Aculus asteri, 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 : 38-41

Aculus asteri sp. nov.

( Fig. 2 )

Description. FEMALE: (n = 16) Body fusiform, 221 (205–223), 68 (63–68) wide, 69 (65–69) thick; light yellow. Gnathosoma 22 (20–22), projecting obliquely down, pedipalp coxal setae (ep) 2 (2–3), dorsal pedipalp genual setae (d) 8 (8–9), cheliceral stylets 18 (18–19). Prodorsal shield 43 (42–43), 63 (58–63) wide; semicircular; anterior shield lobe broad; with submedian lines which are connected posteriorly; with many granules along anterior margin. Scapular tubercles on rear margin, 31 (30–32) apart, scapular setae (sc) 7 (6–7) projecting posteriorly. Coxal plates smooth; anterolateral setae on coxisternum І (1b) 9 (6–9), proximal setae on coxisternum І (1a) 23 (20–23), proximal setae on coxisternum І (2a) 47 (43–48). Prosternal apodeme present. Legs with usual series of setae. Legs І 35 (32–36), femur 11 (10–11), basiventral femoral setae (bv) 11 (11–12); genu 5 (4–5), antaxial genual setae (l'') 23 (23–24); tibia 8 (7–8), paraxial tibial setae (l') 4 (4–5), setae located 1/3 from proximal tibial margin; tarsus 6 (5–6); tarsal empodium simple, 4-rayed, tarsal solenidion knobbed. Legs І 31 (27–31), femur 8 (7–8), basiventral femoral setae (bv) 10 (10–11); genu 5 (4–5), antaxial genual setae (l'') 3 (3–4); tibia 7 (6–7); tarsus 6 (5–6); tarsal empodium simple, 4-rayed, tarsal solenidion knobbed. Opisthosoma: opisthosoma dorsally with 25 (25–29) annuli, smooth, ventrally with 69 (65– 71) annuli, with round microtubercles. Setae c2 23 (19–23) on ventral annulus 12 (12–13); setae d 50 (45–50) on ventral annulus 27 (27–28); setae e 20 (19–21) on ventral annulus 46 (45–58), setae f 25 (25–26) on 5th ventral annulus from rear. Setae h1 4 (3–4). Female genitalia 15 (15–16), 25 (25–26) wide, coverflap with 14 longitudinal ridges, proximal setae on coxisternum ІІ (3a) 16 (15–17).

MALE: (n = 1) Body fusiform, 164, 56 wide, 54 thick; light yellow. Gnathosoma 18, projecting obliquely down, pedipalp coxal setae (ep) 2, dorsal pedipalp genual setae (d) 6, cheliceral stylets 16. Prodorsal shield 38, 53 wide; semicircular; anterior shield lobe broad. Scapular tubercles on rear margin, 26 apart, scapular setae (sc) 6 projecting posteriorly. Coxal plates smooth; anterolateral setae on coxisternum І (1b) 5, proximal setae on coxisternum І (1a) 16, proximal setae on coxisternum І (2a) 34. Prosternal apodeme present. Legs with usual series of setae. Leg І 30, femur 10, basiventral femoral setae (bv) 8; genu 4, antaxial genual setae (l'') 19; tibia 6, paraxial tibial setae (l') 4, setae located 1/3 from proximal tibial margin; tarsus 5; tarsal empodium simple, 4-rayed, tarsal solenidion knobbed. Leg І 25, femur 6, basiventral femoral setae (bv) 8; genu 4, antaxial genual setae (l'') 3; tibia 5; tarsus 4; tarsal empodium simple, 4-rayed, tarsal solenidion knobbed. Opisthosoma: opisthosoma dorsally with 21 annuli, smooth, ventrally with 58 annuli, with rounded microtubercles. Setae c2 18 on ventral annulus 10; setae d 42 on ventral annulus 25; setae e 16 on ventral annulus 41, setae f 20 on 5th ventral annulus from rear. Setae h1 3. Male genitalia 17 wide, proximal setae on coxisternum ІІ (3a) 11.

Type material. Holotype, female, China: Shaanxi Province, Yang County, Huayang, 33.58°N, 107.53°E, elevation 1083m. August 11, 2005, from Aster tataricus L. f. (Compositae), coll. Xue, Xiao-Feng and Song, Zi-Wei. Paratypes, 15 females and 1 male, with the same data as holotype.

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

Etymology. The specific designation asteri is from the generic name of the host plant, Aster .

Differential diagnosis. This species is similar to A. gladitsiae Kuang et al., 2005 , but can be differentiated by submedian lines present (submedian lines absent in A. gladitsiae ), coxal area smooth (coxal area with short lines in A. gladitsiae ), prodorsal shield with granules (prodorsal shield smooth in A. gladitsiae ), empodium 4-rayed (empodium 5-rayed in A. gladitsiae ).

Figures

FIGURE 2. Aculus asteri 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.