Anthocoptes cellatus Denizhan, Monfreda

Denizhan, Evsel, Monfreda, Rosita, Lillo, Enrico De & Çobanoglu, Sultan, 2008, Two new species of eriophyoid mites (Acari: Eriophyoidea) associated with Elaeagnaceae in Turkey, Zootaxa 1698, pp. 41-48 : 42-44

Anthocoptes cellatus Denizhan, Monfreda , de Lillo et Çobanoglu

Female (fig. 1). Body fusiform, 190 (190–210, n = 4), 65 (62–66) wide. Gnathosoma 20 (16–20) projecting obliquely downwards, chelicerae 21 (21–26), seta d 5 (5–6). Prodorsal shield 39 (35–40), 51 (50–55) wide, subtriangular with a short anteromedian lobe over gnathosomal base. Shield pattern composed of: a complete median and admedian lines; arrow shaped lines are mesally located close to the rear shield margin; a cell is on the lateral field, included in a submedian line, and connected to the admedian line. Tubercles sc on the rear shield margin, 32 (30–35) apart, setae sc 24 (24–28) directed to rear. Foreleg 33 (30–35), tibia 7 (7–8), tarsus 8 (8–9), ω 8 (8–10) distally knobbed, empodium simple, 5 (5), 5-rayed. Hindleg 29 (29–31), tibia 5 (5–6), tarsus 8 (7–8), ω 8 (8–10) distally knobbed, empodium simple, 5 (5–6), 5-rayed. Coxae with fine granules; setae 1b 10 (9–11), tubercles 1b 13 (11–13) apart, setae 1a 29 (24–33), tubercles 1a 11 (9–13) apart, setae 2a 45 (45–49), tubercles 2a 26 (23–27) apart. Prosternal apodeme 5 (5).

Opisthosoma with 20 (20–24) broad dorsal semiannuli, the first half of them (with elliptical and partially obscure microtubercles) are relatively narrower than the second half (smooth); 56 (56–58) narrow and microtuberculated ventral semiannuli, and 3 distal subequal annuli. Small and rounded microtubercles on the ventral side, large and elliptical on the lateral side, mainly located on the rear margin of semiannuli. Last 3 annuli with elongated and linear tubercles. Setae c2 30 (20–31) on ventral semiannulus 11 (8–11), setae d 50 (46–55) on ventral semiannulus 24 (20–24); setae e 8 (8–11) on ventral semiannulus 35 (33–37); setae f 28 (28–32) on ventral semiannulus 52 (52–54). Setae h2 107 (74–107) very thin at the apex, setae h1 4 (4) quite stiff. Genitalia 15 (15–16), 20 (20–22) wide. Female genital coverflap with 10 (10–11) striae; setae 3a 25 (23–26), 15 (15–17) apart.

Male. Similar to the female, 179 (162–189, n = 7), prodorsal shield 36 (32–38); sc tubercles 27 (26–28) apart, setae sc 24 (22–25); opisthosoma with 19–25 broad dorsal semiannuli, 43–47 narrow ventral annuli.

Host plant. Hippophea rhamnoides L. ( Elaeagnaceae ).

Relation to the host. Small number of specimens on leaves and flowers; no apparent damage was observed.

Type locality. Ziraat Faculty, Ankara, Turkey; 868 m elev.; 39°57'55N, 32°47'00E.

Type material. Holotype female circled with black ink along with a male on one slide, 10th of July 2005, code # 2386; Paratypes—9 slides prepared from material collected in the same locality on the same date, containing 3 females, 8 males and 3 nymphs. Collected by E. Denizhan.

Etymology. The specific designation is derived from Latin cella referring to the cell on the submedian field of the prodorsal shield.

Other material. Dried, preserved stems and leaves, from which the above specimens were collected and mounted on slides, are in the senior author’s (ED) collection and some are deposited in the Department of Plant Protection, Agricultural Faculty, University of Ankara, Turkey.

Remarks. Anthocoptes cellatus is very close to the European Aculus tibialis ( Liro, 1943) . The latter species is here re-assigned to Anthocoptes on the strength of the presence of narrow annuli beyond opisthosomal seta f, abruptly contrasting with the broadness of the dorsal semiannuli (see fig. 26 in Liro 1943). The species found in Turkey has a distinct pattern on the prodorsal shield, in contrast to A. tibialis which is provided with only weak lines on the lateral fields. The accessory setae are present on the anal lobe of A. cellatus , but they were stated as lacking in Liro’s data of A. tibialis , even though Farkas (1965) applied the character “accessory setae present” in his key for identifying this species. The morphological description made by Liro is rather basic, has never been improved upon, and does not allow the discovery of other differences or similarities between the two species. Specimens of Anthocoptes tibialis should be found and the species needs to be redescribed.

Similarities can be observed also with Anthocoptes shepherdiae Keifer, 1966 , which has dorsal semiannuli uniform in size and with strong microtubercles, and a shield pattern of granular lines.