Asetidicrothrix luculiae, Wei & Wang & Qin, 2009

Wei, Suigai, Wang, Guoquan & Qin, Aizhi, 2009, One new genus and four new species of Tegonotini (Acari: Eriophyidae) from Guangxi, South China, Zootaxa 2312, pp. 60-68 : 61-63

Asetidicrothrix luculiae sp. nov.

( Fig. 1)

Description. Female (n=14). Body yellow, 156 (122−170), 64 (60−66) wide, 63 (58−67) thick. Gnathosoma— Curved obliquely downward, 25 (24−26); dorsal pedipalp genual setae (d) bifurcated, 11 (10−12), pedipalp coxal setae (ep) 3 (3−4), cheliceral stylets 23 (22−24). Prodorsal shield— Frontal lobe present, 54 (50–57), 64 (61−69) wide, median, admedian lines and submedian lines incomplete. Scapular tubercles placed ahead of rear shield margin, 24 (22−25) apart, scapular setae (sc) 15 (14−16), directed up. Coxae— Sternal line present, coxal area smooth; anterolateral setae on coxisternum І (1b) 5 (5−6), 9 (9−10) apart; proximal setae on coxisternum І (1a) 10 (10−11), 6 (6−7) apart; proximal setae on coxisternum І (2a) 18 (16−19), 19 (18−20) apart. Coxi-genital annuli 8. Legs— Segments normal. Legs І 25 (24−29), femur 10 (10−11), basiventral femoral setae (bv) 5 (5−6); genu 3 (3−4), antaxial genual setae (l'') 19 (17−22); tibia 5 (4−6), paraxial tibial setae (l ΄) absent; tarsus 5 (5−6), paraxial fastigial tarsal setae (ft') 7 (6−9), antaxial fastigial tarsal setae (ft'') 15 (12−17), paraxial unguinal tarsal setae (u') 3 (3−4); tarsal empodium 5 (5−6), 5- rayed, tarsal solenidion 5 (5−6), knobbed. Legs І 22 (21−25), femur 9 (9−10), basiventral femoral setae (bv) 10 (7−13); genu 3 (2−3), antaxial genual setae (l'') absent; tibia 4 (4−5); tarsus 4 (4−5), paraxial fastigial tarsal setae (ft') 5 (4−6), antaxial fastigial tarsal setae (ft'') 16 (14−19), paraxial unguinal tarsal setae (u') 4 (3−4); tarsal empodium 5 (5−6), 5-rayed, tarsal solenidion 5 (5−9), knobbed. Opisthosoma— Dorsum with median and lateral ridges, dorsal annuli 26, with filamentous microtubercles on ridges; ventral annuli 41, anterior 21 annuli narrower than dorsal annuli, with rounded microtubercles, posterior 20 annuli broad and equal to dorsal annuli, with elongated microtubercles; setae c2 16 (14−17), on 8th ventral annulus; setae d and setae e absent; setae f 15 (13−17), 11 (10−12) apart, on 6th ventral annulus from rear; setae h1 absent, setae h2 47 (41−55). Female genitalia— Coverflap sculptured with eighteen basal longitudinal ridges, 16 (15−18), 23 (22−25) wide, proximal setae on coxisternum ІІ (3a) 10 (10−11), 15 (14−16) apart.

Male (n=4). Body fusiform, 122−125, 38−40 wide. Male genitalia 15−17 wide, proximal setae on coxisternum ІІ (3a) 9−10, 14−15 apart.

Type data. Holotype, female, Jianshi National Forest Park, Tian’er County (25°01'N, 107°16'E), Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China, 18-Aug.-2006, from Luculia sp. (Rubiaceae) , collected by GuoQuan Wang, AiZhi Qin and SuiGai Wei. Paratypes, 13 females and 4 males, were mounted on each individual slide, with the same data as the holotype.

Relation to host. The mites are vagrant on the undersurfaces of the leaves, no visible damage seen.

Etymology. The specific designation is derived from the generic name of the type host plant.