Rubiaphis altaicus, Stekolshchikov & Novgorodova, 2020

Stekolshchikov, Andrey V. & Novgorodova, Tatiana A., 2020, Rubiaphis, a new aphid genus from the Altai Republic (Homoptera: Aphididae, Macrosiphini), Zootaxa 4718 (1), pp. 145-150 : 147-149

Rubiaphis altaicus sp. nov.

( Figs. 1–7 , Table 1 )

Material. Holotype: apterous viviparous female, No. 14345 (collection number of ISEA SB RAS), slide No. 7, “ Rubiaphis altaicus gen. nov., sp. nov., 17.vii.2015, Altai Republic, Ust-Koksinsky district, confluence of the Katun and Kaitanak rivers, 50°07’N 85°28’E, 1028 m above sea level, Rubus idaeus L., on the lower surface of the leaves along the veins, leg. T. A. Novgorodova. Paratypes: 17 apterous viviparous females, together with holotype.

Holotype is deposited at ISEA SB RAS ; paratypes are deposited at ISEA SB RAS, ZIN RAS, the Natural History Museum ( London , United Kingdom) and Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle (Paris, France).

Etymology. The species name “ altaicus ” is derived from the geographical name “Altai”, a mountain range in Central and East Asia where the new species was collected.

Description. Apterous viviparous female. Body 1.8–2.1 (1.9) times as long as its width. Living specimens pale, semitransparent. Cleared specimens pale, without any dark sclerotized area on body or appendages. Marginal tubercles on the prothorax are present in 17 of 18 specimens (2 tubercles in 8 specimens). Head with epicranial coronal suture or with clear traces of epicranial coronal suture. First and second antennal segments smooth and sometimes with single short scales on ventral sides, 3rd–6th segments with large ones which are rare and hardly visible at base of 3rd segment but well-defined on 5th–6th segments. Rostrum reaching meso-—metathorax. Ultimate segment of rostrum 2.27–2.83 (2.57) times as long as its basal width. Setae on subgenital and anal plate and also on cauda finely pointed.

For more morphological data see description of the genus.

Measurements of holotype. Body—898×482; antenna—699: III—220×15 (in the middle), IV—94, V— 85 +205; hind femur—218; hind tibia—406; siphunculus—220×18 (in the middle); cauda—76×68 (at base) ×51 (before base). For more biometric data see Table 1 .

Distribution. Known only from the type locality—Russia, Altai Republic, Ust-Koksinsky district, confluence of the Katun and Kaitanak rivers (50°07’N 85°28’E).

Biology. Life cycle is unknown. Single aphids were located on the lower surface of the leaves of Rubus idaeus along the veins.

Systematic relationships. See the generic diagnosis.

Figures

FIGURES 1–7. Rubiaphis altaicus gen. nov., sp. nov., apterous viviparous female. 1, body; 2, frons; 3, antenna; 4, ultimate rostral segments; 5, hind tarsus; 6, siphunculus; 7, cauda.