Aculus rumexis, 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 : 46-47

Aculus rumexis sp. nov.

( Fig. 6 )

Description. FEMALE: (n = 5) Body fusiform, 230 (200–230), 64 (61–64) wide, 63 (60–63) thick; light yellow. Gnathosoma 25 (24–25), projecting obliquely down, pedipalp coxal setae (ep) 2 (2–3), dorsal pedipalp genual setae (d) 10 (10–11), cheliceral stylets 22 (21–22). Prodorsal shield 42 (41–42), 51 (48–51) wide; semicircular; anterior shield lobe somewhat acuminate; median, admedian and submedian lines present, median and admedian lines connected at basal 1/4, admedian and submedian lines connected at about basal 2/ 3, with granules laterally on shield. Scapular tubercles on rear margin, 37 (36–37) apart, scapular setae (sc) 20 (18–21) projecting posteriorly. Coxal plates with granules; anterolateral setae on coxisternum І (1b) 8 (7–8), proximal setae on coxisternum І (1a) 15 (12–15), proximal setae on coxisternum І (2a) 35 (30–36). Prosternal apodeme present. Legs with usual series of setae. Legs І 37 (35–39), femur 10 (10–11), basiventral femoral setae (bv) 10 (8–11); genu 5 (4–5), antaxial genual setae (l'') 25 (22–26); tibia 10 (9–10), paraxial tibial setae (l') 7 (6–7), setae located 1/4 from proximal tibial margin; tarsus 8 (7–8); tarsal empodium simple, 4- rayed, tarsal solenidion knobbed. Legs І 30 (28–31), femur 10 (9–10), basiventral femoral setae (bv) 13 (12– 13); genu 5 (4–5), antaxial genual setae (l'') 10 (9–11); tibia 8 (7–8); tarsus 7 (6–7); tarsal empodium simple, 4-rayed, tarsal solenidion knobbed. Opisthosoma: opisthosoma dorsally with 32 (27–33) smooth annuli, ventrally with 66 (63–68) annuli, with round microtubercles. Setae c2 33 (32–35) on ventral annulus 14 (13–15); setae d 35 (34–37) on ventral annulus 28 (27–28); setae e 25 (23–26) on ventral annulus 46 (44–47), setae f 30 (28–31) on 6th ventral annulus from rear. Setae h1 4 (4–5). Female genitalia 15 (15–16), 25 (24–25) wide, coverflap with 12 longitudinal ridges, proximal setae on coxisternum ІІІ (3a) 15 (13–17).

MALE: (n = 1) Body fusiform, 162, 52 wide; light yellow. Gnathosoma 20, projecting obliquely down, pedipalp coxal setae (ep) 2, dorsal pedipalp genual setae (d) 8, cheliceral stylets 20. Prodorsal shield 40, 46 wide. Scapular tubercles on rear margin, 34 apart, scapular setae (sc) 17 projecting posteriorly. Coxal plates with granules; anterolateral setae on coxisternum І (1b) 6, proximal setae on coxisternum І (1a) 10, proximal setae on coxisternum І (2a) 25. Prosternal apodeme present. Legs with usual series of setae. Leg І 33, femur 8, basiventral femoral setae (bv) 10; genu 4, antaxial genual setae (l'') 21; tibia 8, paraxial tibial setae (l') 6, setae located 1/4 from proximal tibial margin; tarsus 6; tarsal empodium simple, 4-rayed, tarsal solenidion knobbed. Leg І 26, femur 8, basiventral femoral setae (bv) 11; genu 4, antaxial genual setae (l'') 8; tibia 6; tarsus 6; tarsal empodium simple, 4-rayed, tarsal solenidion knobbed. Opisthosoma: opisthosoma dorsally with 27 annuli, smooth, ventrally with 61 annuli, with round microtubercles. Setae c2 30 on ventral annulus 13; setae d 30 on ventral annulus 25; setae e 18 on ventral annulus 41, setae f 22 on 6th ventral annulus from rear. Setae h1 3. Male genitalia 20 wide, proximal setae on coxisternum ІІ (3a) 11.

Type material. Holotype, female, China: Shanxi Province, Wutai Mountain, 38.58°N, 113.21°E, elevation 1508m. June 28, 2006, from Rumex acetosa L. ( Polygonaceae ), coll. Xue, Xiao-Feng. Paratypes, 4 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 rumexis is from the generic name of the host plant, Rumex . Differential diagnosis. This species is similar to A. guilinensis Kuang et al., 2005 , but can be differentiated by the coxal plates with granules (coxal plates with short lines in A. guilinensis ), empodium 4-rayed (empodium 5-rayed in A. guilinensis ), prodorsal shield with granules laterally (prodorsal shield without granules in A. guilinensis ).

Figures

FIGURE 6. Aculus rumexis 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.