Aspidophorodon reticulatum Qiao & Xu, 2022

Xu, Ying, Jiang, Li-Yun, Chen, Jing, Kholmatov, Bakhtiyor Rustamovich & Qiao, Ge-Xia, 2022, Six new species of Aspidophorodon Verma, 1967 (Hemiptera, Aphididae, Aphidinae) from China, ZooKeys 1106, pp. 1-55 : 1

Aspidophorodon reticulatum Qiao & Xu sp. nov.

Figs 8 , 9

Specimens examined.

Holotype: apterous viviparous female, China: Tibet (Cuona County), 5.VI.2016, No. 37265-1-1, on Salix cupularis , coll. F. F. Niu ; Paratypes: one apterous viviparous female (slide) and one apterous viviparous female (COI: OK668435 ), No. 37265-1-2, with the same collection data as holotype .

Diagnosis.

Dorsum of body with distinct reticulations that consist of small triangles arranged in polygons; median frontal tubercle distinctly protuberant, rectangular; antennal tubercles each with a cylindrical process at inner apex, higher than median frontal tubercle; dorsal setae of abdomen sparse and short, with small setal tubercles.

Description.

Apterous viviparous females: body elliptical (Fig. 9A ), green in life.

Mounted specimens. Body pale, PT, distal part of rostrum, tarsi, distal parts of SIPH, cauda, anal plate and genital plate pale brown (Fig. 9A ). Thoracic nota and abdominal tergites I-VIII each with one pair of spinal sclerites, pale brown in color, other parts pale in color (Fig. 9A, F ). See Table 2 for general measurements.

Head. Ocular tubercles small. Dorsum of head covered with wrinkles between compound eyes, anterior part with weak wrinkles (Figs 8A , 9B ). Median frontal tubercle distinctly protuberant, rectangular (Figs 8A , 9B ), with one pair of long and pointed setae on venter. Antennal tubercles undeveloped, each with a cylindrical, slightly wrinkled process at inner apex, higher than median frontal tubercle, each process with a short and pointed seta at apex (Figs 8A , 9B ). Dorsal setae of head short and slightly blunt, with small setal tubercles. Head with one pair of cephalic setae, one pair of dorsal setae between antennae and two pairs of dorsal setae between compounds eyes arranged transversely. Antennae 5-segmented, Ant. I-III smooth, Ant. IV-V with imbrications (Figs 8B , 9C ); Ant. I slightly projected at inner apex. Antennal setae short and pointed, Ant. I-V with 3-4, 3, 1-2, 1, 1-2 (base) +1 (PT) setae, respectively; apex of PT usually with two setae. Primary rhinaria ciliated. Rostrum reaching mid-coxae; URS wedge-shaped (Figs 8C , 9D ), with two pairs of primary setae and two pairs of accessory setae.

Thorax. Thoracic nota with reticulations consist of small triangles arranged in polygons, those developed on pronotum. Dorsal setae of thorax short and blunt, with small setal tubercles; pronotum with two pairs of spinal setae, arranged anteriorly and posteriorly, one pair of pleural and one pair of marginal setae; meso- and metanotum each with one pair of spinal and one pair of pleural setae, two pairs of marginal setae. Legs normal, coxae and femora smooth, distal parts of tibiae imbricated. Setae on 2/3 distal part of femora and tibiae, short and pointed (Fig. 9E ). First tarsal chaetotaxy: 3, 3, 2. Second tarsal segments with imbrications.

Abdomen. Abdominal tergites I-VII with reticulations consisting of small triangles arranged in polygons (Figs 8D , 9F ). Dorsal setae of abdomen sparse, short, pointed or slightly blunt, with small setal tubercles; ventral setae short and pointed. Abdominal tergites I-III each with one pair of spinal, pleural and marginal setae; tergites IV-VII each with one pair of spinal and one pair of marginal setae; tergites VIII with one pair of spinal setae. Spiracles reniform and open, spiracular plates slightly swollen. SIPH spoon-shaped, smooth, broad at base, thin at middle, swollen distally, obliquely truncated at tip, without flange (Figs 8E , 9G ). Cauda elongate conical, slightly constricted at middle, with spinulose imbrications and four setae (Figs 8F , 9H ). Anal plate semicircular, spinulose (Figs 8G , 9I ), with 15-16 setae. Genital plate transversely oval, with sparse spinules in transverse rows (Figs 8H , 9J ), with three or four anterior setae and four setae along the posterior margin.

Etymology.

The species is named for the reticulations apparent on the dorsum of the body, reticulatum being the neuter form of the adjective.

Taxonomic notes.

The new species resembles A. harvense Verma but differs from it as follows: antennal tubercles each with a cylindrical process at inner apex, 0.051-0.056mm, 1.82-2.04 × as long as its width (the latter: antennal tubercles each with a long finger-shaped process at inner apex, 0.110-0.120mm, 2.40-2.50 × as long as the basal width); dorsum of body with reticulations consist of small triangles arranged in polygons (the latter: dorsum of body with oval and irregular polygonal reticulations); URS 2.70-2.72 × as long as the basal width, 1.51-1.61 × as long as 2HT (the latter: URS 1.39-1.63 × as long as the basal width, 0.69-0.81 × as long as 2HT).

Host plant.

Salix cupularis .

Distribution.

China: Tibet.

Biology.

The species colonizes the undersides of leaves of its host plant.

Figures

Figure 8. Aspidophorodon reticulatum Qiao & Xu, sp. nov. Apterous viviparous female A dorsal view of head B antenna C ultimate rostral segment D reticulations formed by strings of small triangles arranged in polygons on abdominal tergites E siphunculus F cauda G anal plate H genital plate. Scale bars: 0.10 mm.

Figure 9. Aspidophorodon reticulatum Qiao & Xu, sp. nov. Apterous viviparous female A dorsal view of body B dorsal view of head C antenna D ultimate rostral segment E hind tibia and tarsi F reticulations formed by strings of small triangles arranged in polygons on abdominal tergites G siphunculus H cauda I anal plate J genital plate. Scale bars: 0.10 mm.