Rhinophytoptus nemalobos Lotfollahi

Lotfollahi, Parisa, Irani-Nejad, Karim Haddad & Lillo, Enrico De, 2014, Eriophyoid mites (Acari: Trombidiformes: Eriophyoidea) of Rosales trees in Iran: two new species and three new records, Zootaxa 3861 (1) : -

Rhinophytoptus nemalobos Lotfollahi & de Lillo

( Fig. 1 )

Description. FEMALE (n=7). Body fusiform, 275 (213–305, excluding gnathosoma), 80 (60–80) thick, 69 (no range available) wide. Gnathosoma 60 (55–60) projecting obliquely downwards, chelicerae 60 (56–66), palp genual setae d 14 (10–14), unbranched. Prodorsal shield 58 (49–64) including the frontal lobe length, 60 (no range available) wide, sub-triangular in anterior shape; long and flexible frontal lobe ending with a thin anterior process, 20 (17–30); the thin process extends for 12 (10–20) over gnathosomal base. Shield pattern composed of one transverse arcuate and two brace-shaped bumps at median base of prodorsal shield with short median line on anterior third; relatively long, sinuate admedian and first submedian lines connecting to each other at posterior end; lateral sides of prodorsal shield with many bumps and dents delimited by second submedian and further lateral lines together with many transverse lines. Dorsal tubercles sc ahead of rear shield margin, 22 (21–22) apart, setae sc 11 (11–14), directed upward and divergently. Leg I 49 (39–50), femur 15 (14–16), genu 7 (7–8), tibia 12 (11–15), tarsus 11 (10–12), ω 7 (6.5–8.5) distally knobbed, empodium simple, 6 (5–6), 4-rayed; femoral setae bv 19 (17–22), genual setae l′′ 37 (35–37), tibial setae l ′ 10 (9–10), tarsal setae ft ′ 29 (25–29), setae ft′′ 31 (24–31). Leg II 45 (42–46), femur 14 (14–16), genu 6 (6–7), tibia 10 (9–12), tarsus 12 (11–13), ω 10 (9.5–11) distally knobbed, empodium simple, 6 (5–6.5), 4-rayed; femoral setae bv 15 (15–18), genual setae l′′ 12 (10–13), tarsal setae ft ′ 10 (7–10), setae ft′′ 30 (25–30). Coxae with very few lines; setae 1b 10 (10–16), tubercles 1b 9 apart, setae 1a 49 (40–63), tubercles 1a 5 apart, setae 2a 68 (65–73), tubercles 2a 25 apart. Prosternal apodeme 7. Opisthosoma dorsally arched, with 29 (27–30) dorsal semiannuli, 36 (35–38) ventral semiannuli, first 9 ventral semiannuli distinctly narrower than others (counted from first annulus after coxae II), about 23 (no range available) very narrow semiannuli between coxae and genital coverflap. Microtubercles linear and ending in spines set on posterior part of lateral sides of dorsal semiannuli and on posterior part of ventral semiannuli; microtubercles elongated on ventral semiannuli from setae e to f; lines of microtubercles are distinct on last eight annuli. Setae c2 18 (16–20) on ventral semiannulus 10 (10–11), setae d 14 (14–19) on ventral semiannulus 16 (16–17); setae e 16 (13–20) on ventral semiannulus 22 (22–24); setae f 40 (35–46) on ventral semiannulus 31 (30–33); 5 annuli after setae f. Setae h2 104 (88–117) very fine at apex, h1 minute, about 2. Genital coverflap 15 (10–15), 28 (25–30) wide, smooth, divided into basal and distal parts by a distinct transverse line; setae 3a 19 (18–20) apart, 13 (13–16).

MALE (n=1). Similar to female, 205. Prodorsal shield 44, setae sc 11. Opisthosoma with 27 dorsal semiannuli and 35 ventral semiannuli.

Type host plant. Prunus domestica L. ( Rosaceae ), plum.

Relation to the host plant. Vagrant on leaves. No apparent damage was observed.

Type locality. Kandovan village, Osku, Iran (37°47'31''N, 46°14'57''E), 2,243 m above sea level, coll. P. Lotfollahi, 1 August 2011.

Type material. Holotype: single female on a microscope slide (PD-IEA-KN11L-1). Deposited in the Acarology Laboratory, Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran. Paratypes: 6 females, 1 male and 1 nymph mounted on separate microscope slides.

Other material. Mites preserved in Oudemans’ fluid as extracted from the same sample as the type specimens.

Etymology. The specific epithet, nemalobos , is a name in apposition and comes from the Greek words νῆΜα, nema (meaning thread) plus λoβóς, lobos (meaning elongate projection), referring to the thread-like shape of the frontal lobe.

Differential diagnosis. Three other Rhinophytoptus spp. are currently known from Prunus spp. Protogyne and deutogyne of Rhinophytoptus dudichi Farkas, 1963 , collected on Prunus spinosa L. in Hungary, do not have a frontal lobe or median line on the prodorsal shield. The ratio between the distance of tubercles sc and length of setae sc in R. dudichi is about 3, while in R. nemalobos n. sp. it is about 2. Rhinophytoptus domestica Domes, 2000 , from P. domestica , and R. avium Domes, 1998 , from Prunus avium L. (both collected in Germany), lack a distinct, long frontal lobe. Rhinophytoptus avium is provided with fewer submedian longitudinal lines and fewer transverse lines on the lateral fields of the prodorsal shield than in R. nemalobos n. sp.. In addition, the ratio between the length of setae 1a and 1b is about 2.5 in R. avium while in R. nemalobos n. sp. it is about 1. Moreover, the genital coverflap of the protogyne of R. domestica is striated while in R. nemalobos n. sp. it is smooth. Finally, the new species is provided with 23 (no range is available) very narrow semiannuli between the coxae and genital coverflap. In comparison, the other species within the genus Rhinophytoptus display 10 semiannuli between the coxae and genital coverflap.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Schematic drawings of Rhinophytoptus nemalobos n. sp.: LM. Lateral view; AD. Prodorsal shield; CG. Female coxigenital region; em. Empodium; IG. Internal female genitalia (all specimens heavily sclerotized: poor visibility of spermathecal tubes). Scale bar: 10 Μm for AD, LM, CG, IG; 2. 5 Μm for em.