Reticulaphis asymmetrica Hille Ris Lambers & Takahashi

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 : 37

Reticulaphis asymmetrica Hille Ris Lambers & Takahashi , stat.n.

( Fig. 1 )

Reticulaphis distylii subsp. asymmetrica Hille Ris Lambers & Takahashi, 1959: 12 .

Apterous adult female. Small species, body elliptical, black with purplish-blue burnish, marginal setae short inconspicuous, with fan-shaped or serrate apices, body margin without waxy powder. Body 0.46–0.57 mm long, about 1.72 (1.54–2.0) times as long as wide, pleural regions of prosoma very strongly expanded and produced like large sclerotic bladders. Antennae on front of head, L-shaped bend with 2 indistinct segments, long arm about 35–47.5 μm with 2 minute rhinaria and 1 terminal seta near apex. Eyes very close to margin of prosoma, with 2 facets. Prosoma distinctly reticulated with pale thin lines, dorsum with 4 pairs of oblong lower areas on median, which do not connect together; 5 pairs of minute setae on central axis of prosoma, 1st pair between eyes; prosoma with 10 pairs of marginal setae, but not obvious, these setae short and stout, with fan-shaped or serrated apices. Front legs short, middle and hind legs distinctly visible from above from coxae onwards; 1 long fine capitate seta on dorsal front tarsi, 2 such setae on middle tarsi, hind tarsi atrophied. Abdominal tergites II–VII about 120–160 μm wide and 52.5–82.5 μm long, also reticulated, without siphunculi and with 6 pairs of minute setae along converging sides of tergites. Abdominal tergite VIII an equilateral triangle, about 82.5–95 μm wide and 32.5–40 μm long, with 2 serrated apical setae. Cauda knobbed, constricted basally. Subanal plate deeply bilobed, each lobe with 5 or 6 setae.

Material examined. Taiwan: Gushan District, Kaohsiung City, 3-i-2005, 60 apterous adults from F. septica (on 8 microscope slides) (H.T.Yeh #309) ( ANIC, BMNH, CDFA, NMNS, TARIIC, USNM); Liouguei Township, Kaohsiung County (Co.), 2-iv-2005, 16 apterous adults from F. septica (on 2 microscope slides) (H.T.Yeh #336); Hengchun Township, Pingtung Co., 4-viii-1980, 6 apterous adults from unknown host (W.C. Wu) (originally labeled as R. fici ) ( TARIIC). Java: Selatiga, 12 apterous adults from Ficus sp., 20-xii-1916 (P.v.d. Goot) ( BMNH).

Remarks. This species has been found on less-disturbed hosts in the hills or lower mountainous areas, and like R. septica sp. n. it is sometimes found at high population densities. Two Reticulaphis species are known to feed on F. septica ; R. asymmetrica can be distinguished from R. septica sp. n. by the extremely expanded pleural regions of the prosoma, the middle and hind legs distinctly visible from above, and the less obvious marginal setae on the dorsal prosoma.

Figures

FIGURE 1 – 3. 1. Dorsal view of Reticulaphis asymmetrica apterous adult. 2, 3. Reticulaphis distylii apterous adults, (2) alive; (3) dorsal view.