Rubiaphis altaicus, Stekolshchikov & Novgorodova, 2020

Stekolshchikov, Andrey V. & Novgorodova, Tatiana A., 2020, Rubiaphis, a new aphid genus from the Altai Republic (Homoptera: Aphididae, Macrosiphini), Zootaxa 4718 (1), pp. 145-150 : 147-149

Rubiaphis altaicus sp. nov.

( Figs. 1–7 , Table 1 )

Material. Holotype: apterous viviparous female, No. 14345 (collection number of ISEA SB RAS), slide No. 7, “ Rubiaphis altaicus gen. nov., sp. nov., 17.vii.2015, Altai Republic, Ust-Koksinsky district, confluence of the Katun and Kaitanak rivers, 50°07’N 85°28’E, 1028 m above sea level, Rubus idaeus L., on the lower surface of the leaves along the veins, leg. T.A. Novgorodova. Paratypes: 17 apterous viviparous females, together with holotype.

Holotype is deposited at ISEA SB RAS; paratypes are deposited at ISEA SB RAS, ZIN RAS, the Natural History Museum (London, United Kingdom) and Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle (Paris, France).

Etymology. The species name “ altaicus ” is derived from the geographical name “Altai”, a mountain range in Central and East Asia where the new species was collected.

Description. Apterous viviparous female. Body 1.8–2.1 (1.9) times as long as its width. Living specimens pale, semitransparent. Cleared specimens pale, without any dark sclerotized area on body or appendages. Marginal tubercles on the prothorax are present in 17 of 18 specimens (2 tubercles in 8 specimens). Head with epicranial coronal suture or with clear traces of epicranial coronal suture. First and second antennal segments smooth and sometimes with single short scales on ventral sides, 3rd–6th segments with large ones which are rare and hardly visible at base of 3rd segment but well-defined on 5th–6th segments. Rostrum reaching meso-—metathorax. Ultimate segment of rostrum 2.27–2.83 (2.57) times as long as its basal width. Setae on subgenital and anal plate and also on cauda finely pointed.

For more morphological data see description of the genus.

Measurements of holotype. Body—898×482; antenna—699: III—220×15 (in the middle), IV—94, V—85 +205; hind femur—218; hind tibia—406; siphunculus—220×18 (in the middle); cauda—76×68 (at base) ×51 (before base). For more biometric data see Table 1 .

Number of samples / specimens 1/18 Length of body 711–903 (826) Length of antenna 612–752 (692) Length of antenna / length of body 0.75–1.06 (0.86) length Hind femur length / length of body length / head width across the compound eyes 173–218 (193) 0.22–0.30 (0.24) 0.79–1.00 (0.86) length 310–406 (364) length / length of body 0.39–0.56 (0.45) Head width across the compound eyes 210–252 (230) length occipital length / articular diameter of 3rd antennal segment on head length frontal length / articular diameter of 3rd antennal segment 28–38 (33) 1.38–2.33 (1.82) 39–61 (52) 1.82–3.50 (2.94) number on 1st antennal segment length 4–5 (4.2) 15–28 (20) number on 3rd antennal seglength ment length / articular diameter of 3rd antennal segment 1–4 (2.0) 9–13 (11) Setae 0.47–0.83 (0.62) on base of last anten- number 0–1 (0.7) nal segment length / articular diameter of last antennal segment* 0.75–1.43 (1.08) length of ventral seta on hind trochanter / basal diameter of hind femur 0.64–1.27 (0.93) dorsal 14–25 (21) on hind femur length of longest ventral 18–30 (25) dorso-apical 13–18 (15) longest dorsal on hind tibia longest dorsal / mid-diameter of hind tibia 25–38 (29) 1.11–1.88 (1.42) dorsal number on 2nd segment of hind tarsus ventral 0 0–1 (0.1) number of spinal and marginal 2–4 (2.2) length* spinal length / articular diameter of 3rd antennal segment* on abdominal length tergite III marginal length / articular diameter of 3rd antennal segment 23–28 (25) 1.13–1.38 (1.25) 30–48 (42) 1.41–3.00 (2.33) length ventral length / articular diameter of 3rd antennal segment 13–28 (22) 0.63–1.83 (1.22) number on abdominal tergite VI between siphunculi 1–2 (1.9) number 5–7 (5.9) on abdominal tergite VIII length 48–78 (64) length / articular diameter of 3rd antennal segment 2.71–4.83 (3.63) on anterior half number on subgenital plate along the hind margin 2–5 (3.0) 5–8 (6.4) Last antennal segment length of base 76–96 (84) length of processus terminalis 162–226 (207) length of processus terminalis / length of base of last antennal segment 2.13–2.78 (2.46)

Hind tibia

Distribution. Known only from the type locality—Russia, Altai Republic, Ust-Koksinsky district, confluence of the Katun and Kaitanak rivers (50°07’N 85°28’E).

Biology. Life cycle is unknown. Single aphids were located on the lower surface of the leaves of Rubus idaeus along the veins.

Systematic relationships. See the generic diagnosis.

Figures

FIGURES 1–7. Rubiaphis altaicus gen. nov., sp. nov., apterous viviparous female. 1, body; 2, frons; 3, antenna; 4, ultimate rostral segments; 5, hind tarsus; 6, siphunculus; 7, cauda.

Tables

TABLE 1. Biometric data for apterous viviparous females of Rubiaphis altaicus gen. nov., sp. nov.

Number of samples / specimens		1/18
Length of body		711–903 (826)
Length of antenna		612–752 (692)
Length of antenna / length of body		0.75–1.06 (0.86)
length Hind femur length / length of body length / head width across the compound eyes		173–218 (193)
		0.22–0.30 (0.24)
		0.79–1.00 (0.86)
	length	310–406 (364)
length / length of body		0.39–0.56 (0.45)
Head width across the compound eyes		210–252 (230)
	length occipital length / articular diameter of 3rd antennal segment on head length frontal length / articular diameter of 3rd antennal segment	28–38 (33)
1.38–2.33 (1.82)
39–61 (52)
1.82–3.50 (2.94)
number on 1st antennal segment length	4–5 (4.2)
		15–28 (20)
number on 3rd antennal seglength ment length / articular diameter of 3rd antennal segment	1–4 (2.0)
		9–13 (11)
	Setae	0.47–0.83 (0.62)
on base of last anten- number		0–1 (0.7)
nal segment length / articular diameter of last antennal segment*		0.75–1.43 (1.08)
length of ventral seta on hind trochanter / basal diameter of hind femur		0.64–1.27 (0.93)
dorsal		14–25 (21)
on hind femur length of longest ventral		18–30 (25)
dorso-apical		13–18 (15)
longest dorsal on hind tibia longest dorsal / mid-diameter of hind tibia		25–38 (29) 1.11–1.88 (1.42)
dorsal number on 2nd segment of hind tarsus ventral		0 0–1 (0.1)
number of spinal and marginal		2–4 (2.2)
length* spinal length / articular diameter of 3rd antennal segment* on abdominal length tergite III marginal length / articular diameter of 3rd antennal segment		23–28 (25) 1.13–1.38 (1.25) 30–48 (42) 1.41–3.00 (2.33)
length ventral length / articular diameter of 3rd antennal segment		13–28 (22) 0.63–1.83 (1.22)
number on abdominal tergite VI between siphunculi		1–2 (1.9)
number		5–7 (5.9)
on abdominal tergite VIII length		48–78 (64)
length / articular diameter of 3rd antennal segment		2.71–4.83 (3.63)
on anterior half number on subgenital plate along the hind margin		2–5 (3.0) 5–8 (6.4)
Last antennal segment	length of base	76–96 (84)
	length of processus terminalis	162–226 (207)
	length of processus terminalis / length of base of last antennal segment	2.13–2.78 (2.46)

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