Diptacus mercuriasis, 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 : 49-51

Diptacus mercuriasis sp. nov.

( Fig. 6 )

Description. FEMALE: (n = 8) Body fusiform, 330 (325–330), 100 (100–105) wide, 105 (100–113) thick; light yellow. Gnathosoma 70 (67–75), pedipalp coxal setae (ep) 2 (2–3), dorsal pedipalp genual setae (d) 15 (13–15), gnathosoma projecting downwards. Prodorsal shield 43 (43–45), 80 (75–80) wide; prodorsal shield subtriangular and without frontal lobe; prodorsal shield design with incomplete median, admedian and submedian lines connected at anterior 1/3 of shield by a sinuous transverse line forming cell-like network anteriorly; median and admedian lines subparallel, submedian lines connected posteriorly forming a triangle. Scapular tubercles ahead of rear margin, 30 (30–33) apart, scapular setae (sc) 4 (4–5) projecting up and ahead. Coxal area I with granules, coxal area II smooth; anterolateral setae on coxisternum I (1b) 20 (16–22), proximal setae on basal coxisternum I (1a) 35 (25–40), proximal setae on coxisternum II (2a) 50 (48–50). Coxal plates I separated. Legs I 61 (58–61), femur 17 (15–17), basiventral femoral setae (bv) absent; genu 5 (5–6), antaxial genual setae (l'') 35 (30–40); tibia 18 (16–19), paraxial tibial setae (l') 19 (18–20), setae located 2/3 from dorsal base; tarsus 10 (9–11), tarsal setae (u') 5 (4–5), tarsal empodium divided, each empodial branch six-rayed, tarsal solenidion knobbed. Legs II 56 (55–57), femur 15 (13–15), basiventral femoral setae (bv) absent; genu 5 (5–6), antaxial genual setae (l'') 12 (10–12); tibia 17 (16–17); tarsus 10 (9–11), tarsal setae (u') 5 (4–5), tarsal empodium divided, each empodial branch six-rayed, tarsal solenidion knobbed. Opisthosoma: dorsal opisthosoma with 64 (55–64) annuli, with elongated microtubercles on rear annular margins, opisthosoma with a faint middorsal ridge ending at 1/3 anterior; ventrally with 99 (90–99) microtuberculate annuli. Setae c2 50 (45–54) on ventral annulus 20 (19–21); setae d 70 (65–80) on ventral annulus 36 (34–37); setae e 60 (55–63) on ventral annulus 60 (55–61); setae f 49 (45–50) on 13th ventral annulus from rear. Setae h1 minute. Female genitalia 22 (19–22), 35 (34–35) wide, coverflap smooth but with granules at base, proximal setae on coxisternum III (3a) 10 (10–11).

MALE: Unknown.

Types. Holotype, female, from Mercurialis leiocarpa Sieb. et Zucc. (Euphorbiaceae) , Guan’e Gou, Dangchang County, Gansu Province, China, 33°57’39’’N, 104°19’45’’E, September 11, 2005, collected by Zi-Wei Song and Xiao-Feng Xue. Paratypes, 7 females, 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 mercuriasis is from the generic name of the host plant, Mercurialis .

Note. This species is similar to Diptacus kusanous Huang, 2001 , but can be differentiated by dorsal annuli with elongated microtubercles (dorsal annuli smooth in D. kusanous ), coxal area I with granules, coxal area II smooth (both coxal area I and II with granules in D. kusanous ), empodium divided, each empodial branch sixrayed (nine-rayed in D. kusanous ).

Figures

FIGURE 6. Diptacus mercuriasis 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.