Sierraphytoptus taiwanensus, Huang, Kun-Wei, 2006

Huang, Kun-Wei, 2006, Eriophyoid mites (Acari: Eriophyoidea) on Trochodendron aralioides (Trochodendraceae) from Taiwan, Zootaxa 1141, pp. 63-68 : 63-66

Sierraphytoptus taiwanensus sp. nov. ( Fig. 1 )

Female

Body spindle­shaped, 196 long, shield 31 long, 65 wide; shield with minute lobe, design smooth; dorsal tubercles set ahead of rear shield margin, to rear shield margin (Dt­ Sr) 7, Dt­Dt 24 apart, scapular setae (sc) 11 long, direct upwards and mesad, external vertical setae (ve) set on front humeral angles, 11 long; leg segments normal, tibial setae (1') set in middle, 5 long, coxal area smooth, 1st coxal setae (1b) 12 long, tubercles (Ct1­ Ct1) 12 apart; 2nd coxal setae (1a) 15 long, tubercles (Ct2­Ct2) 14 apart; 3rd coxal setae (2a) 26 long, tubercles (Ct3­Ct3) 33 apart, Ct1\Ct2 19, Ct1­Ct2 9, Ct2\Ct3 23, Ct2­Ct3 9; claw ending as a knob; empodium simple, 8 rayed.

Opisthosoma: flattened, differentiated into broader dorsal annuli and narrower ventral annuli, dorsal annuli with 37 spiny microtuberculate rings, 1st 3 dorsal annuli 13, ventral annuli with 51 microtuberculate rings; all setae on abdomen present, subdorsal setae (c1) 24 long, lateral setae (c2) 27 long, Lt­Lt 71 apart, Lt\Vt1 66, Lt­Vt1 34; 1st ventral setae (d) 20 long, Vt1­Vt1 45 apart, Vt1\Vt2 49, Vt1­Vt2 35; 2nd ventral setae (e) 18 long, Vt2­ Vt2 21 apart, Vt2\Vt3 60, Vt2­Vt3 52; 3rd ventral setae (f) 31 long, Vt3­Vt3 36 apart; accessory setae (h1) present.

Epigynium: 27 wide, 14 long, smooth, genital setae (3a) 11 long, Gt­Gt 23 apart.

Male: Body 188 long, shield 34 long, 55 wide, scapular setae (sc) 8 long; genitalia 20 wide, 10 long, setae 9 long, Gt­Gt 20 apart.

Type data: Holotype female, NANTOU: Renai, 16­Apr.­2003, K. W. Huang ex Trochodendron aralioides S. et Z. ( Trochodendraceae ) (deposited at NMNS). Paratypes, 15 females, 2 males data same as for holotype; 7 females, TAICHUNG: Hoping, 31­Oct.­ 1996, K. W. Huang; 1 female, NANTOU: Renai, 25­Jan.­1991.

Relation to host: A vagrant on the lower leaf surface. No apparent damage was observed.

Note: This new species differs from S. alnivagranus Keifer, 1939 by the ve direct upward and the smooth lateral margin of opisthosoma in dorsal view.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Sierraphytoptus taiwanensus gen. et sp. nov. (Ψ) A, Dorsal view; B, Legs and genital region, ventral view; C, Anterior area, lateral view; D, Empodium. (scale A, B = 50 m; C = 40 m; D = 15 m).