Areekulus rhododendronis, Song, Zi-Wei, Xue, Xiao-Feng & Hong, Xiao-Yue, 2008

Song, Zi-Wei, Xue, Xiao-Feng & Hong, Xiao-Yue, 2008, Eriophyoid mite fauna (Acari: Eriophyoidea) of Gansu Province, northwestern China with descriptions of twelve new species, Zootaxa 1756, pp. 1-48 : 42-43

Areekulus rhododendronis sp. nov.

( Fig. 13 )

Description. FEMALE: (n = 10) Body fusiform, 281 (281–304), 90 (90–97) wide, 83 (83–87) thick; light yellow. Gnathosoma 59 (59–61), projecting downwards, pedipalp coxal setae (ep) 6 (5–6), dorsal pedipalp genual setae (d) 10 (10–12), chelicerae 53 (50–53). Prodorsal shield 35 (35–38), 85 (85–89) wide; prodorsal shield emarginated anterior, semicircle, prodorsal shield design of incomplete admedian and submedian lines, median line absent, admedian lines connect posteriorly and mesally forming a “U” shape mark. Scapular tubercles on rear margin, 23 (23–25) apart, scapular setae (sc) absent. Coxal area smooth; anterolateral setae on coxisternum I (1b) 13 (13–15), proximal setae on coxisternum I (1a) 15 (15–17), proximal setae on coxisternum II (2a) 40 (35–45). Prosternal apodeme present. Legs: Leg I 47 (46–47), femur 14 (13–14), basiventral femoral seta (bv) absent; genu 6 (5–6), antaxial genual seta (l'') 28 (25–28); tibia 10 (9–10), paraxial tibial seta (l') absent; tarsus 8 (7–8), tarsal seta (u') 5 (4–5), tarsal empodium simple, 4-rayed, tarsal solenidion knobbed. Leg II 44 (43–44), femur 13 (12–13), basiventral femoral seta (bv) absent; genu 6 (5–6), antaxial genual seta (l'') absent; tibia 9 (9–10); tarsus 7 (6–7), tarsal seta (u') 5 (4–5), tarsal empodium simple, 4-rayed, tarsal solenidion knobbed. Opisthosoma: dorsal opisthosoma with 35 (35–37), smooth, with a broad dorsal furrow, ventrally with 80 (79–82) annuli, with elliptical microtubercles. Setae c2 absent; setae d 60 (52–65) on ventral annulus 29 (26–33); setae e 17 (15–17) on ventral annulus 48 (45–55); setae f 30 (30–36) on 6th ventral annulus from rear. Setae h1 1 (1–2). Female genitalia 19 (19–22), 33 (30–33) wide, coverflap with irregular short lines, proximal setae on coxisternum III (3a) 10 (10–12).

MALE: (n = 5) 225 (225–227), 70 (73–77) wide, light yellow. Gnathosoma 59 (59–61), projecting downwards, pedipalp coxal setae (ep) 6 (5–6), dorsal pedipalp genual setae (d) 10 (10–12), chelicerae 53 (50–53). Prodorsal shield 30 (28–30), 65 (60–65) wide. Scapular tubercles on rear margin, 20 (18–20) apart, scapular setae (sc) absent. Coxal area smooth; anterolateral setae on coxisternum I (1b) 10 (10–12), proximal setae on coxisternum I (1a) 20 (18–20), proximal setae on coxisternum II (2a) 42 (38–42). Prosternal apodeme present. Legs: Leg I 44 (43–44), femur 12 (12–13), basiventral femoral seta (bv) absent; genu 6 (5–6), antaxial genual seta (l'') 30 (28–30); tibia 9 (9–10), paraxial tibial seta (l') absent; tarsus 7 (7–8), tarsal seta (u') 4 (4–5), tarsal empodium simple, 4-rayed, tarsal solenidion knobbed. Leg II 40 (39–41), femur 11 (10–11), basiventral femoral seta (bv) absent; genu 5 (5–6), antaxial genual seta (l'') absent; tibia 8 (8–9); tarsus 6 (6– 7), tarsal seta (u') 4 (4–5), tarsal empodium simple, 4-rayed, tarsal solenidion knobbed. Opisthosoma: dorsal opisthosoma with 29 (28–30), smooth, with a broad dorsal furrow, ventrally with 75 (70–75) annuli, with elliptical microtubercles. Setae c2 absent; setae d 55 (50–55) on ventral annulus 25 (23–25); setae e 20 (18– 20) on ventral annulus 40 (40–42); setae f 31 (30–33) on 6th ventral annulus from rear. Setae h1 4 (3–4). Male genitalia 4 (3–4), 27 (26–27) wide, proximal setae on coxisternum III (3a) 13 (10–13).

Types. Holotype, female, from Rhododendron sp. L. ( Ericaceae ), Dangchang County, Gansu Province, China, 33°57'39N, 104°19'45E, September 13, 2005, collected by Zi-Wei Song and Xiao-Feng Xue.

Paratypes, 9 females and 5 males, with the same data as holotype.

Relation to host. Mites are vagrant on the undersurface of leaves, causing no apparent damage.

Etymology. The specific designation rhododendronis is from the generic name of the host plant, Rhododendron .

Remarks. This species is similar to Areekulus eugeniae Chandrapatya, 1998 ( Boczek & Chandrapatya, 1998) , but can be differentiated by female genital coverflap with irregular short lines (female genital coverflap smooth in A. eugeniae ), dorsal annuli smooth (dorsal annuli with microtubercles in A. eugeniae ), paraxial tibial setae (l') absent (paraxial tibial setae (l') present in A. eugeniae ).

Figures

FIGURE 13. Areekulus rhododendronis sp. nov. A, dorsal view of female; B, coxae and female genitalia; C, legs I and II; D, lateral aspect of female; E, tarsal empodium; F, male genitalia.