A new Eriophyid, Aceria madhucae n. sp. (Acari: Eriophyidae) from India

A new species of Eriophyidae (Acari: Prostigmata: Eriophyoidea), Aceria madhucae n. sp., collected from the lower surface of leaves of Madhuca longifolia (J. Konig) J.F. Macbr. (Sapotaceae), is described from India. Aceria madhucae is distinguished by its 4-rayed empodium, shield with median line present from rear to almost middle of shield, admedian lines, two pair of submedian lines and a pair of short lateral lines present, all parallel to median line and slightly diverging laterally, opisthosomal seta h1 absent, pedipalp genual seta d present.


INTRODUCTION
Aceria madhucae n. sp., was collected from the lower surface of leaves of Madhuka tree (Honey tree), Madhuca longifolia (J.Konig) J.F. Macbr (Sapotaceae).It is a medium to large sized tree, which grows in abundance throughout India and is used for timber, flowers, fruit and for its medicinal properties.So far, seventeen species of eriophyid mites are known on Sapotaceae worldwide and are listed in Table 1, along with their synonyms, type-hosts, type-localities and symptomology.Five of these are recorded from India on different plant hosts.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
Leaves of Madhuca longifolia were collected and examined for the presence of mites using a Leica MZ6 stereozoom microscope.Mites were mounted in a drop of Hoyer's medium and subsequently dried at 45 -55°C for 10 -12 hours (Krantz, 1970).The cleared and dried slide mounted specimens were studied under a Leica DM1000 phase contrast compound microscope fitted with a drawing tube.All illustrations are provided with their relevant scale of magnification.
The classification and terminology are after Amrine et al. (2003).The holotype measurement is followed by mean, standard deviation, and range of paratypes in parentheses.All measurements are in micrometers (µm) and, unless specified, refer to the length of the structure.Body length is measured from the apical tip of the gnathosoma to the posterior opisthosomal apex and leg length is from the base of the trochanter to the apical tip of the tarsus, not including the tarsal appendages (solenidion and empodium).Ventral opisthosomal annuli were counted from the first anterior incomplete annulus, which ends at the lateral margin of coxa II.(Cook, 1906).Saint Anne, La Toubana, Guadeloupe.
Paratypes -Collection data same as above.8 female and 5 male paratypes on 8 microscopic slides, deposited with NPC, IARI, New Delhi; 1 paratype each in 2 microscopic slide, data same as above, will be deposited in NMNH, Maryland, USA.
Distribution -India: New Delhi.
Relationship with host plant -These mites were found in large numbers, as vagrant, mostly on the lower surface of leaves and no apparent damage was observed.
Etymology -The specific name madhucae is after the host plant genus Madhuca.
Remarks -The new species is characterized by its 4-rayed empodium, prodorsal shield having median line on the rear quarter to half, complete admedian lines and short submedian lines, coxal area smooth and sternal line absent.It differs from eriophyid mites known on Sapotaceae from India as follows: from Aceria bassiae Ghosh and Chakrabarti 1988, ex: Madhuca latifolia (Sapotaceae), by virtue of it bearing 6-rayed empodium, complete median, admedian and first submedian lines on prodorsal shield and a granular coxal area.It differs from Aceria mimusopae Mohanasundaram 1990, ex: Mimusops elengi (Sapotaceae) on account of shield design with a faint median line present only at base, admedian lines parallel, first submedian present at the middle of shield, second submedian converging towards anterior of shield, lateral-shield margins and coxal area granular, 5-rayed empodium, epigynium without ribs and last thanosomal tergite being broad.It is similar to Aceria trianthemae Mohanasundaram 1990, ex: Trianthema decandra (Aizoaceae), in the presence of 4-rayed empodium, microtubercles spine-like and triangular, getting elongated towards last few annuli but can be differentiated by its shield design comprising of median line present at basal half only, admedian lines complete, slightly wavy, first submedian lines present at anterior shield, second submedian at mid length of shield, third submedian at border of shield, sides of shield granular, coxal area granular, sternal line present and epigynium with 6 -8 broken lines.Aceria madhucae also resembles Aceria xeromphisi Mohanasundaram 1990, ex: Xeromphis spinosa (Rubiaceae) in having 4-rayed empodium, shield and coxal area non-granular, sternal line absent and coxal area fused but can be differentiated in the shield design comprising of faintly visible and broken median line, admedian line present on basal 2/3 rd of shield and faintly visible submedian lines placed obliquely.The new species is near Aceria jogimatiensis Mohanasundaram and Jagdish in Mohanasundaram et al. 1984, ex: unidentified plant, in its shield design with faint median line (though complete), admedians nearly complete, submedians present as short broken lines, sides of shield clear, coxal area smooth and empodium 4-rayed but can be differentiated from it in presence of sternal line, epigynium bearing 14 -16 ribs and dorsal annuli with elongate microtubercles.

TABLE 1 :
List of eriophyid mites known on Sapotaceae.