Nameriophyes sapidae, Xue & Zhang, 2008

Xue, Xiao-Feng & Zhang, Zhi-Qiang, 2008, New Zealand Eriophyoidea (Acari: Prostigmata): an update with descriptions of one new genus and six new species, Zootaxa 1962 (1), pp. 1-32 : 8-11

Nameriophyes sapidae sp. nov.

( Figs 4 & 5 )

Description. FEMALE: (n = 5) Body fusiform, 238 (212–238), 71 (70–73) wide, 60 (58–60) thick; light yellow with thick translucent wax. Gnathosoma 32 (31–34), projecting obliquely down, pedipalp coxal setae (ep) 5 (5–6), dorsal pedipalp genual seta (d) 15 (15–16), cheliceral stylets 30 (30–31). Prodorsal shield semicircular, 53 (52–54), 55 (54–55) wide; anterior shield lobe broad; smooth. Scapular tubercles ahead of rear margin, 27 (27–28) apart, scapular setae (sc) 4 (4–5) projecting anterior. Coxal plates with granules; anterolateral setae on coxisternum І (1b) 10 (10–12), 12 (11–12) apart, proximal setae on coxisternum І (1a) 25 (25–27), 10 (9–10) apart, proximal setae on coxisternum І (2a) 38 (37–39), 26 (23–26) apart. Prosternal apodeme absent. Legs with usual series of setae. Legs І 45 (44–47), femur 17 (17–18), basiventral femoral seta (bv) 20 (20–21); genu 6 (6–7), antaxial genual seta (l'') 45 (40–46); tibia 11 (11–12), paraxial tibial seta (l') 12 (11–12), located 3/5 from proximal tibial margin; tarsus 9 (9–10), seta ft'' as long as seta ft', seta u' short; tarsal empodium (em) 4 (4–5), simple, 3-rayed, tarsal solenidion (ω) 5 (5–6), knobbed. Legs І 39 (37–41), femur 13 (13–14), basiventral femoral seta (bv) 12 (11–12); genu 5 (4–5), antaxial genual seta (l'') 25 (25–26); tibia 9 (8–9); tarsus 8 (7–8), seta ft'' as long as seta ft', seta u' short; tarsal empodium (em) 5 (5–6), simple, 3-rayed, tarsal solenidion (ω) 5 (5–6), knobbed. Opisthosoma: opisthosoma dorsally with 52 (52–57) annuli, smooth, evenly curved, ventrally with 90 (90–102) annuli, with round microtubercles. Setae c2 35 (33–37) on ventral annulus 8 (7–9), 50 (50–51) apart; setae d 30 (30–33) on ventral annulus 30 (29–30), 26 (26–27) apart; setae e 25 (25–26) on ventral annulus 54 (54–58), 12 (12–13) apart, setae f 22 (20–23) on 8th ventral annulus from rear, 15 (15–16) apart. Setae h1 4 (4–5). Female genitalia 20 (20–21), 22 (21–22) wide, coverflap with two rows of longitudinal ridges, the anterior row with 11 to 13 longitudinal ridges, the posterior row with 13 longitudinal ridges, proximal setae on coxisternum ІІІ (3a) 12 (12–13), 14 (14–15) apart.

MALE: (n = 3) Body fusiform, 180–183, 54–55 wide; light yellow with thick waxiness. Gnathosoma 30–31, projecting obliquely down, pedipalp coxal seta (ep) 5–6, dorsal pedipalp genual seta (d) 14–15, cheliceral stylets 27–28. Prodorsal shield semicircular, 48–50, 43–44 wide; anterior shield lobe broad; smooth. Scapular tubercles ahead of rear margin, 20–21 apart, scapular setae (sc) 3–4 projecting centrad. Coxal plates with granules; anterolateral setae on coxisternum І (1b) 5–6, 8–9 apart, proximal setae on coxisternum І (1a) 17–18, 8–9 apart, proximal setae on coxisternum І (2a) 30–31, 19–21 apart. Prosternal apodeme absent. Legs with usual series of setae. Legs І 34–37, femur 10–11, basiventral femoral seta (bv) 10–15; genu 4–5, antaxial genual seta (l'') 35–38; tibia 10–11, paraxial tibial setae (l') 10–11, seta located 3/5 from proximal tibial margin; tarsus 7–8, seta ft'' as long as seta ft', seta u' short; tarsal empodium (em) 4–5, simple, 3-rayed, tarsal solenidion (ω) 3–4, knobbed. Legs І 30–32, femur 10–11, basiventral femoral seta (bv) 7–8; genu 4–5, antaxial genual seta (l'') 17–18; tibia 7–8; tarsus 6–7, seta ft'' as long as seta ft', seta u' short; tarsal empodium (em) 3–4, simple, 3-rayed, tarsal solenidion (ω) 5–6, knobbed. Opisthosoma: opisthosoma dorsally with 45–50 annuli, smooth, ventrally with 95–98 annuli, with round microtubercles. Setae c2 25–26 on ventral annulus 7–8, 38–40 apart; setae d 22–23 on ventral annulus 28–29, 21–22 apart; setae e 22–23 on ventral annulus 51–52, 10–11 apart, setae f 20–21 on 8th ventral annulus from rear, 12–13 apart. Setae h1 3–4. Male genitalia 15–16 wide, proximal setae on coxisternum ІІ (3a) 7–8, 10–12 apart.

Type material. Holotype, female, from nikau palm Rhopalostylis sapida (Palmae) , Landcare Research , Auckland, New Zealand, 4 June 2008, coll. Zhi-Qiang Zhang and Xiao-Feng Xue. Paratypes, 15 females with the same data as holotype ; 3 females from Rhopalostylis sapida (Palmae) , 7 Ambury Ave , Royal Oak, Auckland, New Zealand, 12 June 2008, coll. R. E. Beever. Specimens deposited in NZAC .

Other specimens examined. 1 female, from nikau palm Rhopalostylis sapida (Palmae) , Landcare Research , Auckland, New Zealand, 19 March 2008, coll. C.F. Hill ; 4 females and 3 males on slide PHEL ref 09/2008/1784, from nikau palm Rhopalostylis sapida (Palmae) , Landcare Research , Auckland, New Zealand 3 April 2008, coll. C.F. Hill. Specimens deposited in PANZ .

Relation to host. Vagrant on under leaf surface, damage to host plant forming brown necrotic spots. Etymology. The specific designation sapidae is from the species name of the host plant sapida .

Figures

FIGURE 4. Nameriophyes sapidae sp. nov. D, dorsal view of female; CG, coxae and female genitalia; LO, lateral microtubercles.

FIGURE 5. Nameriophyes sapidae sp. nov. L, lateral view of female; L1, leg І; L2, leg І; em, empodium; CGM, coxae and male genitalia.