Tetra louguantais sp. nov.

(Fig. 1)

Description

FEMALE: (n = 4) Body fusiform, 210 (191–220) long, 69 (65–71) wide, 63 (61–64) thick; light yellow. Gnathosoma 30 (29–32), projecting obliquely down. Prodorsal shield 46 (45–47) long, 50 (48–51) wide; subtriangular; frontal lobe broad; smooth. Scapular tubercles on rear margin, 35 (34–36) apart, scapular setae (sc) 8 (8–9) projecting posterior. Coxal area with short lines; anterolateral setae on coxisternum (1b) 11 (10–12), proximal setae on coxisternum (1a) 15 (14–17), proximal setae on coxisternum (2a) 28 (25–31). Prosternal apodeme absent. Legs with usual series of setae. Legs 29 (27–30), femur 7 (7–8), basiventral femoral setae (bv) 11 (10–13); genu 5 (4–5), antaxial genual setae (l'') 18 (16–20); tibia 8 (7–8), paraxial tibial setae (l') 5 (5–6), setae located 1/3 from dorsal base; tarsus 5 (5–6); tarsal empodium simple, 4­rayed, tarsal solenidion knobbed. Legs 25 (23–26), femur 7 (6–7), basiventral femoral setae (bv) 10 (10–11); genu 4 (4–5), antaxial genual setae (l'') 6 (5–7); tibia 6 (5–6); tarsus 5 (4–5); tarsal empodium simple, 4­ rayed, tarsal solenidion knobbed. Opisthosoma: dorsal opisthosoma with 34 (32–35) annuli, smooth, ventrally with 58 (56–62) microtuberculate annuli. Setae c2 18 (16–19) on ventral annulus 11 (10–11); setae d 38 (35–40) on ventral annulus 23 (21–24); setae e 19 (18–20) on ventral annulus 40 (39–41), setae f 23 (22–25) on 6th ventral annulus from rear. Setae h1 3 (2–3). Female genitalia 14 (14–15) long, 23 (21–24) wide, coverflap with 12 longitudinal ridges, proximal setae on coxisternum (3a) 20 (18–22).

MALE: (n = 1) 156 long, 53 wide; genitalia 15 wide, proximal setae on coxisternum III (3a) 15.

Types

Holotype, female, China: Shaanxi Province, Zhouzhi County, Louguantai, 34°03.54’N, 108°19.22’E. August 31, 2004, from Pistacia chinensis Bunge (Anacardiaceae), coll. Xue, Xiao­Feng & Song, Zi­Wei. Paratypes, 3 females and 1 male, with the same data as holotype.

Relation to host

Mites are vagrant on leaf surface, causing no apparent damage.

Remarks

This species is similar to Tetra hippocastani Domes, 2003, but can be differentiated by prodorsal shield smooth (admedian and submedian lines present in T. hippocastani), coxal area with short lines (smooth in T. hippocastani) and prosternal apodeme absent (prosternal apodeme present in T. hippocastani).