Leipothrix menthae, Jočić, Ivona, Petanović, Radmila & Vidović, Biljana, 2011

Jočić, Ivona, Petanović, Radmila & Vidović, Biljana, 2011, Three new species of eriophyoid mites (Acari: Prostigmata: Eriophyoidea) from Montenegro, Zootaxa 2828, pp. 38-50 : 43-46

Leipothrix menthae n. sp.

( Figs. 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 & 7 )

Female: (n=10). Body elongate, spindleform 204 (183–204), 70 (70–79) wide, 72 thick, light yellow. Gnathosoma 22 (22–23) downcurved, coxal setae (ep) 4, dorsal genual setae (d) bifurcate, consisting of basic 20 (19–20) and accessory branches (accessory branches short), v setae 2; chelicerae 12 (12–19). Prodorsal shield 55 (50–55), 66 (60–70) wide, subtriangular with a frontal lobe. Median line on anterior ¼ of the shield, with some admedian lines longer than median; submedian lines entire, sinuous. Prodorsal shield tubercules ahead of the rear shield margin, 18 (18–20) apart, scapular setae (sc) 5 (4–7) long, converging. Legs with all segments present. Femoral setae bv absent. Leg I 37 (36–40); femur 12 (10–12); genu 6 (5–6), genual setae l'' 30 (30–35); tibia 8, tibial setae l' (3–4); tarsus 7, with setae ft' 16 (16–20), setae ft'' 20 (20–25), unguinal setae (u') 3; solenidion (ω) 7 (6–7); empodium 6 (5–6), 4 rayed. Leg II 37 (36–40); femur 11 (10–13); genu 5 (5–6), genual setae l'' 8 (7–10); tibia 8 (7–10); tarsus 7 (5–7), with setae ft' 4 (4-6), setae ft'' 20 (20–24); solenidion (ω) 7 (7–8); empodium 7 (5–7), 4 rayed. Coxigenital area with 6 (6–7) microtuberculated annuli, sternal line 12 (12–20), coxae ornamented with numerous short lines; coxal setae 1b 13 (12–15), 14 (12–14) apart; coxal setae 1a 20 (15–25), 4 (3–5) apart; coxal setae 2a 50 (35–60), 22 (20–24) apart. Genitalia 20 (16–21), 20 (19–22) wide, scorings on female coverflap in two ranks, around 10 in each rank; coxal setae 3a 12 (12–15), 12 (12–14) apart. Opisthosoma with 60 (42–60) dorsal annuli, 87 (74–87) ventral annuli, with longitudinal middorsal ridge fading above seate f. Dorsal annuli smooth, ventral annuli with rounded microtubercles. Setae c2 17 (15–30), 47 (47–54) apart, on annulus 13 (12–13); setae d 26 (26–32), 31 (31–39) apart, on annulus 32 (27–32); setae e 20 (15–20), 15 (15–18) apart, on annulus 57 (48–57); setae f 26 (25–30), 20 (19–21) apart, on annulus 81 (69–81), 6th annulus from rear; setae h2 5 (4–5), 5 (4–15) apart; setae h1 60 (50–71), 6 (6–8) apart.

Male: (n=2). Body 142–183, 55–60 wide. Gnathosoma 20–22. Coxal setae (ep) not visible, dorsal genual setae (d) 18, cheliceral stylets 12. Prodorsal shield 42–45 long, 50–52 wide, scapular setae (sc) 4–5, 14–15 apart. Legs with all usual segments. Femoral setae bv and tibial setae l' of legs II absent. Leg I 33–35, femur 12–11; genu 6, genual setae l'' 25; tibia 8–9; tarsus 6, with setae ft' 7–12, setae ft'' 15–16, unguinal setae (u') 2–3; solenidion (ω) 7; empodium 5–6, 4 rayed. Leg II 35 –39, femur 12; genu 5–6, genual setae l'' 8–9; tibia 7–8; tarsus 5–6, with setae ft' 3, setae ft'' 17–18, solenidion (ω) 8; empodium 6, 4 rayed. Coxigenital area with 7 microtuberculated annuli, sternal line 14, coxal setae 1b 12, 10–12 apart; coxal setae 1a 20, 3–4 apart; coxal setae 2a 40, 21–23 apart. Genitalia 15 long, 14–15 wide, coxal setae 3a 8–10, 9 apart. Opisthosoma with 52–58 dorsal annuli, 69–76 ventral annuli. Ventral annuli with rounded microtubercles. Setae c 2 13–16, 37–42 apart, on annulus 12; setae d 18–20, 27–29 apart, on annulus 28–29; setae e 11–12, 11–12 apart, on annulus 46–49; setae f 20–23, 16–20 apart, on annulus 65–72, 4th annulus from the rear; setae h2 3–4, 4 apart; setae h 1 55, 6–8 apart.

Nymph: (n=1). Body 153, 61 wide. Gnathosoma 20, dorsal genual setae (d) 8, chelicerae 13. Prodorsal shield 42, 36 wide, scapular setae (sc) 4, 16 apart. Leg I 32, femur 11, femoral setae bv absent; genu 5, genual setae (l'') 22; tibia 5, tibial setae (l') 2; tarsus 5, with setae ft' 11, setae ft'' 15, solenidion (ω) 5; empodium 5, 3 rayed. Leg II 23, femur 8, femoral setae bv absent; genu 4, genual setae (l'') 4; tibia 4, tarsus 5, with setae ft' 3, setae ft'' 15, solenidion (ω) 6, empodium 5, 3 rayed. Coxigenital area without annuli, sternal line invisible, coxal seta 1b 8, 13 apart; coxal setae 1a 7, 5 apart; coxal setae 2a 20, 20 apart; coxal setae 3a 6, 6 apart. Opisthosoma with 50 dorsal annuli, 59 ventral annuli. Setae c 2 6, 26 apart, on annulus 12; setae d 20, 25 apart, on annulus 25; setae e 10, 15 apart, on annulus 38; setae f 10, 10 apart, on annulus 57; setae h2 3; setae h1 40.

Larva: (n=1). Body 135, 60 wide. Gnathosoma 20, chelicerae 15. Prodorsal shield 45, 35 wide, scapular setae sc 3, 7 apart. Leg I 25, femur 7, femoral setae bv absent; genu 4, genual setae l'' 10; tibia 5, tibial setae l' 2; tarsus 5, with setae ft' 10, setae ft'' 7; solenidion (ω) 5; empodium 5, 3 rayed. Leg II 22, femur 8, femoral setae bv absent; genu 3, genual setae l'' 4; tibia 4; tarsus 5, with setae ft'' 5, solenidion (ω) 5; empodium 5, 3 rayed. Coxigenital area sternal line and coxal seta 1b invisible; coxal setae 1a 7; coxal setae 2a 13, 10 apart; coxal setae 3a 5, 5 apart. Opisthosoma with 42 dorsal annuli, 58 ventral annuli. Setae c2 5, 9 apart, on annulus 12; setae d 10, 8 apart, on annulus 24; setae e 10, 6 apart, on annulus 37; setae f 11, 4 apart, on annulus 54; setae h2 2; setae h1 30.

Type material. Holotype female on slide ELB36/21, as well as 26 paratypes, collected in Montenegro in the village of Zaton near Bijelo Polje by the first author on 1 September 2004.

Etymology. The specific name is derived from the generic name of the host plant on which the mites were found.

Host plant. Mentha piperita L. ( Lamiaceae )

Relation to host. Vagrants on the undersurface of leaves.

Differential diagnosis. Leipothrix menthae n. sp. is close to Leipothrix lysimachiae ( Hong & Kuang 1989) but it differs in the ornamentation of the prodorsal shield, appearance of the coxigenital area and female genitalia, length of the coxal setae 2a and opisthosomal setae d and e. In L. lysimachiae , the prodorsal shield ornamentation shows that the „ median line is incomplete, only the anterior ¼ is present; two transverse lines join complete admedian lines; submedian lines arc-shaped and incomplete“; coxae smooth, female genital coverflap base with 10–12 longitudinal ribs; coxal setae 2a 30, opisthosomal setae d 54, setae e 9.5. In the new species, „shield ornamentation of median line on anterior ¼ of the shield, admedian lines some longer than median; one submedian line on each side entire, sinuous; coxae ornamented with numerous short lines,“ scorings on female coverflap in two ranks, around 10 in each rank, coxal setae 2a 50 (40–60) long, opisthosomal setae d 26 (26–32) long, setae e 20 (15–20) long. Both species inhabit different host plants. L. lysimachiae lives freely on both surfaces of the leaves of Lysimachia clethroides Duby (Primulaceae) , whereas L. menthae n. sp. is a vagrant on the leaf undersurfaces of Mentha piperita L. ( Lamiaceae ).

Figures

FIGURE 2. Semi-schematic line drawings of Leipothrix menthae n. sp.: D. dorsal aspect of female.

FIGURE 3. Semi-schematic line drawings of Leipothrix menthae n. sp.: CG. coxigenital region of female; CS. lateral view of the caudal opisthosoma; DA. prodorsal shield of male, em-empodium (enlarged); ES. lateral view of annuli; GM. genital region of male, IG-internal female genitalia; SA. lateral view of anterior region of female.

FIGURE 4. Semi-schematic line drawings of Leipothrix menthae n. sp.: LM 1. lateral view of larva; LM 2. lateral view of nymph.

FIGURE 5. SEM of Leipothrix menthae n. sp.: coxigenital region of female.

FIGURE 6. SEM of Leipothrix menthae n. sp.: gnathosomal genual seta (d).

FIGURE 7. SEM of Leipothrix menthae n. sp.: prodorsal shield.