Aculus eupteleae, 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 : 43-46

Aculus eupteleae sp. nov.

( Fig. 5 )

Description. FEMALE: (n = 12) Body fusiform, 239 (221–241), 82 (78–82) wide, 77 (73–77) thick; white. Gnathosoma 36 (35–37), projecting obliquely down, pedipalp coxal setae (ep) 2 (2–3), dorsal pedipalp genual setae (d) 7 (6–7), cheliceral stylets 31 (30–31). Prodorsal shield 51 (50–51), 65 (62–66) wide; semicircular; anterior shield lobe broad; median and admedian lines incomplete; with some granules. Scapular tubercles on rear margin, 45 (44–46) apart, scapular setae (sc) 12 (12–13) projecting posteriorly. Coxal plates with granules and short lines; anterolateral setae on coxisternum І (1b) 12 (10–14), proximal setae on coxisternum І (1a) 26 (23–26), proximal setae on coxisternum І (2a) 50 (43–50). Prosternal apodeme present. Legs with usual series of setae. Legs І 35 (32–36), femur 10 (9–10), basiventral femoral setae (bv) 11 (10–11); genu 5 (4–5), antaxial genual setae (l'') 20 (20–22); tibia 10 (9–10), paraxial tibial setae (l') 5 (4–6), setae located 1/3 from proximal tibial margin; tarsus 7 (6–7); tarsal empodium simple, 5-rayed, tarsal solenidion rod-like. Legs І 31 (29–31), femur 8 (7–8), basiventral femoral setae (bv) 9 (9–10); genu 4 (4–5), antaxial genual setae (l'') 8 (8–9); tibia 5 (5–6); tarsus 6 (6–7); tarsal empodium simple, 5-rayed, tarsal solenidion rod-like. Opisthosoma: opisthosoma dorsally with 32 (30–33) annuli, with filament microtubercles, ventrally with 69 (65–73) annuli, with round microtubercles. Setae c2 35 (32–37) on ventral annulus 12 (11–12); setae d 49 (45–50) on ventral annulus 26 (25–26); setae e 27 (27–28) on ventral annulus 48 (37–49), setae f 52 (45–52) on 5th ventral annulus from rear. Setae h1 2 (2–3). Female genitalia 15 (15–16), 24 (24–25) wide, coverflap with 10 longitudinal ridges and 3 transverse lines at base, proximal setae on coxisternum ІІ (3a) 29 (27–30).

MALE: (n = 1) Body fusiform, 195, 68 wide; white. Gnathosoma 30, projecting obliquely down, pedipalp coxal setae (ep) 2, dorsal pedipalp genual setae (d) 7, cheliceral stylets 28. Prodorsal shield 42, 53 wide; semicircular; anterior shield lobe broad. Scapular tubercles on rear margin, 38 apart, scapular setae (sc) 11 projecting posteriorly. Coxal plates with granules and short lines; anterolateral setae on coxisternum І (1b) 10, proximal setae on coxisternum І (1a) 18, proximal setae on coxisternum І (2a) 38. Prosternal apodeme present. Legs with usual series of setae. Leg І 30, femur 8, basiventral femoral setae (bv) 10; genu 4, antaxial genual setae (l'') 16; tibia 8, paraxial tibial setae (l') 5, setae located 1/3 from proximal tibial margin; tarsus 5; tarsal empodium simple, 5-rayed, tarsal solenidion rod-like. Leg І 27, femur 6, basiventral femoral setae (bv) 9; genu 4, antaxial genual setae (l'') 7; tibia 5; tarsus 5; tarsal empodium simple, 5-rayed, tarsal solenidion rodlike. Opisthosoma: opisthosoma dorsally with 26 annuli, with filament microtubercles, ventrally with 63 annuli, with round microtubercles. Setae c2 30 on ventral annulus 11; setae d 38 on ventral annulus 22; setae e 25 on ventral annulus 43, setae f 35 on 5th ventral annulus from rear. Setae h1 2. Male genitalia 21 wide, proximal setae on coxisternum ІІ (3a) 26.

Type material. Holotype, female, China: Henan Province, Luanchuan County, Longyuwan, 33.70°N, 111.75°E, elevation 1015m. July 21, 2004, from Euptelea pleiospermum Hook. f. et Thoms. ( Trochodendraceae ), coll. Xue, Xiao-Feng. Paratypes, 6 females and 1 male, with the same data as holotype; 5 females, China: Shaanxi Province, Xi’an City, Cuihua Mountain, 34.98°N, 109.00°E, August 14, 2005, from Euptelea pleiospermum Hook. f. et Thoms. ( Trochodendraceae ), coll. Xue, Xiao-Feng and Song, Zi-Wei.

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

Etymology. The specific designation eupteleae is from the generic name of the host plant, Euptelea .

Differential diagnosis. This species is similar to A. pistaciae Kuang, 1998 a, but can be differentiated by dorsal annuli with microtubercles (dorsal annuli smooth in A. pistaciae ), prodorsal shield with granules (prodorsal shield without granules in A. pistaciae ), empodium 5-rayed (empodium 4-rayed in A. pistaciae ).

Figures

FIGURE 5. Aculus eupteleae 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.