Diptacus abelis, 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 : 41-43

Diptacus abelis sp. nov.

( Fig. 1 )

Description. FEMALE: (n = 10) Body fusiform, 396 (380–408), 115 (113–121) wide, 123 (121–128) thick; light yellow. Gnathosoma 74 (72–75), pedipalp coxal setae (ep) 3 (2–3), dorsal pedipalp genual setae (d) 10 (10–12), gnathosoma projecting downwards. Prodorsal shield 35 (35–36), 85 (80–88) wide; with short and broad frontal lobe; 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 diagonal, transverse line formed the cell-like pattern at the anterior margin of the shield, the submedian lines connected posteriorly forming a triangle. Scapular tubercles ahead of rear margin, 29 (28–31) apart, scapular setae (sc) 7 (7–8) projecting mediad. Coxal area smooth; anterolateral setae on coxisternum I (1b) 38 (35–41), proximal setae on coxisternum I (1a) 46 (41–52), proximal setae on coxisternum II (2a) 82 (75–59). Prosternal apodeme absent. Legs I 57 (52–59), femur 17 (17–18), basiventral femoral setae (bv) absent; genu 8 (7–8), antaxial genual setae (l'') 51 (49–52); tibia 17 (17–18), paraxial tibial setae (l') 10 (9–10), setae located 2/3 from dorsal base; tarsus 11 (10–11), tarsal setae (u') 4 (3–4), tarsal empodium divided, each empodial branch four-rayed, tarsal solenidion knobbed. Legs II 50 (50–53), femur 15 (15–16), basiventral femoral setae (bv) absent; genu 6 (6–7), antaxial genual setae (l'') 18 (16–19); tibia 14 (14–15); tarsus 11 (10–11), tarsal setae (u') 4 (3–4), tarsal empodium divided, each empodial branch four-rayed, tarsal solenidion knobbed. Opisthosoma: dorsal opisthosoma with 65 (62–67) annuli smooth, except 13 rear dorsal annuli with spiny microtubercles on rear annular margins, ventrally with 116 (106–119) annuli smooth, except 16 rear ventral annuli with microtubercles. Setae c2 58 (50–65) on ventral annulus 23 (22–23); setae d 96 (92–103) on ventral annulus 46 (44–47); setae e 84 (79–88) on ventral annulus 72 (69–73); setae f 87 (80–95) on 13th ventral annulus from rear. Setae h1 minute. Female genitalia 23 (22–23), 36 (35–37) wide, coverflap smooth, proximal setae on coxisternum III (3a) 12 (12–13).

MALE: (n = 8) 282 (253–296), 107 (105–109) wide, genitalia 8 (8–9), 25 (25–26) wide, proximal setae on coxisternum III (3a) 9 (8–9).

Types. Holotype, female, from Abelia biflora Turcz. (Caprifoliaceae) , Taibai Mountain, Mei County, Shaanxi Province, China, 34°01’23’’N, 107°48’36’’E, September 2, 2004, collected by Zi-Wei Song and Xiao-Feng Xue. Paratypes, 9 females and 8 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 abelis is from the generic name of the host plant, Abelia .

Note. This species is similar to Diptacus guangxiensis Kuang and Hong, 1990 a, but can be differentiated by ventral annuli smooth except 16 rear ventral annuli with spiny microtubercles (ventral annuli between ventral setae with round microtubercles in D. guangxiensis ), empodium divided, each empodial branch fourrayed (five-rayed in D. guangxiensis ), dorsal shield with short but broad frontal lobe, median and submedian lines complete (dorsal shield with small frontal lobe, median and submedian lines incomplete in D. guangxiensis ).

Figures

FIGURE 1. Diptacus abelis 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.