Spinaephyes alnus, Chakrabarti & Sur & Roy & Sarkar, 2017

Chakrabarti, Samiran, Sur, Surajit, Roy, Sourav & Sarkar, Sanjay, 2017, Two new genera and two new species of eriophyoid mites (Acari: Eriophyoidea) from North Bengal, India, Zootaxa 4236 (1), pp. 172-182 : 179-181

Spinaephyes alnus n. sp.

( Figs. 18–32 )

Diagnosis. Prodorsal shield with conspicuous frontal lobe and 1 small triangular papillae-like projection anteriorly and with 2 conspicuous spines on posterolateral margins, dorsal annuli broad, annuli 2, 5, 7, 9 and 11 bearing large lateral spines, annuli 1, 3, 6, 8, 10, 12 and 14 with striated median lobe, median line present only at anterior 1/3rd length of prodorsal shield, 9–10 longitudinal scorings on epigynium, absence of tibial seta from both legs, empodium bushy and 4-rayed.

FEMALE (holotype): Body 140 (135–155 in 15 paratypes) long, 62 (58–69) wide. Gnathosoma 24 (22–28) long, slightly curved down anteriorly, dorsal pedipalp genual seta d 4 (3–4). Prodorsal shield 27 (24–30) long, 65 (62–70) wide, almost quadrangular having rounded anterior corners, with conspicuous frontal lobe with 1 small triangular papillae-like projection anteriorly and with 2 conspicuous spines on posterolateral margins; median and admedian lines present only at anterior 1/3rd of prodorsal shield, submedian line not distinguishable but region between scapular setae with some small broken lines; dorsal tubercles with scapular seta sc 11 (9–13), very prominent and directed anteriorly; dorsal tubercle 6 (4–7) and 19 (17–19) apart; posterolateral margins of prodorsal shield with 2 conspicuous spines. Leg I from base of trochanter 41 (39–42), femur 14 (12–15), basiventral femoral seta bv 12 (10–14); genu 5 (4–6), antaxial genual seta lʺ 16 (14–18); tibia 9 (7–10), paraxial tibial seta lʹ absent; tarsus 6 (5–8), paraxial fastigial tarsal seta ftʹ 10 (9–11), antaxial fastigial tarsal seta ftʺ 10 (8–12), paraxial unguinal tarsal seta uʹ very small 2 (1–2); tarsal solenidion ω 7 (5–8) curved, slightly knobbed, tarsal empodium with bushy appearance, em 4 (3–5) and 4-rayed. Leg II from base of trochanter 40 (38–42), femur 13 (11–14), basiventral femoral seta bv 9 (8–10); genu 5 (4–5), antaxial genual seta lʺ absent; tibia 9 (7–9), paraxial tibial seta lʹ absent; tarsus 6 (5–7), paraxial fastigial tarsal setae ftʹ 11 (9–12), antaxial fastigial tarsal seta ftʺ 5 (4–5), paraxial unguinal tarsal seta uʹ 2 (1–2), tarsal solenidion ω 7 (5–8), curved, slightly knobbed, tarsal empodium divided with bushy appearance em 4 (3–5) and 4-rayed. Coxae I 17 (16–19) and jointed with conspicuous sternal line; coxal surface ornamented with few striations at base of setae 1b; setae 1b 6 (5–7) and 8 (7–9) apart, 1a tubercles with setae present little ahead of line across 2a tubercles, setae 1a 16 (15–18) and 12 (12–14) apart; coxae II with few striations around setal base, 17 (16–18) long; setae 2a 21 (20–22) and 17 (17–19) apart. Opisthosoma with 19 (19– 20) dorsal annuli; dorsal annuli 2, 5, 7, 9 and 11 with large spines laterally; annuli 1, 3, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14 with striated median lobes projecting posteriorly covering next annuli; ventral annuli 45 (43–45), last 23 annuli with microstriations, setae c2 21 (18–22), present on annulus 7 (8 in 4 specimens), seta d 25 (21–26) on ventral annulus 19 (19–20), seta e 18 (16–19) on ventral annulus 29 (29–30), seta f 23 (21–25) on ventral annulus 41 (41–42), seta h1 absent, seta h2 32 (30–34). Epigynium 19 (19–20) long, 20 (19–21) wide, with 9 (9–10) longitudinal scorings and elliptical in shape; seta 3a 9 (9–10), area between hind coxa and epigynium with 6 annuli. Internal genitalia with anterior apodeme slightly curved and abbreviated, spermathecal tubes shorter than spermathecal diameter.

MALE (n=1) Smaller than female, 130 long, 45 wide; prodorsal shield 40 long, 49 wide, scapular seta sc 3. Leg I 31; femur 9, genu 5, tibia 6, tarsus 6, tarsal solenidion ω 5, tarsal empodium em 4, 4-rayed. Leg II 31, femur 13, genu 5, tibia 7, tarsus 6, tarsal solenidion ω 5, tarsal empodium em 4, 4-rayed. Coxae 1b 6; 1a 15, 2a 20. Genitalia19 long, 20 wide, 3a 9. Seta h2 24; seta h1 absent.

Type material. Holotype: Female (marked) on slide (no.1800/54/2015), INDIA: West Bengal, Darjeeling, Rishop , 27˚09’N, 88˚58’E, altitude 2591m, 18 October, 2015 on Alnus nepalensis D. Don ( Betulaceae ), coll. S. Chakrabarti . Paratypes: 1 female and 1male on slide bearing holotype and 8 females on 4 slides (nos. 1801–1804 / 54/2015), collection data same as in holotype; 6 females on 2 slides (nos. 1810-1811 /157/2016), Kalimpong 14 mile, 27˚06’N, 88˚32’E, altitude 1527m, 10 November, 2016, coll. S. Sur.

Relation to host.Vagrant on undersurface of the leaf and white in colour.

Etymology. The specific epithet is masculine gender and is derived from the generic name of the host plant.

Figures

FIGURE 18 – 24. Spinaephyes alnus n. sp., female: 18. Dorsal view of body; 19. Ventral view of body; 20. Leg I; 21. Leg II; 22. Tarsal empodium with solenidion; 23. Internal genitalia. Male: 24. Genitalia.

FIGURE 25 – 28. Spinaephyes alnus n. sp., female: 25. Prodorsal shield with apical papilla; 26. Lobes with spines; 27. Coxal – genital region. Male: 28. Genitalia.

FIGURE 29 – 32. Spinaephyes alnus n. sp., female: 29. Dorsal view of body; 30. Ventral view of body; 31. Leg I with tibial seta absent. Male: 32. Genitalia.