Aculus amurens, Xue, Xiao-Feng, Song, Zi-Wei & Hong, Xiao-Yue, 2008

Xue, Xiao-Feng, Song, Zi-Wei & Hong, Xiao-Yue, 2008, Eight new species of the genus Aculus Keifer (Acari: Eriophyidae) from China, Zootaxa 1721, pp. 35-52 : 37-38

Aculus amurens sp. nov.

( Fig. 1 )

Description. FEMALE: (n = 10) Body fusiform, 250 (240–251), 89 (87–91) wide, 86 (83–86) thick; light yellow. Gnathosoma 32 (29–32), projecting obliquely down, pedipalp coxal setae (ep) 3 (2–3), dorsal pedipalp genual setae (d) 8 (7–8), cheliceral stylets 28 (27–28). Prodorsal shield 51 (50–51), 82 (79–82) wide; subtriangular; with slight lateral lobes; anterior shield lobe apically rounded; median line absent, admedian lines concaved at center; with numerous granules. Scapular tubercles on rear margin, 41 (40–42) apart, scapular setae (sc) 89 (85–89) projecting posteriorly. Coxal plates with short lines; anterolateral setae on coxisternum І (1b) 15 (12–15), proximal setae on coxisternum І (1a) 27 (24–27), proximal setae on coxisternum І (2a) 49 (45–50). Prosternal apodeme present. Legs with usual series of setae. Legs І 42 (39–43), femur 11 (11–12), with numerous granules, basiventral femoral setae (bv) 12 (11–13); genu 6 (6–7), with numerous granules, antaxial genual setae (l'') 25 (25–27); tibia 13 (12–13), paraxial tibial setae (l') 6 (6–7), setae located 1/3 from proximal tibial margin; tarsus 7 (7–8); tarsal empodium simple, 6-rayed, tarsal solenidion knobbed. Legs І 38 (34–38), femur 11 (10–11), with numerous granules, basiventral femoral setae (bv) 12 (10–12); genu 5 (4–5), with numerous granules, antaxial genual setae (l'') 11 (10–11); tibia 10 (9–10); tarsus 6 (5–6); tarsal empodium simple, 6-rayed, tarsal solenidion knobbed. Opisthosoma: opisthosoma dorsally with 40 (41–45) annuli with elliptical microtubercles, ventrally with 76 (72–77) annuli with round microtubercles. Setae c2 45 (42– 46) on ventral annulus 13 (12–13); setae d 77 (72–77) on ventral annulus 31 (29–31); setae e 50 (47–52) on ventral annulus 52 (50–53), setae f 47 (44–47) on 5th ventral annulus from rear. Setae h1 3 (3–4). Female genitalia 16 (15–16), 29 (27–29) wide, coverflap with 12 longitudinal ridges and 2 transverse lines at base, proximal setae on coxisternum ІІ (3a) 24 (21–24).

MALE: (n = 3) Body fusiform, 208–217, 70–73 wide; light yellow. Gnathosoma 27–28, projecting obliquely down, pedipalp coxal setae (ep) 2–3, dorsal pedipalp genual setae (d) 5–6, cheliceral stylets 25–26. Prodorsal shield 44–45, 70–73 wide; subtriangular; anterior shield lobe broad. Scapular tubercles on rear margin, 35–36 apart, scapular setae (sc) 73–77 projecting posteriorly. Coxal plates with short lines; anterolateral setae on coxisternum І (1b) 10–12, proximal setae on coxisternum І (1a) 18–21, proximal setae on coxisternum І (2a) 42–47. Prosternal apodeme present. Legs with usual series of setae. Legs І 36 –39, femur 10– 11, with numerous granules, basiventral femoral setae (bv) 11–12; genu 5–6, with numerous granules, antaxial genual setae (l'') 21–22; tibia 10–11, paraxial tibial setae (l') 5–6, setae located 1/3 from proximal tibial margin; tarsus 5–6; tarsal empodium simple, 6-rayed, tarsal solenidion knobbed. Legs І 30–34, femur 9–10, with numerous granules, basiventral femoral setae (bv) 9–10; genu 4–5, with numerous granules, antaxial genual setae (l'') 10–11; tibia 9–10; tarsus 5–6; tarsal empodium simple, 6-rayed, tarsal solenidion knobbed. Opisthosoma: opisthosoma dorsally with 37–40 annuli with elliptical microtubercles, ventrally with 63–67 annuli with round microtubercles. Setae c2 32–33 on ventral annulus 12–13; setae d 65–70 on ventral annulus 27–28; setae e 41–45 on ventral annulus 43–44, setae f 40–43 on 5th ventral annulus from rear. Setae h1 3–4. Male genitalia 22–23 wide, proximal setae on coxisternum ІІ (3a) 15–16.

Type material. Holotype, female, China: Jilin Province, Changbai Mountain, 42.03°N, 128.05°E, elevation 1092m. June 27, 2006, from Tilia amurensis Rupr. (Tiliaceae) , coll. Xue, Xiao-Feng and Song, Zi-Wei. Paratypes, 9 females and 3 males, with the same data as holotype.

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

Etymology. The specific designation amurens is from the species name of the host plant, amurensis .

Differential diagnosis. This species is similar to A. tiliaevagrans Boczek, 1964 , but can be differentiated by coxal area with short lines (coxal area smooth in A. tiliaevagrans ), dorsal annuli with microtubercles (dorsal annuli smooth in A. tiliaevagrans ), prodorsal shield with numerous granules (prodorsal shield without granules in A. tiliaevagrans ).

Figures

FIGURE 1. Aculus amurens sp. nov. D, dorsal view of female; CG, coxae and female genitalia; L 1, legs І; L 2, legs І; LO, lateral microtubercles; em, empodium; GM, male genitalia.