Aspidophorodon capitatum Qiao & Xu sp. nov.

Figs 1, 2, 21A

Specimens examined.

Holotype: apterous viviparous female, China, Tibet (Bomi County, 30.15°N, 94.99°E, altitude 2160 m), 01.IX.2020, No. 49120-1-1-2, on Salix sp., coll. Y. Xu. Paratypes: one apterous viviparous female (slide), No. 49120-1-1-1, one apterous viviparous female (COI: OK668442), and four fourth instar apterous nymphs, with the same collection data as holotype; one apterous viviparous female, 26.VI.2021, No. 51696-1-1, on Salix sp., coll. Y. Xu; one apterous viviparous female (slide) and one apterous viviparous female (COI: OK668446), 29.VI.2021, No. 51730-1-2, on Salix sp., coll. Y. Xu; one apterous viviparous female, No. 49120-1-2 (NHMUK), with the same collection data as holotype .

Diagnosis.

Dorsum of body densely covered with small papillate tubercles; median frontal tubercle moderately protuberant, with a shallow depression at the middle; antennal tubercles each with an inconspicuous process at inner apex lower than median frontal tubercle; dorsal setae of body distinctly long, thick, capitate, on swollen setal tubercles.

Description.

Apterous viviparous females: body elongated oval (Fig. 2A), yellowish white in life (Fig. 21A).

Mounted specimens. Body pale; head, compound eyes, Ant. IV, distal part of rostrum, legs, setal tubercles, distal part of SIPH, cauda and anal plate pale brown; tarsi brown. Thoracic nota and abdominal tergites I-IV each with one pair of spinal and one pair of pleural sclerites, tergites V-VII each with one pair of spinal sclerites, those sclerites pale brown in color; tergite VIII with a pale brown band (Figs 1C, 2A); other parts pale in color. See Table 2 for general measurements.

Head. Ocular tubercles small. Dorsum of head densely covered with small papillate tubercles (Figs 1A, 2B), venter with wrinkles and sparse small papillate tubercles. Median frontal tubercle moderately protuberant, with a shallow depression at the middle (Figs 1A, 2B), with one pair of long capitate setae on venter. Antennal tubercles undeveloped, each with an inconspicuous process at inner apex, lower than median frontal tubercle, each process with a long capitate seta at apex (Figs 1A, 2B). Dorsal setae of head extremely long, thick, capitate, on swollen setal tubercles which are covered with sparsely small papillae. Head with one pair of cephalic setae, one pair of dorsal setae between antennae, and two pairs of dorsal setae between compound eyes arranged transversely (Figs 1A, 2B). Antennae 4-segmented, Ant. I-II with wrinkles, Ant. III-IV slightly imbricated; Ant. I rounded at inner apex (Figs 1B, 2C). Antennal setae long, thick and capitate on Ant. I-II, short and blunt on Ant. III-IV; Ant. I-IV with 3, 1-2, 1-2, 2 (base) +0-1 (PT) setae, respectively; apex of PT with two or three setae. Primary rhinaria not ciliated. Rostrum reaching mid-coxae, URS wedge-shaped (Figs 1D, 2D), with three pairs of primary setae, without accessory setae.

Thorax. Pronotum densely covered with small papillate tubercles, meso- and metanotum with small papillate tubercles, distinctly developed on marginal area. Dorsal setae of thorax extremely long, thick, capitate, on swollen setal tubercles which are covered with sparsely small papillae; pronotum with two pairs of spinal setae, arranged anteriorly and posteriorly, one pair of pleural and one pair of marginal setae; meso-, and metanotum with two pairs of spinal, pleural, and marginal setae, respectively (Figs 1C, 2A). Legs normal. Distal parts of femora and tibiae slightly imbricated. Setae on 2/3 distal part of femora and hind tibiae short, blunt ventrally and capitate dorsally (Figs 1E, 2E). First tarsal chaetotaxy: 3, 2, 2. Second tarsal segments with imbrications.

Abdomen. Abdominal tergites with small papillate tubercles (Fig. 2F), distinctly developed on marginal area. Venter of abdominal tergites III-VIII with fine spinules arranged in rows. Dorsal setae of abdomen extremely long, thick, capitate, on swollen setal tubercles which are covered with small papillae (Figs 1C, 1F, 1I, 2G); the marginal setae of tergites V-VII short, thin, and capitate (Fig. 1H), the setae on tergite VIII long and pointed (Fig. 1J); ventral setae short and pointed. Abdominal tergite I with two pairs of spinal, one pair of pleural and one pair of marginal setae, tergites II-IV each with one pair of spinal, pleural and marginal setae, tergite V with one pair of pleural and one pair of marginal setae, tergites VI-VIII with one pair of spinal and one pair of marginal setae (Figs 1C, 2A). Length of marginal setae on abdominal tergites I-IV, marginal setae on abdominal tergites V-VII, spinal and marginal setae on abdominal tergite VIII 9.65-10.78, 0.60-0.67, 2.50-3.11, 0.90-1.17 × as long as Ant. IIIBD, respectively. Spiracles reniform and open. SIPH long, spoon-shaped, broad at base, thin at the middle, slightly swollen distally; basal part with small papillate tubercles, other parts with imbrications, obliquely truncated at tip, without flange (Figs 1G, 2I). Cauda elongate, conical, slightly constricted at the middle, with spinulose imbrications (Figs 1K, 2J) and four setae. Anal plate semicircular, hind margin slightly protruding backwards, spinulose (Figs 1L, 3K), with 6-9 setae. Genital plate broadly round with sparse spinules in transverse rows, hind margin slightly protruding backwards (Figs 1M, 2L); with two anterior setae and two setae along the posterior margin.

Fourth instar apterous nymph. As in apterous viviparous females, except setae on legs long and pointed, and with a row of short and blunt setae dorsally on middle of hind tibiae.

Etymology.

The species is named for its extremely long, thick and capitate setae, Aspidophorodon capitatum being the neuter form of the adjective.

Taxonomic notes.

The new species resembles A. harvense Verma, but differs from it as follows: dorsum of body scabrous, with densely distributed, small, papillate tubercles (the latter: dorsum of body with irregular polygonal markings); median frontal tubercle moderately protuberant, with a shallow depression at middle, antennal tubercles each with an inconspicuous process at inner apex, lower than median frontal tubercle (the latter: median frontal tubercle hemispherical, without a depression at middle, antennal tubercles each with a long horn-shaped process at inner apex, higher than median frontal tubercle); dorsal setae of body extremely long, thick, and capitate, with swollen bases (dorsal setae of body short, thin, and blunt, with normal bases).

Host plant.

Salix sp.

Distribution.

China (Tibet).

Biology.

The species dispersedly feeds on the undersides of leaves (Fig. 21A).