Rhyncaphytoptus tibetisalisis, Song, Zi-Wei, Xue, Xiao-Feng & Hong, Xiao-Yue, 2009

Song, Zi-Wei, Xue, Xiao-Feng & Hong, Xiao-Yue, 2009, Four new species of Rhyncaphytoptus from Tibet Autonomous Region, China (Acari: Eriophyoidea: Diptilomiopidae), Zootaxa 2196, pp. 31-47 : 40-43

Rhyncaphytoptus tibetisalisis sp. nov.

( Figs 5 & 6 )

Description. FEMALE: (n = 12) Body fusiform, 255 (253–260), 67 (65–72) wide, 68 (67–70) thick; light yellow. Gnathosoma 50 (48–52), projecting downwards, pedipalp coxal seta (ep) 3 (2–3), dorsal pedipalp genual seta (d) 11 (11–12), cheliceral stylets 52 (50–55). Prodorsal shield 31 (30–31), 55 (53–55) wide; frontal lobe slightly emarginate anteriorly; shield design with incomplete median line, complete admedian and submedian lines, arc line on shield rear margin. Scapular tubercles ahead of rear shield margin, 24 (24–25) apart, scapular setae (sc) 20 (19–20) projecting forward. Coxal plates smooth; anterolateral setae on coxisternum I (1b) 10 (10–12), 9 (9–10) apart, proximal setae on coxisternum I (1a) 20 (20–22), 9 (9–10) apart, proximal setae on coxisternum II (2a) 60 (55–60), 25 (25–26) apart. Prosternal apodeme present. Legs with usual series of setae. Leg I 49 (47–49), femur 14 (13–14), basiventral femoral seta (bv) 12 (12–13); genu 7 (6–7), antaxial genual seta (l ʺ) 25 (25–27); tibia 11 (10–11), paraxial tibial seta (l ʹ) 12 (10–12), located in proximal 1/3; tarsus 8 (7–8); paraxial unguinal tarsal seta (u ʹ) 6 (5–6); tarsal empodium 7 (7–6), simple, with ca. 12 hair-like rays on each side, tarsal solenidion tapered. Leg II 44 (42–44), femur 13 (12–13), basiventral femoral seta (bv) 15 (13–15); genu 6 (5–6), antaxial genual seta (l ʺ) 13 (12–13); tibia 7 (6–7); tarsus 8 (7–8); paraxial unguinal tarsal seta (u ʹ) 6 (5–6); tarsal empodium 7 (6–7), simple, with ca. 12 hair-like rays on each side, tarsal solenidion tapered. Opisthosoma: opisthosoma dorsally with 27 (25–30) annuli, with linear microtubercles; ventrally with 92 (90–107) annuli, with round microtubercles. Setae c2 22 (20–22) on ventral annulus 20 (18–22); setae d 65 (60–65) on ventral annulus 35 (33–47), 43 (42–43) apart; setae e 25 (20–25) on ventral annulus 51 (50–65), 22 (22–23) apart; setae f 35 (30–36) on 8th ventral annulus from rear, 28 (27–28) apart. Setae h1 6 (5–6). Female genitalia 13 (13–15), 26 (25–27) wide, coverflap smooth, setae 3a 14 (14– 16), 17 (16–17) apart.

MALE: Not seen.

Type material. Holotype, female (slide marked 922 holotype), from Salix sp. ( Salicaceae ), Bayi town, Linzhi District, Tibet Autonomous Region, P. R. China, 14 August 2007, coll. Zi-Wei Song, Xiao-Feng Xue & Zhen Wang. Paratypes, 11 females (slides no. 922) with the same data as holotype.

Relation to host. Vagrant on leaf undersurface. No damage to the host was observed.

Etymology. The specific designation is tibetisalisis combined from the name of location “Tibet”, where the type species was collected and a derivation of the generic name of the host plant “ Salix ”.

Differential diagnosis. This species is similar to R. acilius Keifer, 1939 c, but can be differentiated from the latter by the prodorsal shield with incomplete median line, frontal lobe anterior slightly emarginate (prodorsal shield with median line absent, frontal lobe anterior not emarginate in R. acilius ); tarsal solenidion tapered, empodium with about 12 fine hair-like rays on each side (tarsal solenidion knobbed, empodium 9- rayed in R. acilius ); setae f on 8th ventral annulus from rear (setae f on 6th ventral annulus from rear in R. acilius ).

Figures

FIGURE 5. Rhyncaphytoptus tibetisalisis sp. nov. D, dorsal view of female; CG, coxae and genitalia of female; L 1, leg I; L 2, leg II.

FIGURE 6. Rhyncaphytoptus tibetisalisis sp. nov. L, lateral view of female; em, empodium; LO, enlarged lateral view of opisthosoma.