Schizotetranychus gilvus, Ehara & Ohashi, 2005

Ehara, Shôzô & Ohashi, Kazunori, 2005, A new spider mite species of Schizotetranychus (Acari: Prostigmata: Tetranychidae) from Quercus gilva in Japan, Zootaxa 884 (1), pp. 1-5 : 2-5

Schizotetranychus gilvus sp. nov.

(Japanese name: Koto­matahadani)

( Figs. 1–16 )

Diagnosis — This species is distinct from any other known members of the genus in having tibiae I and II with 9 and 8 tactile setae, respectively, and the aedeagus with somewhat triangular shaft and conspicuous pick­shaped terminal knob. It resembles S. zhangi Wang & Cui, 1992 which is known only from females collected in Yunnan, China, on Quercus gilliana Rehder & E.H. Wilson. However , the female of S. gilvus sp. nov. differs from that of S. zhangi in the following points:

1) Tibia II with 8 tactile setae (7 tactile setae in zhangi ).

2) Each empodium with 2 dorsal appendant hairs on each of claw­like parts (1 dorsal appendant hair in zhangi ).

3) Area immediately anterior to genital flap with longitudinal to curved striae (transverse striae in zhan g i).

Female — Body greenish yellow in color, with 2 dark lateral spots on each side. Rostrum reaching middle to distal end of genu I ( Fig. 1 ). Palpus with spinneret about twice as long as broad; dorsal sensillum (solenidion) rod­like, with subparallel sides ( Fig. 2 ).

Peritreme L­ or U­shaped distally ( Fig. 5 ). Dorsolateral opisthosomal setae (c2 to f2) much longer than dorsocentral opisthosomals (c1 to h1); humeral seta (c3) very long, approximately 3 times the length of c1; each of c1 to f1 shorter than distance to base of seta next behind ( Fig. 1 ).

Opisthosomal striae on dorsocentral region transverse, with lobes approximately semicircular. Genital flap with transverse striae; area immediately anterior to flap with longitudinal to curved striae.

Numbers of setae and solenidia (in parentheses) on leg segments: coxae 2–2–1–1, trochanters 1–1–1–1, femora 9–7–4–4, genua 5–5–3–3, tibiae 9(1)–8–6–7, tarsi 14(1)+ 2 dupl.–12(1)+ 1 dupl.–9(1)–9(1). Tarsus I with 5 tactile setae proximal to proximal set of duplex setae, and 1 solenidion near level of proximal duplex set ( Fig. 9 ); tarsus II with 2 tactile setae and 1 solenidion proximal to duplex setae ( Fig. 10 ). Empodia with 2 dorsal appendant hairs on each claw­like part; the upper dorsal appendant much shorter than the lower ( Figs. 13–14 ).

Measurements (mean, n=10): length of body (including rostrum) 526, width of body 284; lengths of setae (mean±SE): v2 53.6±0.7, sc1 52.0±0.5, sc2 67.4±1.0, c1 40.5±0.3, c2 55.7±0.7, c3 97.3±1.4, d1 39.3±0.3, d2 55.1±0.6, e1 39.6 ±0.5, e2 62.2±0.9, f1 40.4±1.1, f2 57.6±0.8, h1 53.8±1.2.

Male — Color similar to female. Palpus with spinneret subconical, variable in shape; doral sensillum very slender, subparallel­sided ( Figs. 3–4 ).

Aedeagus with shaft somewhat triangular, the dorsal and ventral margins nearly straight; terminal knob pick­shaped, about 4.0 long; anterior projection of knob very small, acute; the posterior projection elongate, gently tapering; axis of knob forming slight angle with dorsal margin of shaft ( Figs. 6–8 ).

Numbers of setae and solenidia (in parentheses) on leg podomeres: coxae 2–2–1–1, trochanters 1–1–1–1, femora 9–7–4–4, genua 5–5–3–3, tibiae 9(3)–8[rarely 7]–6–7, tarsi 13(3)+2 dupl.–12(1)+1 dupl.–9(1)–9(1). Tarsus I with 4 tactile setae and 2 solenidia proximal to proximal set of duplex setae, and 1 solenidion near level of proximal duplex set ( Fig. 11 ); tarsus II with 2 tactile setae and 1 solenidion proximal to duplex setae ( Fig. 12 ). Empodium I with 1 or 2 dorsal and 1 ventral appendant hairs on each claw­like part ( Figs. 15–16 ). Empodia II–IV similar to those of female.

Measurements (mean, n=10): length of body (including rostrum) 437 (425); lengths of setae (mean±SE): v2 40.1±0.6 (37.9), sc1 38.7±0.8 (37.3), sc2 49.2±0.7 (48.0), c1 31.3±0.6 (28.0), c2 44.5±1.5 (38.7), c3 73.2±1.2 (74.3), d1 32.1±0.7 (30.6), d2 43.9±1.1 (38.7), e1 30.7 ±0.6 (27.7), e2 39.7 ±1.3 (33.8), f1 30.0±0.7 (28.4), f2 32.8±0.7 (31.6), h1 27.8±0.7 (26.5).

Type series — Holotype: male (NSMT­Ac 11888), Botanical Garden of Kyoto University, Sakyo­ku, Kyoto, Honshu, Japan, 7­X­2004 (K. Ohashi leg.), on Quercus gilva Blume (Fagaceae) . Paratypes: 4 males (NSMT­Ac 11889–11892), data same as for holotype; 1 male (NSMT­Ac 11893) and 3 females (NSMT­Ac 11894), 14­IX­2004, other data same as for holotype; 4 females (NSMT­Ac 11895–11896), Kitauoyanishi­machi, Nara, Honshu, 18­IX­2004, other data same as for holotype; 2 males and 2 females (KUM), Takabatake­cho, Nara, 18­IX­2004, other data same as for holotype.

Other specimens — Six males and 6 females (Ehara’s private collection), Matsugasaki­hashikami­cho, Sakyo­ku , Kyoto, 27­III­2004 (K. Ohashi leg.), on Q. gilva .

Etymology — The specific name is taken from the Latin adjective gilvus meaning “pale yellow” or “yellowish”, referring to the body color.

Figures

FIGURES 1–8. Schizotetranychus gilvus sp. nov. 1, dorsum (female); 2, distal segment of palpus (female); 3, ditto (male, holotype); 4, spinnerets (male); 5, peritremes (female); 6–8, aedeagi (6, holotype).

FIGURES 9–16. Schizotetranychus gilvus sp. nov. 9, tarsus and tibia I (female); 10, tarsus and tibia II (female); 11, tarsus and tibia I (male, holotype); 12, tarsus and tibia II (male, holotype); 13, empodium I (female); 14, empodium IV (female); 15–16, empodia I (male).