Diptacus zhouzhisis, Song, Zi-Wei, Xue, Xiao-Feng & Hong, Xiao-Yue, 2007

Song, Zi-Wei, Xue, Xiao-Feng & Hong, Xiao-Yue, 2007, Description of seven new species in the genus Diptacus Keifer (Acari: Eriophyoidea: Diptilomiopidae: Diptilomiopinae) from northwestern China, Zootaxa 1429, pp. 39-53 : 43-45

Diptacus zhouzhisis sp. nov.

( Fig. 2 )

Description. FEMALE: (n = 10) Body fusiform, 193 (190–195), 71 (70–75) wide, 65 (63–68) thick; light yellow. Gnathosoma 40 (40–45), pedipalp coxal setae (ep) 2 (2–3), dorsal pedipalp genual setae (d) 12 (12–14), gnathosoma projecting downwards. Prodorsal shield 35 (35–38), 45 (43–48) wide; the frontal lobe of prodorsal shield anteriorly emarginate; prodorsal shield design with complete median, admedian and submedian lines, the median line connected at anterior 1/3 with the admedian and submedian lines by a transverse line formed the cell-like pattern at the anterior margin of the shield, median line ending basally with a curved line forming an arrowhead, the submedian lines connected posteriorly forming a semicircle. Scapular tubercles ahead of rear margin, 22 (20–25) apart, scapular setae (sc) 9 (9–10) projecting up and ahead. Coxal area with granules; anterolateral setae on coxisternum I (1b) 11 (10–15), proximal setae on coxisternum I (1a) 15 (13– 17), proximal setae on coxisternum II (2a) 40 (35–44). Prosternal apodeme present. Legs I 35 (33–36), femur 11 (10–12), basiventral femoral setae (bv) absent; genu 5 (5–6), antaxial genual setae (l'') 20 (20–22); tibia 12 (12–13), paraxial tibial setae (l') 6 (6–8), setae located 2/3 from dorsal base; tarsus 6 (6–7), tarsal setae (u') 3 (3–4), tarsal empodium divided, each empodial branch three-rayed, tarsal solenidion knobbed. Legs II 33 (30–33), femur 10 (10–11), basiventral femoral setae (bv) absent; genu 5 (4–5), antaxial genual setae (l'') 8 (6– 9); tibia 9 (9–10); tarsus 6 (6–7), tarsal setae (u') 3 (3–4), tarsal empodium divided, each empodial branch three-rayed, tarsal solenidion knobbed. Opisthosoma: dorsal opisthosoma with 36 (36–40) annuli, with elliptical microtubercles on rear annular margins, ventrally with 69 (69–73) annuli with round microtubercles. Setae c2 10 (10–15) on ventral annulus 10 (10–13); setae d 55 (53–55) on ventral annulus 29 (29–33); setae e 9 (9–12) on ventral annulus 43 (40–43); setae f 21 (20–25) on 7th ventral annulus from rear. Setae h1 minute. Female genitalia 16 (15–18), 29 (27–34) wide, coverflap with 14 longitudinal ridges, proximal setae on coxisternum III (3a) 7 (7–10).

MALE: (n = 5) 168 (167–170), 55 (55–56) wide, genitalia 6 (5–7), 22 (22–23) wide, proximal setae on coxisternum III (3a) 7 (6–9).

Types. Holotype, female, from Carpinus sp. L. ( Betulaceae ), Hei River, Zhouzhi County, Shaanxi Province, China, 33°53’30’’N, 108°00’34’’E, August 13, 2005, collected by Zi-Wei Song and Xiao-Feng Xue. Paratypes, 9 females and 5 males, with the same date as holotype.

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

Etymology. The specific designation zhouzhisis is from the county name, Zhouzhi County, where the host plant and the mites were collected.

Note. This species is similar to Diptacus songxianensis Xue & Hong, 2005 , but can be differentiated by dorsal shield design of median lines connected by the transverse lines and the median lines smooth (dorsal shield without transverse lines and some granules on the median line in D. songxianensis ), coxal area with granules (coxal area with short lines in D. songxianensis ), empodium divided, each empodial branch threerayed (four-rayed in D. songxianensis ).

Figures

FIGURE 2. Diptacus zhouzhisis 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.