Diptacus platyphyllae sp. nov. (Fig. 4)

Description

FEMALE (n = 8). Body fusiform, 290 (270–305) long, 90 (86–93) wide, 104 (103–107) thick; light yellow in color. Gnathosoma 60 (58–60) long, projecting downwards. Prodorsal shield 44 (43–44) long, 58 (55–60) wide; median, admedian and submedian lines present, admedian and submedian lines connected. Dorsal tubercles near rear margin, 26 (25–26) apart, scapular setae (sc) 2 (2–3) long, projecting centered. Sternal line present. Coxal area I with short lines, coxal area II smooth; anterolateral setae on coxisternum I (1b) 19 (17–20) long, proximal setae on coxisternum I (1a) 26 (24–28) long, proximal setae on coxisternum II (2a) 65 (61–69) long. Legs I 48 (44–50) long, femur 14 (13–15) long, basiventral femoral setae (bv) absent; genu 5 (4–5) long, antaxial genual setae (l’’) 45 (40–48) long; tibia 15 (14–15) long, paraxial tibial setae (l’) 11 (10–12) long, setae located at center; tarsus 10 (9–10) long; tarsal empodium divided, each 4 rayed, tarsal solenidion knobbed. Legs II 43 (40–48) long, femur 12 (11–12) long, basiventral femoral setae (bv) absent; genu 5 (4–5) long, antaxial genual setae (l’’) 12 (10–13) long; tibia 13 (12–13) long; tarsus 10 (9–10) long; tarsal empodium divided, each 4­rayed, tarsal solenidion knobbed. Dorsal opisthosoma with 42 (40–42) annuli, smooth, ventrally with 75 (74–76) microtuberculate annuli. Setae c2 38 (35–40) long, on ventral annulus 14 (13–14); setae d 80 (72–83) long, on ventral annulus 29 (26–29); setae e 60 (52–65) long, on ventral annulus 46 (43–48), setae f 50 (48–52) long, on 9th ventral annulus from rear. Setae h1 minute. Female genitalia 20 (19–20) long, 33 (32–34) wide, coverflap smooth, proximal setae on coxisternum III (3a) 11 (10–13) long.

MALE (n = 4). 263 (260–265) long, 91 (90–91) wide; genitalia 4 (4–5) long, 27 (26–27) wide, proximal setae on coxisternum III (3a) 9 (8–9) long.

Types

Holotype, female, northwestern China: Gansu Province, Dangchang county, Guanergou, 33°57.39’ N, 104°19.45’E. September 11, 2005, from Betula platyphylla Suk. (Betulaceae) , coll. Xue, Xiao­Feng & Song, Zi­Wei . Paratypes, 7 females and 4 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 specific epithet of the type host plant, platyphylla .

Remarks

This species is similar to Diptacus betulae Chen, Wei & Qin, 2003, but can be differentiated by prodorsal shield with median and admedian lines separate (connected in D. betulae), tarsal empodium divided, each 4­rayed (5­rayed in D. betulae), dorsal annuli smooth and female genital coverflap smooth (with 16 to 19 longitudinal ridges in D. betulae).