Rhyncaphytoptus abiesis, Xue, Xiao-Feng, Song, Zi-Wei & Hong, Xiao-Yue, 2006

Xue, Xiao-Feng, Song, Zi-Wei & Hong, Xiao-Yue, 2006, Six new species of Rhyncaphytoptinae from northwestern China (Acari: Eriophyoidea: Diptilomiopidae), Zootaxa 1225, pp. 1-19 : 10-14

Rhyncaphytoptus abiesis sp. nov.

( Fig. 4 )

Description

FEMALE (n = 9). Body fusiform, 282 (270–290) long, 103 (98–106) wide, 108 (103–112) thick; light yellow in color. Gnathosoma 72 (70–75), projecting downwards. Prodorsal shield 60 (58–62) long, 80 (78–82) wide, semicircular, entire surface with many dashes. Dorsal tubercles ahead of rear margin, 55 (53–56) apart, scapular setae (sc) 210 (196–220), very long, projecting forwards. Coxal area with granules; anterolateral setae on coxisternum I (1b) 13 (12–15), proximal setae on coxisternum I (1a) 32 (30–35), proximal setae on coxisternum II (2a) 52 (50–55). Sternal line present. Legs with usual series of setae. Leg I 50 (48–51) long, femur 16 (15–17), basiventral femoral setae (bv) 20 (18–22); genu 6 (6–7) long, antaxial genual setae (l’’) 42 (37–43) long; tibia 20 (19–20), with 3 to 4 rows of spines; paraxial tibial setae (l’) 12 (11–12), setae located 2/3 from dorsal base; tarsus 6 (5–6) long, tarsal empodium simple, 7­rayed, tarsal solenidion knobbed. Leg II 43 (41–45) long, femur 12 (11–13), basiventral femoral setae (bv) 18 (18–19); genu 5 (5–6) long, antaxial genual setae (l’’) 13 (12–13) long; tibia 16 (15–17) with 3 to 4 rows of spines; tarsus 6 (5–6) long; tarsal empodium simple, 7­rayed, tarsal solenidion knobbed. Opisthosoma: dorsal opisthosoma with 32 (30–33) annuli, with filament microtubercles on rear annular margins, ventrally with 69 (65–72) microtuberculate annuli. Setae c2 82 (80–85) on ventral annulus 7 (7–8); setae d 35 (32–37) on ventral annulus 36(34–37); setae e 27 (26–28) on ventral annulus 48 (46–50); setae f 31 (30–33) on 6th ventral annulus from rear. Setae h1 6 (6–7) long. Female genitalia 27 (25–28) long, 31 (30–33) wide, coverflap smooth, proximal setae on coxisternum III (3a) 35 (32–36) long.

MALE. Not seen.

Types

Holotype, female, China: Shaanxi Province, Yang County, Huayang, 33°25.23’N, 107°32.26’E. August 10, 2004, from Abies fabri (Mast.) Craib (Pinaceae) , coll. Xue, Xiao­ Feng & Song, Zi­Wei. Paratypes, 8 females, with the same data as holotype.

Relation to host

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

Etymology

Derived from the generic name of the type host plant, Abies .

Remarks

This species is similar to Rhyncaphytoptus atlanticus Keifer, 1959 , on Ulmus americana L. ( Ulmaceae ), but can be differentiated by coxal area with granules (smooth in R. atlanticus ), prodorsal shield with many dashes, scapular setae (sc) much longer (9 long in R. atlanticus ) and empodium 7­rayed, solenidion knobbed (empodium 8­rayed and solenidion tapered in R. atlanticus ).

( Fig. 5 )

Description

FEMALE (n = 10). Body fusiform, 340 (280–360) long, 110 (97–115) wide, 98 (95–100) thick; light yellow in color. Gnathosoma 50 (45–52), projecting downwards. Prodorsal shield 71 (64–75) long, 96 (82–103) wide, sub quadrangular; median line present 1/3 at base, admedian lines concaved at center, median and admedian lines connected at basal 1/3 and base and forming a network, with short dashes covering entire shield. Dorsal tubercles on rear margin, 56 (52–60) apart, scapular setae (sc) 75 (65–78) projecting forwards, more robust than usual. Coxal area I with short lines, coxal area II smooth; anterolateral setae on coxisternum I (1b) 10 (10–11), proximal setae on coxisternum I (1a) 38 (35–41), proximal setae on coxisternum II (2a) 70 (65–73). Sternal line absent. Legs with usual series of setae. Leg I 64 (62–67) long, femur 26 (25–27), basiventral femoral setae (bv) 20 (18–21); genu 7 (6–7) long, antaxial genual setae (l’’) 30 (28–33) long; tibia 18 (17–19), paraxial tibial setae (l’) 10 (9–10), setae located at 2/3 from dorsal base; tarsus 9 (9–10) long; tarsal empodium simple, 7­rayed, tarsal solenidion tapered. Leg II 60 (58–63) long, femur 23 (22–23), basiventral femoral setae (bv) 17 (16–18); genu 6 (5–6) long, antaxial genual setae (l’’) 9 (8–10) long; tibia 18 (17–18); tarsus 9 (8–9) long; tarsal empodium simple, 7­rayed, tarsal solenidion tapered. Opisthosoma: dorsal opisthosoma with 51 (49–53) annuli, smooth, with five longitudinal ridges, middorsal ridge ends in a furrow before subdorsal ridges end, submedial ridges extend from posterior shield margin and fade on dorsal annulus 9, ventrally with 98 (93–102) annuli, with spiny microtubercles. Setae c2 60 (55–63) on ventral annulus 13 (12–14); setae d 105 (101–109) on ventral annulus 35 (32–35); setae e 71 (65–73) on ventral annulus 55 (52–57); setae f 48 (45–52) on 8th ventral annulus from rear. Setae h1 7 (6–8). Female genitalia 22 (21–23) long, 30 (26–34) wide, coverflap smooth, proximal setae on coxisternum III (3a) 55 (51–58) long.

MALE (n = 3). 241 (220–250) long, 94 (93–95) wide, male genitalia 5 (4–5) long, 30 (29–31) wide, proximal setae on coxisternum III (3a) 30 (25–35) long.

Types

Holotype, female, China: Gansu Province, Dangchang County, Daheba, 33°52.52’N, 104°22.15’E. September 13, 2005, from Abies fabri (Mast.) Craib (Pinaceae) , coll. Xue, Xiao­Feng & Song, Zi­Wei. Paratypes, 9 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

Derived from the specific epithet of the type host plant, fabri .

Remarks

This species is similar to Rhyncaphytoptus taihangensis Xue & Hong, 2005 , on Morus alba L. ( Moraceae ), but can be differentiated by the prodorsal shield having many uniform dashes which cover the entire shield (dashes absent on prodorsal shield in R. taihangensis ), empodium 7­rayed (5­rayed in R. taihangensis ), dorsal annuli smooth (with spiny microtubercles in R. taihangensis ) and setae h1 present (absent in R. taihangensis ). Although this species was also found on A. fabri , we do not consider it a deutogyne or protogyne of the other species because it is highly unlikely, perhaps impossible, to find these stages together on this host in China, especially in summer.

Figures

FIGURE 4. Rhyncaphytoptus abiesis sp. nov. A, dorsal view of female; B, coxae and female genitalia; C, legs I and II; D, lateral microtubercles; E, empodium. Rhyncaphytoptus fabris sp. nov.

FIGURE 5. Rhyncaphytoptus fabris sp. nov. A, dorsal view of female; B, coxae and female genitalia; C, legs I and II; D, lateral microtubercles; E, empodium; F, male genitalia.