Rhyncaphytoptus cotoneasteri, 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 : 7-9

Rhyncaphytoptus cotoneasteri sp. nov.

( Fig. 2 and 3 )

Description

FEMALE (n = 4). Body fusiform, 266 (262–270) long, 70 (68–71) wide, 78 (76–80) thick; light yellow in color. Gnathosoma 51 (50–53), projecting downwards. Prodorsal shield 33 (32–35) long, 45 (43–46) wide, subtriangular; frontal lobe present; smooth. Dorsal tubercles on rear margin, 25 (23–26) apart, scapular setae (sc) 40 (38–42) projecting forwards. Coxal area with short lines; anterolateral setae on coxisternum I (1b) 15 (14–16), proximal setae on coxisternum I (1a) 32 (30–33), proximal setae on coxisternum II (2a) 51 (46–58). Sternal line present. Legs with usual series of setae. Leg I 43 (41–45) long, femur 13 (12–13), basiventral femoral setae (bv) 14 (14–15); genu 7 (6–7) long, antaxial genual setae (l’’) 26 (26–27) long; tibia 11 (11–12), paraxial tibial setae (l’) 6 (6–7), setae located 1/3 from dorsal base; tarsus 8 (7–8) long; tarsal empodium simple, 5­rayed, tarsal solenidion knobbed. Leg II 38 (36–39) long, femur 10 (10–11), basiventral femoral setae (bv) 14 (12–15); genu 6 (5–6) long, antaxial genual setae (l’’) 11 (10–13) long; tibia 10 (9–10); tarsus 8 (7–8) long; tarsal empodium simple, 5­rayed, tarsal solenidion knobbed. Opisthosoma: dorsal opisthosoma with 20 (19–21) annuli, with filament microtubercles, ventrally with 60 (58–63) microtuberculate annuli. Setae c2 17 (16–19) on ventral annulus 11(10–11); setae d 61 (61–62) on ventral annulus 25 (23–26); setae e 15 (14–17) on ventral annulus 36 (36–38); setae f 41 (40–41) on 6th ventral annulus from rear. Setae h1 3 (3–4). Female genitalia 12 (12–13) long, 23 (22–23) wide, coverflap smooth, proximal setae on coxisternum III (3a) 12 (12–13) long.

MALE. Not seen.

Types

Holotype, female, China: Shaanxi Province, Yang County, Huayang, 33°35.23’N, 107°32.26’E. August 9, 2005, from Cotoneaster sp. ( Rosaceae ), coll. Xue, Xiao­Feng & Song, Zi­Wei. Paratypes, 3 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, Cotoneaster .

Remarks

This species is similar to Rhyncaphytoptus ficifoliae Keifer, 1939 , on Ficus carica L. ( Moraceae ), but can be differentiated by coxal area with short lines (smooth in R.

ficifoliae ), tarsal empodium 5­rayed (6­rayed in R. ficifoliae ) and prodorsal shield smooth (median and admedian lines present in R. ficifoliae ).

Figures

FIGURE 2. Rhyncaphytoptus cotoneasteri sp. nov. A, dorsal view of female; B, coxae and female genitalia; C, legs I and II.

FIGURE 3. Rhyncaphytoptus cotoneasteri sp. nov. D, lateral view of female; E, lateral microtubercles; F, empodium.