Calepitrimerus akebis, Xie, 2016

Manchao Xie, 2016, Three new species of eriophyoid mites of the tribe Phyllocoptini Nalepa (Eriophyoidea: Eriophyidae) from Shaanxi, China, Zoological Systematics 41 (2), pp. 158-164 : 160-162

Calepitrimerus akebis sp. nov. ( Figs 8–13 )

Female (n =7). Body fusiform, flat, 175 (130–188) long, 72 (60–72) wide, whitish. Gnathosoma 20 (18–20) long, projecting down; dorsal pedipalp genual setae (d) 6 (6–7). Prodorsal shield 54 (40–55) long, 66 (58–66) wide, with a moderate frontal lobe; shield surface covered with sheet waxiness; median and submedian lines absent; admedian lines nearly complete except about 1/4 part at rear; there are two arc-shaped lines intersecting with admedian lines at anterior 1/4 and rear 1/4. Scapular tubercles set ahead of rear shield margin, 16 (15–18) apart; scapular setae (sc) 5 (5), projecting up and centrad. Coxisternal plates I and II sculptured with lines and granules, prosternal apodeme 5 (5–6); anterolateral setae on coxisternum І (1b) 6 (6–8), 12 (11–13) apart; proximal setae on coxisternum І (1a) 13 (12–13), 6 (6–7) apart; proximal setae on coxisternum ІІ (2a) 23 (20–25), 20 (20–25) apart. Leg I 34 (31–36), trochanter 2 (2–3), femur 12 (11–12), basiventral femoral setae (bv)10 (7–10); genu 5 (4–5), antaxial genual setae (l") 30 (30–34); tibia 10 (9–10), paraxial tibial setae (l')5 (4–5), located at lateral 1/3 from base; tarsus 5 (5–6), both paraxial fastigial tarsal setae (ft ′) and antaxial fastigial tarsal setae (ft") 20 (20–23); tarsal solenidion 7 (7), unknobbed; tarsal empodium 6-rayed, entired. Leg ІІ 32 (30–35), trochanter 2 (2–3); femur 11 (11–12), basiventral femoral setae (bv)11 (9–11); genu 5 (4–5), antaxial genual setae (l") 12 (12–15); tibia 9 (8–9); tarsus 5 (5–6), praxial fastigial tarsal setae (ft') 5 (5–7), antaxial fastigial tarsal setae (ft") 20 (20–23); tarsal solenidion 7 (7), unknobbed; tarsal empodium 6-rayed, entired. Opisthosoma with dorsal annuli 32 (30–35), dorsal annuli covered with wool-like waxiness. Among them, 16–19 dorsal annuli forming a median longitudinal ridge and 25–27 dorsal annuli forming two lateral longitudinal ridges; ventral annuli 55 (55–65), round microtubercles ornamented ventral annuli except caudal 6 ventral annuli with elongated microtubercles. Setae c2 21 (20–23), 54 (40–54) apart, on 12-13rd ventral annulus; setae d 40 (30–40), 33 (30–33) apart, on 23–24th ventral annulus; setae e 25 (23–25), 17 (17–18) apart, on 40-41st ventral annulus; setae f 30 (30–37), 18 (18–25) apart, on 6th ventral annulus from rear. Setae h1 absent; setae h2 30 (30–40). Female genital coverflap 15 (14–16) long, 24 (20–24) wide, with basal transverse lines and terminal 6 oblique lines, proximal setae on coxisternum ІІІ (3a) 15 (15–17), 16 (15–19) apart.

Male (n =1). Body 118 long, 50 wide; genitalia 20 wide, proximal setae on coxisternum ІІІ (3a)10, 15 apart.

Material examined. Holotype. female, Shangzhu (31º54′N, 109º25′E; elev. 960 m), Zhenping, Shaanxi, China, 21 July 2009, from Akebia trifoliata ( Thunb.) Koidz. ( Lardizabalaceae) , coll. Man-Chao Xie. Paratypes. six females and one male, the same data as the holotype.

Biology. The mites are vagrant on the undersurfaces of leaves. No obvious damage to the host plant was seen.

Etymology. The specific designation akebis is derived from the generic name of the type host plant, gender masculine.

Remarks. This new species is similar to C. antedesmae Chakrabarti & Das, 1982 by the prodorsal shield design, but can be separated from the latter as follows. In C. akebis sp. nov., shield median line is absent, and female genital coverflap is ornamented with terminal lines, and tarsal empodium is 6-rayed. But in C. antedesmae , shield median line is present, female genital coverflap is ornamented with terminal granules, and tarsal empodium is 5-rayed.

Figures

Figures 8 – 13. Calepitrimerus akebis sp. nov. 8. Female, dorsal view. 9. Leg I. 10. Leg II. 11. Empodium enlarged. 12. Male, genital region. 13. Female, coxal-genital region. Scale bars: 8 = 18 μm; 9 – 10 = 12 μm; 12 = 8 μm; 13 = 10 μm.