Aspidophorodon longicornutum Qiao & Xu sp. nov.

Figs 6, 7

Specimens examined.

Holotype: apterous viviparous female, China: Shaanxi (Ankang City, 33.64°N, 109.37°E, altitude 2020 m), 16.VII.2017, No. 41008-1-1-1, on Salix sp., coll. H. Long and J.F. Ji. Paratypes: one apterous viviparous female (slide), No. 41008-1-1-2 and one apterous viviparous female (COI: OK668436), two apterous viviparous females, No. 41029-1-1, with the same collection data as holotype; one apterous viviparous female, Shaanxi (Ankang City), 15.VII.2017, host plant unknown, No. 41000-1-1, coll. H. Long and J.F. Ji; two apterous viviparous females (slides), Shaanxi (Ankang City), 16.VII.2017, No. 41027-1-1 and one apterous viviparous female (COI: OK668437), host plant unknown, coll. H. Long and J.F. Ji (NHMUK) .

Diagnosis.

Dorsum of body with oval sculptures; median frontal tubercle protuberant, hemispherical, antennal tubercles each with a short finger-shaped process at inner apex, lower than median frontal tubercle; meso-, metanotum, and abdominal tergites I-IV each with one pair of strongly imbricated and long horn-shaped marginal processes; dorsal setae of abdomen long and thick, slightly swollen at apices, with distinct setal tubercles.

Description.

Apterous viviparous females: body elongated oval (Fig. 7A), yellowish white in life.

Mounted specimens. Body pale; distal part of rostrum, cauda and anal plate pale brown, other parts pale in color (Fig. 7A). See Table 2 for general measurements.

Head. Ocular tubercles small. Dorsum of head covered with semicircular and wavy sculptures on median area, marginal area smooth, venter with slight wrinkles (Figs 6A, 7B). Median frontal tubercle distinctly protuberant, rectangular (Figs 6A, 7B), with one pair of long, capitate setae on venter. Antennal tubercles undeveloped, each with a short finger-shaped process at inner apex, lower than median frontal tubercle (Figs 6A, 7B), each process with a long, and capitate seta at apex. Dorsal setae of head long and thick, slightly swollen at apices, with distinct setal tubercles. 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. Antennae 4-segmented, Ant. I and Ant. II smooth, Ant. III-VI with slight imbrication; Ant. I slightly projected at inner apex (Figs 6B, 7C). Antennal setae long, thin and capitate on Ant. I and Ant. II, short and blunt on Ant. III and Ant. IV; Ant. I-IV with 4, 1, 0, 1 (base)+1 (PT) setae, respectively; apex of PT with two or three setae. Primary rhinaria ciliated. Rostrum reaching between mid- and hind coxae; URS wedge-shaped (Figs 6D, 7D), with three pairs of primary setae, without accessory setae.

Thorax. Pronotum with semicircular and wavy sculptures on spino-pleural area, marginal area with small papillate tubercles. Meso- and metanotum with oval sculptures on spinal area, pleura-marginal area with oval sculptures and small papillate tubercles. Meso- and metanotum each with one pair of strongly imbricated and long horn-shaped marginal processes (Figs 6C, 7F), each process with a short capitate seta at apex and a short capitate seta at base. Dorsal setae of thorax long and thick, slightly swollen at apices, with distinct setal tubercles; pronotum with one pair of spinal, pleural and marginal setae, respectively, meso- and metanotum each with one pair of spinal and pleural setae. Legs normal, smooth. Setae on legs short, pointed ventrally and short, capitate dorsally. Hind tibiae with a row of short, thick, and blunt setae dorsally on middle (Fig. 7E). First tarsal chaetotaxy: 3, 2, 2. Second tarsal segments slightly imbricated.

Abdomen. Abdominal tergites I-VII with distinctly oval sculptures on spino-pleural area (Figs 6E, 7G), marginal area with small papillate tubercles; tergite VIII with irregular wavy sculptures (Fig. 7I). Abdominal tergites I-IV each with one pair of strongly imbricated and long horn-shaped marginal processes (Figs 6C, F, 7F), each process with a short capitate seta at apex. Dorsal setae of abdomen long and thick, slightly swollen at apices, with distinct setal tubercles (Fig. 6H); ventral setae short and pointed. Abdominal tergites I-IV each with one pair of spinal and pleural setae, tergite VII with 2-4 spino-pleural setae, tergite VIII with 7-9 setae. Spiracles reniform, open or closed, spiracular plates slightly swollen. SIPH long spoon-shaped, straight, broad at base, thin at middle, slightly swollen distally, with imbrications, obliquely truncated at tip, without flange (Figs 6G, 7H). Cauda long tongue-shaped, slightly constricted at middle, with spinulose imbrications and four setae (Figs 6I, 7J). Anal plate semicircular, spinulose (Figs 6J, 7K); with 7-12 setae. Genital plate transversely oval, with sparse spinules in transverse rows (Figs 6K, 7L); with two anterior setae and four setae along the posterior margin.

Etymology.

The species is named for its distinctly long horn-shaped marginal processes on meso-, metanotum, and abdominal tergites I-IV; the Latin neuter adjective cornutum means “horned” .

Taxonomic notes.

The new species resembles A. longituberculatum (Zhang, Zhong & Zhang) in meso-, metanotum and abdominal tergites I-IV each with one pair of long horn-shaped marginal processes; but differs from it as follows: antennal tubercles each with a short finger-shaped process at inner apex, lower than median tubercle (the latter: antennal tubercles each with a long horn-shaped process at inner apex and higher than median tubercle); antenna 4-segmented, 0.35-0.40 × as long as body length (the latter: antenna 5-segmented, 0.43-0.47 × as long as body length); pronotum without marginal processes, meso- and metanotum and abdominal tergites I-IV with distinctly long horn-shaped marginal processes, 0.211-0.325 mm, about as long as SIPH (the latter: pronotum with short conical marginal processes, meso- and metanotum and abdominal tergites I-IV with long horn-shaped marginal processes, 0.084-0.206 mm, shorter than SIPH); dorsal setae of body long and thick, slightly swollen at apices, with distinct bases (the latter: dorsal setae thin, short and capitate); abdominal tergite VIII with 7-9 setae (the latter: abdominal tergite VIII with two setae).

Host plant.

Salix sp.

Distribution.

China (Shaanxi).

Biology.

The species disperses on the undersides of leaves.