Tetra acerii, Xue, Xiao-Feng, Song, Zi-Wei & Hong, Xiao-Yue, 2006

Xue, Xiao-Feng, Song, Zi-Wei & Hong, Xiao-Yue, 2006, A taxonomic study of the genus Te t r a Keifer (Acari: Eriophyidae: Phyllocoptinae: Anthocoptini) from Shaanxi Province, China with descriptions of nine new species, Zootaxa 1249, pp. 1-22 : 10

Tetra acerii sp. nov.

( Fig. 4 )

Description

FEMALE: (n = 4) Body fusiform, 175 (172–182) long, 57 (55–60) wide, 60 (58–63) thick; light yellow. Gnathosoma 18 (17–20), projecting obliquely down. Prodorsal shield 36 (35–36) long, 50 (48–51) wide; subcircular; frontal lobe broad; admedian and submedian lines present. Scapular tubercles on rear margin, 26 (25–26) apart, scapular setae (sc) 18 (17–19) projecting posterior. Coxal area smooth; anterolateral setae on coxisternum (1b) 8 (7–8), proximal setae on coxisternum (1a) 22 (20–23), proximal setae on coxisternum (2a) 36 (34–40). Prosternal apodeme present. Legs with usual series of setae. Legs 31 (29–33), femur 10 (9–10), basiventral femoral setae (bv) 8 (8–9); genu 5 (5–6), antaxial genual setae (l'') 20 (18–22); tibia 7 (7–8), paraxial tibial setae (l') 6 (6–7), setae located 1/3 from dorsal base; tarsus 5 (5–6); tarsal empodium simple, 4­rayed, tarsal solenidion knobbed. Legs 27 (25–29), femur 8 (7–8), basiventral femoral setae (bv) 11 (10–11); genu 4 (4–5), antaxial genual setae (l'') 7 (7–8); tibia 6 (5–6); tarsus 5 (5–6); tarsal empodium simple, 4­rayed, tarsal solenidion knobbed. Opisthosoma: dorsal opisthosoma with 25 (24–26) annuli, smooth, ventrally with 57 (55–61) microtuberculate annuli. Setae c2 22 (18–25) on ventral annulus 11 (10–11); setae d 53 (50–56) on ventral annulus 22 (20–22); setae e 8 (6–9) on ventral annulus 36 (35–37), setae f 25 (23–27) on 6th ventral annulus from rear. Setae h1 2 (2–3). Female genitalia 15 (15–16) long, 20 (20–21) wide, coverflap smooth, proximal setae on coxisternum (3a) 20 (19–21).

MALE: (n = 6) 168 (165–170) long, 50 (48–53) wide; genitalia 5 (5–6), 16 (15–17) wide, proximal setae on coxisternum III (3a) 12 (12–13).

Types

Holotype, female, China : Shaanxi Province, Mei County, Taibai Mountain, 34°01.51’N, 107°48.36’E. September 2, 2004, from Acer sp. ( Aceraceae ), coll. Xue, Xiao­ Feng & Song, Zi­Wei. Paratypes, 3 females and 6 males, with the same data as holotype.

Relation to host

Mites are vagrant on leaf surface, causing no apparent damage.

Etymology

The specific designation acerii is from the genetic name of host plant, Acer .

Remarks

This species is similar to Tetra similisforca Huang, 2001 , but can be differentiated by prodorsal shield without median line (prodorsal shield with median line in T. similisforca ), coxal area with sternal line (sternal line absent in T. similisforca ), female genital coverflap smooth (female genital coverflap with 10 longitudinal ridges in T. similisforca ).

Figures

FIGURE 4. Tetra acerii sp. nov. A, dorsal view of female; B, coxae and female genitalia; C, legs and; D, lateral microtubercles; E, empodium; F, male genitalia.