternal line, coxal area with short lines, anterolateral setae on coxisternum І (1b) 8 (8−9), proximal setae on coxisternum І (1a) 13 (12−15), proximal setae on coxisternum І (2a) 20 (18−22). Coxi-genital annuli 9. Leg segments normal. Leg І 44 (42−45), femur 14 (13−15), basiventral femoral setae (bv) 14 (13−15); genu 5 (5−6), antaxial genual setae (l'') 38 (35−40); tibia 11 (11−12), paraxial tibial setae (l ʹ) 3 (3−4), located at center; tarsus 8 (8−9); tarsal empodium simple, 5-rayed, 5 (5−6) long, tarsal solenidion knobbed, 7 (7−8) long. Leg І 39 (38−41), femur 13 (12−14), basiventral femoral setae (bv) 12 (11−13); genu 4 (4−5), antaxial genual setae (l'') absent; tibia 8 (7−9), tarsus 8 (8−9); tarsal empodium simple, 5-rayed, 5 (5−6) long, tarsal solenidion knobbed, 7 (7−8) long. Opisthosoma: Dorsum with five longitudinal ridges that produce white wax stripes; dorsal opisthosoma with 58 (55−61) annuli, smooth; ventrally with 78 (75−79) annuli, with round microtubercles. Setae c2 25 (23−27) on ventral annulus 17 (16−18); setae d 70 (65−73) on ventral annulus 34 (32−35); setae e 32 (29−34), on ventral annulus 60 (58−61); setae f 22 (20−23), on 6th ventral annulus from rear. Setae h1 absent. Female genitalia 30 (28−31), 35 (33−36) wide, coverflap with short lines at base; proximal setae on coxisternum ІІІ (3a) 15 (14−16).

Male: Not seen.

Type data: Holotype, female, Jinzhong MT., 37 km SW of Longlin County (24°8´N, 105°34´E), Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China, 1 December 2004, from Smilax sp. ( Liliaceae ), coll. De-wei Li, Sui-gai Wei and Guo-quan Wang. Paratypes, 10 females, with the same data as holotype.

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

Etymology: The species name is derived from the name of the host plant.

Note: This species is similar to Calacarus helus Keifer, 1969 , but can be differentiated by prodorsal shield median line complete; scapular tubercles absent and female genitalia ellipsoidal.

Figures

FIGURE 2. Calacarus smilax sp. nov. (female). CGF, coxigenital area; D, dorsal view of mite; E, empodium (enlarged); L, lateral view of mite; L 1, leg I; L 2, leg II. (scale D = 60 μm; L = 70 μm; CGF = 31 μm; L 1, L 2 = 57 μm).