Neometaculus beecheyaus, Huang, Kun-Wei & Wang, Chin-Fah, 2009

Huang, Kun-Wei & Wang, Chin-Fah, 2009, Eriophyoid mites (Acari: Eriophyoidea) of Taiwan: thirty-seven species from Yangmingshan, including one new genus and twenty-two new species, Zootaxa 1986, pp. 1-50 : 27

Neometaculus beecheyaus sp. nov. ( Fig. 12 ; Pl. 4 C, D)

Female: Body fusiform, 147 long, shield 41 long, 46 wide, shield lobe present, shield design without median line, admedian lines complete, diverging to apex, connected at base, form semi-circular, submedian line absent; scapular tubercles set ahead of rear shield margin, setae (sc) 5 long, directed upward, Dt-Dt 21 apart, Dt-Sr 8; leg segments normal, tibial setae (sc) 3 long, set at half; coxal area smooth, 1st coxal setae (1b) and tubercles absent, 2nd coxal setae (1a) 7 long, Ct2-Ct2 7 apart, 3rd coxal setae (2a) 13 long, Ct3-Ct3 17 apart, Ct2\Ct3 12, Ct2-Ct3 6; claw ending as knob; empodium simple, 3-rayed.

Opisthosoma: dorsum with wide median ridge, dorsal annuli with about 39 rings, 1st 3 dorsal annuli 10 long, ventral annuli with about 61 microtuberculate rings; lateral setae (c2) 8 long, Lt-Lt 39 apart, Lt\Vt1 39, Lt-Vt1 24; 1st ventral setae (d) 20 long, Vt1-Vt1 24 apart, Vt1\Vt2 31, Vt1-Vt2 25; 2nd ventral setae (e) 7 long, Vt2-Vt2 12 apart, Vt2\Vt3 36, Vt2-Vt3 34; 3rd ventral setae (f) 15 long, Vt3-Vt3 12 apart; accessory setae (h1) absent.

Epigynium: 17 wide, 10 long, with about 11 longitudinal ridges, genital setae (3a) 6 long, Gt-Gt 11 apart.

Male: not seen.

Type data: Holotype Ψ, Taipei: Yangmingshan (670m, N25°10’ E121°34’), 18-Aug.-1999, Huang & Wang; ex Ficus erecta Thunb. var. beecheyana (Hook. & Arn.) King (Moraceae) . (deposited at NMNS). Paratypes, 3Ψ, data same as for holotype.

Relation to host: A vagrant on the lower leaf surface. No apparent damage was observed.

Remarks: This new species is close to N. bauhiniae Mohanasundaram, 1983 by the shield design with admedian line connected at base, form a U-shaped. This new species differs from N. bauhiniae by the following characters: having a wide dorsal opisthosoma ridge, and a 3-rayed empodium.

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

Figures

FIGURE 12. Neometaculus beecheyaus sp. nov. (Ψ). A, Dorsal view; B, Legs and genital region, ventral view; C, Detail of some annuli in lateral view; D, Fore and hind legs. (scale A, B, C, D = 50 μm).