Tetra sinicusis, Xue, Xiao-Feng, Song, Zi-Wei & Hong, Xiao-Yue, 2007

Xue, Xiao-Feng, Song, Zi-Wei & Hong, Xiao-Yue, 2007, Six new species of Te t r a Keifer (Acari: Eriophyidae: Phyllocoptinae) from China, Zootaxa 1614, pp. 1-16 : 11-13

Tetra sinicusis sp. nov.

( Fig. 5 )

Description. FEMALE: (n = 6) Body fusiform, 188 (182–196), 59 (58–60) wide, 55 (54–56) thick; light yellow. Gnathosoma 15 (14–15), projecting obliquely down, pedipalp coxal setae (ep) 2 (2–3), dorsal pedipalp genual setae (d) 4 (4–5), chelicerae 14 (13–14), oral stylets 13 (13–14). Prodorsal shield 42 (41–43), 48 (48– 49) wide; semicircular; frontal lobe present; median line present 1/3 at base, median and admedian lines connected at base and basal 1/3 by transverse lines, forming 2 large cells, submedian lines present. Dorsal tubercles near rear margin, 25 (25–26) apart, scapular setae (sc) 6 (6–7) projecting posteriorly. Coxal area І with short lines, coxal area І with granules; anterolateral setae on coxisternum І (1b) 6 (6–7), proximal setae on coxisternum І (1a) 12 (11–13), proximal setae on coxisternum І (2a) 24 (23–26). Prosternal apodeme present. Legs with usual series of setae. Legs І 27 (25–29), femur 8 (8–9), basiventral femoral setae (bv) 8 (7– 8); genu 5 (4–5), antaxial genual setae (l'') 18 (18–19); tibia 6 (5–6), paraxial tibial setae (l') 5 (5–6), setae located 1/3 from dorsal base; tarsus 5 (4–5); empodium simple, 7-rayed, tarsal solenidion tapered. Legs І 27 (26–29), femur 7 (7–8), basiventral femoral setae (bv) 7 (6–7); genu 4 (3–4), antaxial genual setae (l'') 6 (5–7); tibia 5 (5–6); tarsus 5 (4–5); empodium simple, 7-rayed, tarsal solenidion tapered. Opisthosoma: dorsal opisthosoma with 41 (38–42) annuli, with spiny microtubercles laterally and smooth in center, ventrally with 63 (60–66) annuli, with round microtubercles. Setae c2 24 (23–25) on ventral annulus 16 (15–17); setae d 41 (39–42) on ventral annulus 23 (23–25), 40 (39-41) apart; setae e 16 (14–18) on ventral annulus 41 (39–42), 20 (19–20) apart, setae f 23 (22–23) on 5th ventral annulus from rear, 18 (18–19) apart. Setae h1 4 (4–5), setae h2 28 (27–71). Female genitalia 10 (9–10) long, 19 (18–20) wide, coverflap with 10 longitudinal ridges, proximal setae on coxisternum ІІІ (3a) 16 (15–18).

MALE: (n = 3) Body fusiform, 142 (133–145), 48 (43–50) wide; light yellow. Gnathosoma 14 (14–15), projecting obliquely down, pedipalp coxal setae (ep) 2 (2–3), dorsal pedipalp genual setae (d) 4 (4–5), chelicerae 12 (12–13), oral stylets 11 (10–11). Prodorsal shield 35 (33–36), 43 (42–44) wide; semicircular. Dorsal tubercles near rear margin, 20 (20–21) apart, scapular setae (sc) 5 (5–6) projecting posteriorly. Coxal area І with short lines, coxal area І with granules; anterolateral setae on coxisternum І (1b) 4 (3–4), proximal setae on coxisternum І (1a) 8 (8–10), proximal setae on coxisternum І (2a) 22 (21–23). Prosternal apodeme present. Legs with usual series of setae. Legs І 25 (23–26), femur 8 (7–8), basiventral femoral setae (bv) 7 (6– 7); genu 4 (4–5), antaxial genual setae (l'') 15 (14–15); tibia 5 (5–6), paraxial tibial setae (l') 4 (4–5), setae located 1/3 from dorsal base; tarsus 5 (4–5); empodium simple, 7-rayed, tarsal solenidion tapered. Legs І 25 (23–26), femur 7 (7–8), basiventral femoral setae (bv) 6 (6–7); genu 3 (3–4), antaxial genual setae (l'') 5 (5–6); tibia 5 (4–5); tarsus 4 (4–5); empodium simple, 7-rayed, tarsal solenidion tapered. Opisthosoma: dorsal opisthosoma with 40 (39–40) annuli, with spiny microtubercles laterally and smooth in center, ventrally with 65 (62–66) annuli, with round microtubercles. Setae c2 22 (20–23) on ventral annulus 15 (15–16); setae d 28 (26–30) on ventral annulus 23 (23–24); setae e 15 (14–15) on ventral annulus 38 (38–39), setae f 16 (15–16) on 5th ventral annulus from rear. Setae h1 4 (4–5). Male genitalia 5 (5–6), 17 (16–17) wide, proximal setae on coxisternum ІІ (3a) 13 (12–15).

Types. Holotype, female, China: Shaanxi Province, Yang County, Huayang, 33.58°N, 107.53°E. August 11, 2005, from Dipentodon sinicus Dunn (Celastraceae) , coll. Xue, Xiao-Feng and Song, Zi-Wei. Paratypes, 5 females and 3 males, with the same data as holotype.

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

Etymology. The specific designation sinicusis is from the species name of the host plant, sinicus .

Remarks. This species is similar to Tetra smilaxis Xue, Song & Hong, 2006 , but can be differentiated by coxal area with granules (coxal area smooth in T. smilaxis ), empodium 7-rayed (empodium 4-rayed in T. smilaxis ), admedian and submedian lines separate (admedian and submedian lines connected in T. smilaxis ).

Figures

FIGURE 5. Tetra sinicusis sp. nov. A, dorsal view of female; B, coxae and female genitalia; C, legs І and І; D, empodium; E, male genitalia; F, lateral view of anterior region; G, lateral microtubercles; H, lateral view of the caudal opisthosoma.