Paracaliphytoptus alnus, Wang & Tan & Yang, 2014

Wang, Guo-Quan, Tan, Meng-Chao & Yang, Juan, 2014, Three new species of Phyllocoptini (Prostigmata: Eriophyidae: Phyllocoptinae) from South China, Zoological Systematics 39 (3), pp. 380-387 : 385

Paracaliphytoptus alnus sp. nov. ( Figs 16–21 )

Diagnosis. Yellow fusiform body; gnathosoma curved obliquely downward; bent dorsal genual setae; prodorsal shield frontal lobe with ventral spur; incomplete median and admedian lines; complete submedian lines; smooth coxisternal plates; prosternal apodeme; coxigenital annuli 1; tarsal empodium entire; six-rayed; tarsal solenidion unknobbed; dorsal opisthosoma with five ridges; smooth dorsal annuli; ventral annuli with elongated microtubercles; absent setae h1; female genitalia coverflap with distal ridges.

Description. Female (n = 5). Body fusiform, yellow, 125 (119–129), 50 (50) wide, 33 (33) thick.

Gnathosoma. Curved obliquely downward, 22 (19–24), coxal setae (ep) 2 (2–3), dorsal genual setae (d) bent, 11 (11), subapical pedipalp tarsal setae (v) 2 (2–3); cheliceral stylets 21 (20–21).

Prodorsal shield. 43 (43–44), 46 (46) wide, frontal lobe with long, ventral spur; median and admedian lines incomplete, submedian lines complete; scapular tubercles placed ahead rear shield margin, 13 (13) apart, scapular setae (sc) 9 (8–10), directed upward.

Coxisternal plates. Prosternal apodeme present, coxisternal plates I and II smooth; anterolateral setae on coxisternum І (1b) 10 (10), 11 (11) apart; proximal setae on coxisternum І (1a) 15 (15), 9 (9) apart; proximal setae on coxisternum ІІ (2a) 35 (35), 27 (27) apart. Coxigenital annuli 1.

Legs. Segments normal. Leg І 34 (33–35), trochanter 2 (2–3), femur 13 (13), femoral setae (bv) 11 (11); genu 5 (5), genual setae (l'') 15 (15); tibia 8 (7–8), tibial setae (l ′) located median, 8 (7–8); tarsus 6 (6), inner fastigial tarsal setae (ft') 23 (23), outer fastigial tarsal setae (ft'') 20 (20), unguinal tarsal setae (u') 4 (4); tarsal empodium entire, 7 (7), 6-rayed, tarsal solenidion 7 (7–8), unknobbed. Leg I 31 µm. Leg ІІ 29 (26–30), trochanter 2 (2), femur 12 (11–12), femoral setae (bv) 13 (13); genu 4 (3–4), genual setae (l'') 10 (10–13); tibia 6 (5–6); tarsus 5 (5–6), inner fastigial tarsal setae (ft') 20 (20), outer fastigial tarsal setae (ft'') 7 (7), unguinal tarsal setae (u') 5 (5); tarsal empodium entire, 7 (6–8), 6-rayed, tarsal solenidion 8 (8), unknobbed.

Opisthosoma. Dorsum with 5 ridges, dorsal annuli 45 (45), smooth; ventral annuli 66 (66), with elongated microtubercles; setae c2 41 (35–45), on ventral annulus 10th; setae d 70 (70), 26 (25–28) apart, on ventral annulus 23th; setae e 22 (20–23), 10 (10) apart, on ventral annulus 44th; setae f 25 (25), 15 (15) apart, on 5th ventral annulus from rear; setae h1 absent, setae h2 60 (55–65).

Female genitalia. Coverflap with and distal longitudinal ridges, 15 (15), 23 (23) wide, proximal setae on coxisternum ІІІ (3a) 21 (18–25), 15 (15) apart.

Male (n = 1). Same as female, body fusiform, 138, 53 wide; prodorsal shield 45, 49 wide; male genital 19 wide, proximal setae on coxisternum ІІІ (3a) 13, 13 apart.

Type material. Holotype female, Huanglianshan National Nature Reserve (22°52′N, 102°17′E), Lvchun County, Yunnan Province, China, 16 May 2009, leg. Guo-Quan Wang, from Alnus nepalensis Don ( Betulaceae ) . Paratypes, 6 females and 1 male, same data as holotype .

Relation to host. The mites are vagrants on the undersurfaces of the leaves, with no visible damage.

Distribution. China (Yunnan).

Etymology. The specific designation is derived from the generic name of the type host plant, gender masculine.

Remarks. The new species is similar to P. yangensis Xue, Wang , Song & Hong, 2009, but can be distinguished from the latter by the smooth coxisternal plates and absent setae h1. In P. yangensis , the coxisternal plates are sculptured with granules and setae h1 is present ( Xue et al., 2009).

Figures

Figs 16–21. Paracaliphytoptus alnus sp. nov. 16. Antero-lateral of female. 17. Dorsal view of female. 18. Coxigenital area of female. 19. Leg I. 20. Leg II. 21. Genital of male.