Disella rebeeveri, Xue & Zhang, 2008

Xue, Xiao-Feng & Zhang, Zhi-Qiang, 2008, New Zealand Eriophyoidea (Acari: Prostigmata): an update with descriptions of one new genus and six new species, Zootaxa 1962 (1), pp. 1-32 : 3-6

Disella rebeeveri sp. nov.

( Figs 1 & 2 )

Description. FEMALE: (n = 11) Body fusiform, 180 (165–182), 70 (68–72) wide, 67 (67–70) thick; light yellow. Gnathosoma 20 (20–21), projecting obliquely down, pedipalp coxal setae (ep) 3 (3–4), dorsal pedipalp genual seta (d) 4 (4–5), cheliceral stylets 18 (18–19). Prodorsal shield semicircular, 32 (31–32), 55 (55–56) wide; anterior shield lobe broad and short; anterior transverse line long, running through median and admedian lines in the middle and also connected laterally with anteromedian branch of the submedian lines; median and ademdian lines complete, connected transversely at basal 1/3 and 2/3 by short oblique lines, which form four median large “cells” along with anterior transverse line; submedian lines connected with bases of scapular tubercles, its anteromedian branch connecting with anterior transverse line, three isolated short parallel lines present laterally on each side. Scapular tubercles well ahead of rear margin, 24 (24–25) apart, scapular setae (sc) 12 (10–12) projecting towards center. Coxal plates with granules; anterolateral setae on coxisternum І (1b) absent, proximal setae on coxisternum І (1a) 11 (11–12), 8 (7–8) apart, proximal setae on coxisternum І (2a) 21 (20–23), 24 (22–24) apart. Prosternal apodeme 5 (5–6). Legs with tibia and tarsus completely fused. Legs І 21 (20–23), femur 7 (7–8), basiventral femoral seta (bv) 6 (6–7); genu 3 (3–4), antaxial genual seta (l'') 23 (21–23); tarsus 6 (6–7), seta ft'' as long as seta ft', seta u' short; tarsal empodium (em) 3 (3–4), simple, 4-rayed, tarsal solenidion (ω) 4 (4–5), knobbed. Legs І 19 (17–21), femur 7 (6–7), basiventral femoral seta (bv) 7 (6–7); genu 3 (3–4), antaxial genual seta (l'') 8 (7–8); tarsus 6 (5–6), seta ft'' as long as seta ft', seta u' short; tarsal empodium (em) 3 (3–4), simple, 4-rayed, tarsal solenidion (ω) 4 (4–5), knobbed. Opisthosoma: opisthosoma dorsally with 48 (46–53) annuli, with a low ridge, smooth, ventrally with 60 (58–64) annuli, with spiny microtubercles. Setae c2 22 (20–23) on ventral annulus 6 (6–7), 50 (49–51) apart; setae d 53 (50–55) on ventral annulus 19 (18–21), 35 (34–35) apart; setae e 7 (6–7) on ventral annulus 35 (34–35), 20 (19–20) apart, setae f 15 (15–17) on 7th ventral annulus from rear, robust, 17 (16–17) apart. Setae h1 absent. Female genitalia 16 (15–16), 20 (19–21) wide, coverflap with granules, proximal setae on coxisternum ІІІ (3a) 7 (7–8), setal bases 15 (14–15) apart.

MALE: Unknown.

Type material. Holotype female (marked as specimen H, with dorsal surface up and illustrated in Fig. 1 ), from curly leaf of shoot 2 on Kunzea ericoides (Myrtaceae) , Opanuku pipeline track, Waitakere Range, Auckland, New Zealand, 27 November 1999, coll. N.A. Martin. Paratypes, ca 35 adults, with the same data as holotype (on the same slide). Specimens deposited in NZAC.

Additonal material examined. One slide with numerous specimens, from curly leaf of shoot 1 on Kunzea ericoides, Opanuku pipeline track, Waitakere Range, Auckland, New Zealand, 27 November 1999, coll. N.A. Martin. Two slides with numerous specimens, from curly leaf of same host as above but from Fletcher Track , Waitakere Range, Auckland, New Zealand, 28 November 1999, coll. N.A. Martin.

Additional plant material of K. ericoides with curly leaf symptoms were collected by N.A. Martin and deposited in NZAC: Karamatura track Waitaker Ranges, Auckland, New Zealand, 28 November 1999 ; Matuku Reserve , Waitaker Ranges, Auckland, New Zealand, 5 December 1999 ; Hunua Falls , Hunua Ranges, Auckland, New Zealand, 27 December 2000 ; Mathersons Bay , Nr Leigh, Auckland, New Zealand, 16 April 2006 .

Relation to host. Vagrant; mites cause leaf deformation, resulting in curly leaves.

Etymology. This species is named after Dr Ross E. Beever (Landcare Research, Auckland, New Zealand).

Differential diagnosis. This species is similar to Disella ilicis ( Keifer, 1965) , but can be differentiated from the latter by the presence of granules on coxal plates (granules absent on coxal plates in D. ilicis ), the absence of setae h1 (setae h1 minute in D. ilicis ), and 4-rayed tarsal empodium of each leg (tarsal empodium 5-rayed in D. ilicis ).

Figures

FIGURE 1. Disella rebeeveri sp. nov. D, dorsal view of female; CG, coxae and female genitalia; L1, leg І; L2, leg І.

FIGURE 2. Disella rebeeveri sp. nov. L, lateral view of female; LO, lateral microtubercles; em, empodium.