Aculops tianchis, Xue, Xiao-Feng, Song, Zi-Wei & Hong, Xiao-Yue, 2007

Xue, Xiao-Feng, Song, Zi-Wei & Hong, Xiao-Yue, 2007, Five new species and a new record of the genus Aculops Keifer (Acari: Eriophyidae: Phyllocoptinae) from China, Zootaxa 1391, pp. 57-68 : 61

Aculops tianchis sp. nov.

( Fig. 2)

Description. FEMALE: (n = 4) Body fusiform, 216 (205–230), 57 (54–61) wide, 56 (54–57) thick; light yellow. Gnathosoma 23 (22–25), projecting obliquely down. Prodorsal shield 41 (41–42), 40 (38–41) wide; subtriangular; frontal lobe acuminate; median line present 1 / 3 at base and connected with admedian lines at basal 1 / 3 and base, admedian and submedian lines connected by a transverse line, there are granules on prodorsal shield and lines. Dorsal tubercles on rear margin, 30 (29–30) apart, scapular setae (sc) 15 (15–16) projecting posterior. Coxal area with short lines; anterolateral setae on coxisternum (1 b) 10 (9–10), proximal setae on coxisternum (1 a) 23 (21–25), proximal setae on coxisternum (2 a) 32 (31–32). Prosternal apodeme present. Legs with usual series of setae. Legs 31 (29–33), femur 10 (9–10), basiventral femoral setae (bv) 15 (14–16); genu 5 (5–6), antaxial genual setae (l'') 22 (21–22); tibia 7 (7–8), paraxial tibial setae (l') 9 (9–10), setae located 1 / 3 from dorsal base; tarsus 5 (5–6); empodium simple, 6 ­rayed, tapered solenidion. Legs 27 (25–29), femur 8 (7–8), basiventral femoral setae (bv) 10 (10–11); genu 4 (4–5), antaxial genual setae (l'') 8 (8–9); tibia 6 (6–7); tarsus 5 (5–6); empodium simple, 6 ­rayed, tapered solenidion. Opisthosoma: dorsal opisthosoma with 46 (44–50) annuli, with spiny microtubercles, ventrally with 69 (65–72) annuli, with rounded microtubercles. Setae c 2 21 (19–22) on ventral annulus 14 (13–14); setae d 32 (30–34) on ventral annulus 26 (25–27); setae e 45 (40–47) on ventral annulus 43 (41–44), setae f 25 (23–26) on 6 th ventral annulus from rear. Setae h 1 3 (3–4). Female genitalia 15 (15–16), 20 (20–21) wide, coverflap with 12 to 14 longitudinal ridges and 3 transverse lines at base, proximal setae on coxisternum (3 a) 28 (27–30).

MALE: (n = 2) 172–185, 47 – 53 wide; genitalia 5–6, 15 ­ 16 wide, proximal setae on coxisternum III (3 a) 20–23.

Types. Holotype, female, China: Henan Province, Song County, Tianchi Mountain, 34 °16.78’N, 111 °50.09’E. July 12, 2004, from Betula sp. L. ( Betulaceae ), coll. Xue, Xiao­Feng. Paratypes, 3 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. The specific designation tianchis is from the place where the host plant and the mite were found, Tianchi Mountain.

Remarks. This species is similar to Aculops lysimachiae Kuang & Hong, 1991 , but can be differentiated by empodium 6 ­rayed, tapered solenidion (empodium 5 ­rayed, knobbed solenidion in A. lysimachiae ) and different shield designs.