Phyllocoptes graminis, Song, Zi-Wei, Xue, Xiao-Feng & Hong, Xiao-Yue, 2009

Song, Zi-Wei, Xue, Xiao-Feng & Hong, Xiao-Yue, 2009, Seven new species of Phyllocoptes Nalepa from Tibet Autonomous Region, China (Acari: Eriophyidae: Phyllocoptinae), Zootaxa 2313, pp. 35-60 : 53

Phyllocoptes graminis sp. nov.

( Figs 11 & 12 )

Description. FEMALE: (n = 19) Body fusiform, 232 (225–235), 68 (62–70) wide, 70 (65–70) thick; light yellow. Gnathosoma 23 (23–25), projecting obliquely down, pedipalp coxal seta (ep) 5 (4–5), dorsal pedipalp genual seta (d) 8 (7–8), cheliceral stylets 20 (20–22). Prodorsal shield triangular, 47 (45–47), 60 (56–60) wide; prodorsal shield with round and broad frontal lobe; shield design with median line absent, admedian and submedian lines complete and sinuous, short dashes present all over the shield. Scapular tubercles ahead of shield rear margin, 22 (19–22) apart, scapular setae (sc) 6 (5–6) projecting centrad. Coxal plates with short lines and granules; anterolateral setae on coxisternum I (1b) 10 (9–10), 15 (13–15) apart, proximal setae on coxisternum I (1a) 18 (18–20), 7 (7–8) apart, proximal setae on coxisternum II (2a) 40 (38–40), 25 (25–26) apart. Prosternal apodeme absent. Legs with usual series of setae. Leg I 42 (40–42), femur 11 (10–11), basiventral femoral seta (bv) 12 (10–12); genu 5 (5–6), antaxial genual seta (l ʺ) 25 (23–25); tibia 7 (7–8), paraxial tibial seta (l ʹ) 6 (5–6), located 1/3 from dorsal base; tarsus 7 (6–7); seta ft ʹ 15 (15–17), seta ft ʺ 17 (17– 20), paraxial unguinal tarsal seta (u ʹ) 4 (3–4); tarsal empodium 7 (7–8), simple, 7-rayed, tarsal solenidion rodlike. Leg II 38 (36–38), femur 10 (10–11), basiventral femoral seta (bv) 10 (9–10); genu 5 (4–5), antaxial genual seta (l ʺ) 12 (11–12); tibia 5 (5–6); tarsus 7 (6–7); seta ft ʹ 5 (5–6), seta ft ʺ 16 (15–18), paraxial unguinal tarsal seta (u ʹ) 4 (3–4); tarsal empodium 7 (7–8), simple, 7-rayed, tarsal solenidion rod-like. Opisthosoma dorsally with 78 (70–80) annuli, smooth; ventrally with 82 (80–85) annuli, with round microtubercles. Setae c2 33 (30–35) on ventral annulus 12 (12–14); setae d 50 (45–52) on ventral annulus 27 (27–30), 32 (31–32) apart; setae e 30 (30–35) on ventral annulus 52 (52–54), 13 (13–14) apart; setae f 30 (30–32) on 7th ventral annulus from rear, 25 (22–25) apart. Setae h1 4 (3–4), setae h2 55 (55–60). Female genital coverflap 14 (13– 14), 20 (19–20) wide, with 8–10 longitudinal ridges, setae 3a 25 (22–25), 16 (16–17) apart.

MALE: Unknown.

Type material. Holotype, female (slide marked NJAUAcariEri936 holotype), from Berberis graminea Ahrendt (Berberidaceae) , Bayi Town, Nyingchi (Linzhi) Prefecture, Tibet Autonomous Region, P. R. China, 15 August, 2007, coll. Zi-Wei Song, Xiao-Feng Xue & Zhen Wang. Paratypes, 18 females (slides marked NJAUAcariEri936) with the same data as holotype.

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

Etymology. The specific designation graminis is from the host species name “ graminea ”.

Differential diagnosis. This species is similar to P. granulatus ( Nalepa, 1897) , but can be differentiated by the prodorsal shield design without median line, short lines present all over the shield (prodorsal shield design with incomplete median line, granules all over the shield in P. granulatus ); coxal plates with short lines and granules, prosternal apodeme absent (coxal plates smooth, prosternal apodeme present in P. granulatus ); empodium 7-rayed (empodium 5-rayed in P. granulatus ).

Figures

FIGURE 11. Phyllocoptes graminis sp. nov. D, dorsal view of female; CG, coxae and genitalia of female; em, empodium.

FIGURE 12. Phyllocoptes graminis sp. nov. L, lateral view of female; L 1, leg I; L 2, leg II; LO, enlarged lateral view of opisthosoma.