Aceria flynni Xue & Zhang 2008, sp. nov.

Aceria flynni sp. nov.

(Figs 10–11)

Description. FEMALE: (n = 7) Body vermiform, 155 (155–165), 53 (53–54) wide, 50 (50–52) thick; light yellow. Gnathosoma 23 (21–23), projecting obliquely down, pedipalp coxal setae (ep) 3 (3–4), dorsal pedipalp genual seta (d) 4 (4–5), cheliceral stylets 17 (17–20). Prodorsal shield semicircular, 28 (27–28), 37 (36–37) wide, with granules laterally; anterior shield lobe absent. Median, admedian and submedian lines absent. Scapular tubercles near rear margin, 18 (18–19) apart, scapular setae (sc) 10 (10–11) projecting posterior. Coxal plates with granules; anterolateral setae on coxisternum І (1b) 5 (5–6), 13 (13–14) apart, proximal setae on coxisternum І (1a) 13 (13–16), 10 (10–11) apart, proximal setae on coxisternum І (2a) 26 (25–27), 19 (19–20) apart. Prosternal apodeme 5 (5–6). Legs with usual series of setae. Legs І 25 (23–26), femur 7 (7–8), basiventral femoral seta (bv) 7 (6–7); genu 4 (4–5), antaxial genual seta (l'') 17 (16–17); tibia 5 (5–6), paraxial tibial seta (l') 5 (5–6), seta located 1/3 from proximal tibial margin; tarsus 5 (5–6), seta ft'' as long as seta ft', seta u' short; tarsal empodium (em) 4 (3–4), simple, 4-rayed, tarsal solenidion (ω) 4 (4–5), knobbed. Legs І 23 (21–24), femur 6 (6–7), basiventral femoral seta (bv) 5 (5–6); genu 4 (3–4), antaxial genual seta (l'') 5 (4–5); tibia 4 (4–5); tarsus 5 (5–6), seta ft'' as long as seta ft', seta u' short; tarsal empodium (em) 3 (3–4), simple, 4-rayed, tarsal solenidion (ω) 4 (4–5), knobbed. Opisthosoma: opisthosoma dorsally with 58 (55–59) annuli, with elliptical microtubercles, ventrally with 51 (49–55) annuli, with elliptical microtubercles. Setae c2 18 (17–18) on ventral annulus 8 (7–9), 47 (46–47) apart; setae d 40 (40–42) on ventral annulus 16 (15–16), 32 (32–33) apart; setae e 4 (4–5) on ventral annulus 27 (27–28), 12 (12–13) apart, setae f 12 (12–13) on 6th ventral annulus from rear, 15 (15–16) apart. Setae h1 absent. Female genitalia 13 (13–15), 17 (17–18) wide, coverflap with 12 longitudinal ridges and with granules at base, proximal setae on coxisternum ІІ (3a) 11 (10–13), 15 (14–15) apart.

MALE: (n = 2) Body vermiform, 120–125, 43–44 wide; light yellow. Gnathosoma 17–18, projecting obliquely down, pedipalp coxal seta (ep) 2–3, dorsal pedipalp genual seta (d) 3–4, cheliceral stylets 15–16. Prodorsal shield semicircular, 22–23, 27–28 wide; anterior shield lobe absent; smooth. Scapular tubercles on rear margin, 17–18 apart, scapular setae (sc) 6–7 projecting posterior. Coxal plates with granules; anterolateral setae on coxisternum І (1b) 5–6, 8–9 apart, proximal setae on coxisternum І (1a) 10–11, 6–7 apart, proximal setae on coxisternum І (2a) 17–18, 16–17 apart. Prosternal apodeme 4–5. Legs with usual series of setae. Legs І 20–23, femur 5–6, basiventral femoral seta (bv) 5–6; genu 3–4, antaxial genual seta (l'') 14–15; tibia 4–5, paraxial tibial seta (l') 4–5, seta located 1/3 from proximal tibial margin; tarsus 4–5, seta ft'' as long as seta ft', seta u' short; tarsal empodium (em) 3–4, simple, 4-rayed, tarsal solenidion (ω) 4–5, knobbed. Legs І 19–21, femur 5–6, basiventral femoral seta (bv) 4–5; genu 3–4, antaxial genual seta (l'') 4–5; tibia 3–4; tarsus 4–5, seta ft'' as long as seta ft', seta u' short; tarsal empodium (em) 3–4, simple, 4-rayed, tarsal solenidion (ω) 4–5, knobbed. Opisthosoma: opisthosoma dorsally with 44–45 annuli, with elliptical microtubercles, ventrally with 45–46 annuli, with elliptical microtubercles. Setae c2 15–16 on ventral annulus 10–11, 35–36 apart; setae d 29–30 on ventral annulus 21–22, 24–25 apart; setae e 5–7 on ventral annulus 29–30, 11–12 apart, setae f 12–13 on 6th ventral annulus from rear, 13–14 apart. Setae h1 absent. Male genitalia 15–16 wide, proximal setae on coxisternum ІІІ (3a) 6–7, 13–14 apart.

Type material. Holotype, female (marked H), from Kunzea ericoides (Myrtaceae), Matuku Reserve, Waitakere Range, Auckland, New Zealand, 24 October 1999, coll. N.A. Martin. Paratypes, 2 females, with the same data as holotype; 4 females and 2 males, from Kunzea ericoides (Myrtaceae), Matuku Reserve, Waitakere Range, Auckland, New Zealand, 5 December 1999, coll. N.A. Martin. Specimens deposited in NZAC.

Relation to host. Vagrant, associated with shoots with spongy leaves, but not certain if the mites cause these symptoms.

Etymology. This species is named after Alan Flynn (Plant Health & Environment Laboratory, Investigation and Diagnostic Centre, MAF Biosecurity, Auckland, New Zealand).

Differential diagnosis. This species is similar to Aceria melicopis Manson, 1984, but can be differentiated from the latter by the following: 1) tarsal empodium 4-rayed (tarsal empodium 5-rayed in A. melicopi), 2) coxal area with granules (coxal area smooth in A. melicopis), and 3) setae h1 absent (setae h1 present in A. melicopis).