Diptacus songxianensis, Xue, Xiao-Feng & Hong, Xiao-Yue, 2005

Xue, Xiao-Feng & Hong, Xiao-Yue, 2005, Five new species of Diptilomiopidae from China (Acari: Eriophyoidea), Zootaxa 1055, pp. 49-59 : 55-56

Diptacus songxianensis sp. nov.

( Figs. 19–24 )

Description

Female: (n = 25) Body fusiform, 210 long, 65 wide, 62 thick; light yellow in color. Gnathosoma 43, projecting downwards. Prodorsal shield 28 long, 50 wide; prodorsal shield with frontal lobe, somewhat emarginated anteriorly; median, admedian and submedian lines present, some granules on the lines. Dorsal tubercles near rear margin, 22 apart, scapular setae (sc) 20 projecting forwards and centered. Sternal line absent. Coxal area with short lines; anterolateral setae on coxisternum I (1b) 10, proximal setae on coxisternum I (1a) 15, proximal setae on coxisternum II (2a) 28. Legs I 37 long, femur 12, basiventral femoral setae (bv) absent; genu 5 long, antaxial genual setae (l'') 20 long; tibia 12, paraxial tibial setae (l') 5, setae located 2/3 from dorsal base; tarsus 6 long; tarsal empodium divided, each 4­rayed, tarsal solenidion knobbed. Legs II 32 long, femur 12, basiventral femoral setae (bv) absent; genu 4 long, antaxial genual setae (l'') 6 long; tibia 8; tarsus 6 long; tarsal empodium divided, each 4­rayed, tarsal solenidion knobbed. Opisthosoma dorsally with about 30 annuli, ventrally with about 72 annuli. Dorsal annuli with spiny microtubercles over rear annular margin, ventral annuli with spiny microtubercles on rear annular margin. Setae c2 10 on ventral annulus 13; setae d 40 on ventral annulus 34; setae e 8 on ventral annulus 49; setae f 20 on 7th ventral annulus from rear. Setae h1 absent. Female genitalia 18 long, 26 wide, coverflap with 16 longitudinal ridges at base, proximal setae on coxisternum III (3a) 7 long.

Male: (n = 1) 160 long, 60 wide; genitalia 4 long, 24 wide, proximal setae on coxisternum III (3a) 9 long.

Types: Holotype, female, China: Henan Province, Song county, Baiyun mountain. July 15, 2004, from Ulmus sp. ( Ulmaceae ), coll. Xue Xiao­Feng. Paratypes, 24 females and 1 male, with the same data as holotype.

Relation to host: Vagrant on leaf surface. No damage to the host was observed.

Etymology: The species designation is derived from the collecting site, Song county.

Remarks: This species is similar to Diptacus ulmi Kuang & Huang, 1991 , but can be differentiated by the shield design with median and admedian lines present (only 1 pair of admedian lines in D. ulmi ), dorsal opisthosoma with spiny microtubercles (smooth in D. ulmi ) and empodium divided, each 4­rayed (5­rayed in D. ulmi ).

Figures

FIGURES 19 – 24. Diptacus songxianensis sp. nov. 19. dorsal view of female; 20. coxae and female genitalia; 21. legs I, II; 22. tarsal empodium; 23. lateral annuli; 24. male genitalia