Trimeroptes quercus sp. nov. (Fig. 1)

Description

FEMALE (n = 8). Body fusiform, 223 (210–230) long, 77 (75–78) wide, 73 (72–75) thick; light yellow in color. Gnathosoma 48 (47–49) long, projecting downwards. Prodorsal shield 47 (45–48) long, 55 (53–57) wide; frontal lobe emarginated anteriorly; smooth. Dorsal tubercles ahead of rear margin, 27 (26–28) apart, scapular setae (sc) 18 (16–19) long, projecting forwards. Sternal line present. Coxal area with short lines; anterolateral setae on coxisternum I (1b) 17 (15–18) long, proximal setae on coxisternum I (1a) 20 (18–22) long, proximal setae on coxisternum II (2a) 42 (40–45) long. Legs I 45 (43–46) long, femur 13 (12–14) long, basiventral femoral setae (bv) absent; genu 6 (6–7) long, antaxial genual setae (l’’) 48 (45–51) long; tibia 15 (14–15) long, paraxial tibial setae (l’) 6 (6–7) long, setae located 2/3 from dorsal base; tarsus 7 (7–8) long; tarsal empodium divided, each 3­rayed, tarsal solenidion knobbed. Legs II 39 (37–41) long, femur 12 (11–12) long, basiventral femoral setae (bv) absent; genu 5 (5–6) long, antaxial genual setae (l’’) 9 (8–10) long; tibia 11 (11–12) long; tarsus 7 (7–8) long; tarsal empodium divided, each 3­rayed, tarsal solenidion knobbed. Dorsal opisthosoma with 56 (55–58) annuli, smooth, ventrally with 78 (75–80) microtuberculate annuli. Setae c2 15 (13–17) long, on ventral annulus 14 (14–16); setae d 55 (50–59) long, on ventral annulus 26 (24–27); setae e 13 (12–14) long, on ventral annulus 42 (40–43); setae f 32 (30–36) long, on 9th ventral annulus from rear. Setae h1 absent. Female genitalia 25 (24–26) long, 27 (26–28) wide, coverflap with 12 discontinuous longitudinal ridges, proximal setae on coxisternum III (3a) 8 (7–10) long.

MALE (n = 2). 184 (182–186) long, 65 (64–66) wide; genitalia 5 (5–6) long, 20 (20–21) wide, proximal setae on coxisternum III (3a) 9 (7–11) long.

Types

Holotype, female, north China: Henan Province, Luanchuan county, Longyuwan, 33°42.53’ N, 111°45.62’E. July 21, 2004, from Quercus glauca Thunb . (Fagaceae) , coll. Xue, Xiao­Feng. Paratypes, 7 females and 2 males, with the same data as holotype.

Relation to host Vagrant on leaf surface. No damage to the host was observed.

Etymology Derived from the generic name of the type host plant, Quercus .

Remarks

To date, the genus holds only four species: Trimeroptes aleyrodiformes (Keifer) on Liquidambar styraciflua L. from North America, T. ilicifolia Keifer on Ilex laevigata (Pursh.) from North America, T. rubi Bagdasarian on Rubus sp. L. and R. fenticosa from Armenia and Italy, and T. luanchuanensis Xue & Hong on Rubus sp. L. from China (Keifer, 1940, 1964; Bagdasarian & Pogosowa, 1976; de Lillo, 1997; Xue & Hong, 2005). This species is similar to Trimeroptes ilicifolia Keifer, but can be differentiated by coxal area with short lines (little granules in T. ilicifolia), tarsal empodium divided, each 3­rayed (6­rayed in T. ilicifolia). This species is also similar to Trimeroptes luanchuanensis Xue & Hong, but can be differentiated by the frontal lobe emarginated anteriorly.