Aceria madhucae, 2011

Joshi, S., Menon, P. & Ramamurthy, V. V., 2011, A New Eriophyid, Aceria Madhucae N. Sp. (Acari: Eriophyidae) From India, Acarologia 51 (3), pp. 295-301 : 297-299

Aceria madhucae n. sp. Joshi

Female — (n=10, Figure 1 : a–h) — Body worm like, 175, 189 ± 19.1, (175 – 210) long, 50, 55 ± 5 (49 – 60) wide.

Gnathosoma projecting downwards; pedipalp genual setae d 5, 3 ± 3 (0-5); chelicerae 17, 18 ± 2 (16 – 20); gnathosoma 18, 19 ± 2 (18 – 22).

Prodorsal shield broad at base, forming a small semicircle at the anterior end, 26, 27.8 ± 2 (26 – 30) long, 40, 44.4 ± 4.3 (40 – 50) wide; median line present from rear end to almost middle of shield; admedian lines not touching the anterior and posterior margin of the shield, running parallel from anterior end, gently diverging and curving out towards the rear shield margin; two pairs of short submedian lines running parallel to admedians, gently diverging and ending a little ahead of dorsal tubercles, sometimes broken at middle; lateral line short and diverging longitudinally to the sides of the shield; dorsal tubercles subcylindrical, situated at rear shield margin, 19, 20.4 ± 1.6 (19 – 23) apart, directing scapular seta (sc) divergently backwards; sc 20, 22 ± 1.5 (20 – 24), spanning 9, 6 ± 3 annuli.

Leg I 24, 24.8 ± 1 (24 – 26); femur 7, 7.6 ± 0.8 (7 – 9), basiventral femoral seta (bv) 9, 9.8 ± 1.3 (9 – 12); genu 3, 3.6 ± 0.5 (3 – 4), antaxial genual seta (l”) 18, 19.4 ± 1.6 (18 – 22); tibia 4, 4 (4), paraxial tibial seta (l’) 6, 6.4 ± 0.5 (6 – 7); tarsus 6, 5.8 ± 0.4 (5 – 6); solenidion (ω) 5, 5.6 ± 0.5 (5 – 6), rod-like, without knob, empodium 5, 5 (5), simple, 4-rayed, paraxial fastigial seta (ft’) 7, 6.4 ± 0.8 (5 – 7), antaxial fastigial seta (ft”) 17, 16.4 ± 1.1 (15 – 18), unguinal seta (u’) 5, 4.8 ± 0.4 (4 – 5). Leg II 20, 22 ± 1.4 (20 – 24); femur 6, 7.2 ± 0.8 (6 – 8); basiventral femoral seta (bv) 8, 9.2 ± 1 (8 – 10); genu 4, 3.4 ± 0.5 (3 – 4), antaxial genual seta (l”) 9, 8.8 ± 1.3 (7 – 10); tibia 4, 3.6 ± 0.5 (3 – 4); tarsus 5, 5 (5), solenidion (ω) 7, 7 ± 0.7 (6 – 8), rod like, without knob, empodium 5, 4.8 ± 0.4 (4 – 5), simple, 4-rayed, paraxial fastigial seta (ft’) 6, 6.2 ± 0.5 (6 – 7), antaxial fastigial seta (ft”) 17, 18.4 ± 2.4 (15 – 21), unguinal seta (u’) 4, 0.8 ± 1.7 (0 – 4).

Coxal area smooth, sternal line absent, anterolateral seta on coxisternum I (1b) 7, 7.6 ± 0.8 (7 – 9), 9, 8.6 ± 1.1 (7 – 10) apart; proximal seta on coxisternum I (1a) 15, 13.8 ± 7.8 (15 – 19), 10, 10.6 ± 1.9 (8 – 13) apart; proximal seta on coxisternum II (2a) 35, 32.2 ± 3.8 (28 – 35), 20, 20.4 ± 2.6 (18 – 24) apart. Coxisternal area with 2-3 microtuberculate annuli.

Genitalia 12, 13.6 ± 1.5 (12 – 15) long, 19, 19.4 ± 0.5 (19 – 20) wide; epigynium with 10 – 12 longitudinal ridges; proximal seta on coxisternum III (3a) 6, 7.4 ± 1.6 (6 – 10).

Opisthosomal annuli continuous dorsoventrally. Opisthosomal seta (c2) 20, 21.2 ± 1.0 (20 – 22), on annulus 9, 8.6 ± 0.5 (8 – 9); opisthosomal seta (d) 40, 44.4 ± 4.3 (40 – 50), 33, 21.8 ± 20.0 (33 – 40) apart, on annulus 20, 19.6 ± 0.5 (19 – 20); opisthosomal seta (e) 6, 6.4 ± 0.5 (6 – 7), 18, 16.2 ± 9.4 (17 – 24) apart, on annulus 31, 29.8 ± 1.6 (27 – 31); opisthosomal seta (f) 15, 17 ± 1.5 (15 – 19), 17, 15 ± 8.4 (17 – 20) apart, on annulus 48, 48.8 ± 2.4 (45 – 51). Dorsal annuli with oval microtubercles, thorn-like, those on posterior 8 annuli appear as dots, total number of dorsal annuli 53, 53.8 ± 2.6 (51 – 58); ventral annuli with small and slightly oval microtubercles, also thornlike, becoming more narrow, rib-like and closely spaced posterior to seta (f), total number of ventral annuli 53, 54 ± 2.5 (50 – 56). Opisthosomal seta (h2) 32, 33.8 ± 1.7 (32 – 36); opisthosomal seta (h1) absent.

Male — (n=5) – Similar to female, 146 ± 2.8 (144 – 148) long, 45.5 ± 3.5 (43 – 48) wide.

Gnathosoma projecting downwards; dorsal pedipalp genual seta 4 ± 0 (4); chelicerae 20 ± 0 (20); gnathosoma 15.5 ± 0.7 (15 – 16).

Prodorsal shield 25 ± 2.8 (23 – 27) long, 42.5 ± 3.5 (40 – 45) wide; dorsal tubercles near rear shield margin 12.5 ± 0.7 (12 – 13) apart, directing scapular seta (sc) divergently; sc 17 ± 1.4 (16 – 18).

Legs: Leg I 24.5 ± 0.7 (24 – 25); femur 7 ± 0 (7), basiventral femoral seta (bv) 7 ± 1.4 (6 – 8); genu 4 ± 0 (4), antaxial genual seta (l”) 13 ± 1.4 (12 – 14); tibia 3 ± 0 (3), paraxial tibial seta (l’) 6 ± 1.4 (5 – 7); tarsus 6 ± 0 (6), solenidion (ω) 5.5 ± 0.7 (5 – 6), without knob, empodium 4.5 ± 0.7 (4 – 5), simple, 4-rayed, paraxial fastigial seta (ft’) 6 ± 1.4 (5 – 7), antaxial fastigial seta (ft”) 18.5 ± 0.7 (18 – 19), paraxial unguinal seta (u’) 3 ± 0 (3). Leg II 22 ± 0 (22); femur 7.5 ± 0.7 (7 – 8); basiventral femoral seta (bv) 7.5 ± 0.7 (7 – 8); genu 3 ± 0 (3), antaxial genual seta (l”) 10.5 ± 0.7 (10 – 11); tibia 3 ± 0 (3), tarsus 3.5 ± 0.7 (3 – 4), solenidion (ω) 8 ± 0 (8), slightly curved, without knob, empodium 4 ± 1.4 (3 – 5), simple, 4-rayed, paraxial fastigial seta (ft’) 15 ± 0 (15), antaxial fastigial seta (ft”) 4.5 ± 0.7 (4 – 5), paraxial unguinal seta (u’) not visible.

Coxisternal area with 2 rows of very faint nonmicrotuberculate annuli; sternal line absent, anterolateral seta on coxisternum I (1b) 8 ± 2.8 (6 ± 10), 8.5 ± 2.1 (7 – 10) apart; proximal seta on coxisternum I (1a) 16 ± 4.2 (13 – 19), 10 ± 0 (10) apart; proximal seta on coxisternum II (2a) 29 ± 0 (29), 19.5 ± 0.7 (19 – 20) apart.

Genitalia 16.5 ± 2.1 (15 – 18) wide, 11.5 ± 0.7 (11 – 12) long ( Figure 1 : i); eugenital setae (es) present; proximal seta on coxisternum III (3a) 6.5 ± 0.7 (6 – 7).

Opisthosomal seta (c2) 185 ± 0 (18) on annulus 6.5 ± 0.7 (6 – 7); opisthosomal seta (d) 39 ± 1.4 (38 – 40), 32 ± 2.8 (30 – 34) apart, on annulus 14.5 ± 0.7 (14 – 15); opisthosomal seta (e) 7 ± 0 (7), 20.5 ± 2.1 (19 – 22) apart, on annulus 24.5 ± 0.7 (24 – 25); opisthosomal seta (f) 16.5 ± 2.1 6 (15 – 18), 16 ± 1.4 (15 – 17) apart, on annulus 42 ± 1.4 (41 – 43). Total number of dorsal annuli 47 ± 1 (46 – 47), microtubercles oval shaped and closely set till the first 15 annulus, then a little widely spaced till annulus 30 after which they appear as dots on the annulus; total number of ventral annuli 47 ± 1 (46 – 48), microtuberculate, microtubercles spherical and closely set upto seta (e), then widely spaced from seta (e) to seta (f) and closely set as narrow ribs from seta (f) to the last annulus. Opisthosomal seta (h2) 31.5 ± 2.1(30 – 33); opisthosomal seta (h1) absent.

Holotype — female, INDIA: Greater Kailash (28 º 34 ’ 52.63 ” N, 77 º 14 ’ 27.83 ” E), New Delhi, 6 July 1988, ex: Madhuca longifolia (Sapotaceae) , Coll. Sushila Joshi, deposited with NPC, IARI, New Delhi.

Paratypes — Collection data same as above. 8 female and 5 male paratypes on 8 microscopic slides, deposited with NPC, IARI, New Delhi ; 1 paratype each in 2 microscopic slide, data same as above, will be deposited in NMNH, Maryland, USA .

Distribution — India: New Delhi.

Relationship with host plant — These mites were found in large numbers, as vagrant, mostly on the lower surface of leaves and no apparent damage was observed.

Etymology — The specific name madhucae is after the host plant genus Madhuca .

Remarks — The new species is characterized by its 4-rayed empodium, prodorsal shield having median line on the rear quarter to half, complete admedian lines and short submedian lines, coxal area smooth and sternal line absent. It differs from eriophyid mites known on Sapotaceae from India as follows: from Aceria bassiae Ghosh and Chakrabarti 1988 , ex: Madhuca latifolia (Sapotaceae) , by virtue of it bearing 6-rayed empodium, complete median, admedian and first submedian lines on prodorsal shield and a granular coxal area. It differs from Acerimimusopae Mohanasundaram 1990 , ex: Mimusops elengi (Sapotaceae) on account of shield design with a faint median line present only at base, admedian lines parallel, first submedian present at the middle of shield, second submedian converging towards anterior of shield, lateral-shield margins and coxal area granular, 5-rayed empodium, epigynium without ribs and last thanosomal tergite being broad. It is similar to Aceria trianthemae Mohanasundaram 1990 , ex: Trianthema decandra (Aizoaceae) , in the presence of 4-rayed empodium, microtubercles spine-like and triangular, getting elongated towards last few annuli but can be differentiated by its shield design comprising of median line present at basal half only, admedian lines complete, slightly wavy, first submedian lines present at anterior shield, second submedian at mid length of shield, third submedian at border of shield, sides of shield granular, coxal area granular, sternal line present and epigynium with 6 – 8 broken lines. Aceria madhucae also resembles Aceria xeromphisi Mohanasundaram 1990 , ex: Xeromphis spinosa (Rubiaceae) in having 4-rayed empodium, shield and coxal area non-granular, sternal line absent and coxal area fused but can be differentiated in the shield design comprising of faintly visible and broken median line, admedian line present on basal 2/3 rd of shield and faintly visible submedian lines placed obliquely. The new species is near Aceria jogimatiensis Mohanasundaram and Jagdish in Mohanasundaram et al. 1984, ex: unidentified plant, in its shield design with faint median line (though complete), admedians nearly complete, submedians present as short broken lines, sides of shield clear, coxal area smooth and empodium 4-rayed but can be differentiated from it in presence of sternal line, epigynium bearing 14 – 16 ribs and dorsal annuli with elongate microtubercles.

Figures

FIGURE 1: Aceria madhucae n. sp. female: a – dorsal view; b – ventral view; c – shield design of paratype; d – lateral view showing legs I and II, coxisternal area, epigynium of paratype; e – leg I; f – leg II; g – dorsal microtubercles; h – epigynium; i – male external genitalia. Scale as indicated.