Protumescoptes laurifolii, Li & Wang & Wei, 2010

Li, De-Wei, Wang, Guo-Quan & Wei, Sui-Gai, 2010, Description of a new genus and four new species of Acaricalini (Acari, Eriophyidae, Phyllocoptinae) from South China, Zoosystema 32 (2), pp. 233-245 : 237-239

Protumescoptes laurifolii n. sp.

( Fig. 2 )

TYPE MATERIAL. — Holotype: Jinzhong MT., 37 km SW of Longlin County (24°8’N, 105°34’E), Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China, 1.XII.2004, from Geniconthus laurifolius (Roxb.) Hook. f. ( Asclepiadaceae ), coll. Sui-Gai Wei, Guo-Quan Wang and De-Wei Li, ♀ ( CAGU) . Paratypes: same data as holotype, 10 ♀♀, 1 ơ ( CAGU) ; 2 ♀♀ ( MNHN) .

ETYMOLOGY. — The specific epithet is derived from the species name of the host plant, laurifolius.

RELATION TO HOST. — The mites are vagrants on the lower surface of the leaves, no visible damage.

DESCRIPTION

Female (n = 13)

Body ( Fig. 2A, B ) spindleform, ivory-white, 181 (171-190) long, 81 (76-85) wide, 59 (55-62) thick.

Gnathosoma 25 (24-26), projecting obliquely down, pedipalp coxal setae (ep) 2 (2-3); dorsal pedipalp genual setae (d) 7 (6-8); oryal stylets 25 (23-26).

Prodorsal shield flat, lower than dorsal opisthosoma, with a long, thick frontal lobe; 60 (57-63) long, 70 (66-73) wide; shield lines bold, median line absent, admedian lines discontinuous, submedian undulated lines complete, anterior submedian lines rhomboid-like. Scapular tubercles set ahead of rear shield margin, 20 (20- 21) apart, scapular setae (sc) 3 (3-4), directed up and mediad.

Coxae ( Fig. 2C ) with a sternal line, forked anteriorly and posteriorly, coxal area smooth, anterolateral setae on coxisternum I (1b) 5 (5-6), apart 15 (14-16); proximal setae on coxisternum I (1a) 10 (9-12), apart 9 (8-9); proximal setae on coxisternum II (2a) 20 (18-23), apart 27 (24-28).

Leg ( Fig. 2F, G ) segments normal. Leg I 29 (28- 30), femur 9 (9-10), basiventral femoral setae (bv) 6 (6-7); genu 5 (5-6), antaxial genual setae (l’’) 12 (11-13); tibia 7 (7-8), paraxial tibial setae (l’) absent; tarsus 6 (6-7), paraxial fastigial tarsal setae (ft’) 21 (19-23), antaxial fastigial tarsal setae (ft’’) 19 (17-22), paraxial unguinal tarsal setae (u’) 5 (5-6); tarsal empodium, 5 (5-6), divided, each branch 4-rayed, tarsal solenidion 6 (6-7), knobbed. Leg II 27 (26-28), femur 8 (7-9), basiventral femoral setae (bv) 7 (7-8); genu 4 (4-5), antaxial genual setae (l’’) absent; tibia 6 (6-7); tarsus 6 (6-7), paraxial fastigial tarsal setae (ft’) 20 (18-24), antaxial fastigial tarsal setae (ft’’) 6 (6-8), paraxial unguinal tarsal setae (u’) 5 (4-6); tarsal empodium, 5 (5-6), divided, each branch 4-rayed, tarsal solenidion 6 (6-7), knobbed.

Opisthosoma ( Fig. 2A, B ): dorsally with a broad furrow and 4 anterior projecting annuli form an arching transverse ridge, dorsum with 18 (17-19) annuli, with filamentous microtubercles except the part of the furrow; ventrally with 36 (35-38) annuli, with filamentous microtubercles; setae c2 18 (17- 20), on ventral annulus 6 (5-6), apart 63 (58-66); setae d and setae e absent; setae f 15 (14-16), on 5th ventral annulus from rear, apart 21 (19-22); setae h1 absent; setae h2 25 (22-28).

Female genitalia ( Fig. 2C ) 21 (20-22) long, 24 (22-25) wide, coverflap with a middle transverse suture and many longitudinal ridges, proximal setae on coxisternum III (3a) 9 (9-10), apart 18 (17-19).

Male (n = 1)

Body spindleform, ivory-white, 147 long, 66 wide.

Gnathosoma 22, projecting obliquely down, pedipalp coxal setae (ep) 2; dorsal pedipalp genual setae (d) 6; oryal stylets 22.

Prodorsal shield flat, lower than dorsal opisthosoma, with a long, thick frontal lobe; 55 long, 64 wide; shield lines bold, median line absent, admedian lines discontinuous, submedian undulated lines complete, anterior submedian lines rhomboidlike. Scapular tubercles set ahead of rear shield margin, 19 apart, scapular setae (sc) 3, directed up and mediad.

Coxae with a sternal line, forked anteriorly and posteriorly, coxal area smooth, anterolateral setae on coxisternum I (1b) 5, apart 13; proximal setae on coxisternum I (1a) 9, apart 8; proximal setae on coxisternum II (2a) 18, apart 24.

Leg segments normal. Leg I 27, femur 8, basiventral femoral setae (bv) 6; genu 5, antaxial genual setae (l’’) 11; tibia 6, paraxial tibial setae (l’) absent; tarsus 6, paraxial fastigial tarsal setae (ft’) 20, antaxial fastigial tarsal setae (ft’’) 17, paraxial unguinal tarsal setae (u’) 5; tarsal empodium, 5, divided, each branch 4-rayed, tarsal solenidion 6, knobbed. Leg II 25, femur 7, basiventral femoral setae (bv) 6; genu 4, antaxial genual setae (l’’) absent; tibia 6; tarsus 6, paraxial fastigial tarsal setae (ft’) 18, antaxial fastigial tarsal setae (ft’’) 6, paraxial unguinal tarsal setae (u’) 4; tarsal empodium, 5, divided, each branch 4-rayed, tarsal solenidion 5, knobbed.

Opisthosoma: dorsally with a broad furrow and 4 anterior projecting annuli forming an arching transverse ridge, dorsum with 17 annuli, with filamentous microtubercles except the part of the furrow; ventrally with 35 annuli, with filamentous microtubercles; setae c2 16, on ventral annulus 6, apart 58; setae d and setae e absent; setae f 14, on 5th ventral annulus from rear, apart 18; setae h1 absent; setae h2 21.

Male genitalia 16 wide, proximal setae on coxisternum III (3a) 8; apart 15 ( Fig. 2D ).

REMARKS

This species is similar to Protumescoptes antidesmae Pandit & Chakrabarti, 2000 , but can be differentiated by female genitalia away from coxal base and tarsal empodium 4-rayed (female genitalia near coxal base and tarsal empodium 5-rayed in P. antidesmae ; see Pandit & Chakrabarti, 2000).

Figures

FIG. 2. — Protumescoptes laurifolii n. sp.:A, dorsal view of female;B, lateral view of female;C, coxal-genital region, female; D, genital region, male; E, empodium; F, leg I; G, leg II. Scale bar: A, B, 40 μm; C, D, 28 μm; F, G, 19 μm.