Epitrimerus dendranthemae Xue, Song & Hong, 2007, sp. nov.

Epitrimerus dendranthemae sp. nov.

(Fig. 1)

Description. FEMALE: (n = 8) Body fusiform, 203 (200–205) long, 59 (56–63) wide, 61 (58–62) thick; light yellow. Gnathosoma 16 (15–17), projecting obliquely down, pedipalp coxal setae (ep) 2 (1–2), dorsal pedipalp genual setae (d) 6 (5–6), chelicerae 17 (16–18), oral stylets 14 (13–14). Prodorsal shield 47 (47–48), 50 (48–52) wide; sub quadrangular; frontal lobe broad; submedian lines incomplete, prodorsal shield with granules. Dorsal tubercles ahead of rear margin, 18 (18–19) apart, scapular setae (sc) 4 (4–5) projecting centrad. Coxal area with short lines; anterolateral setae on coxisternum І (1b) 7 (7–8), proximal setae on coxisternum І (1a) 16 (15–17), proximal setae on coxisternum І (2a) 38 (36–40). Prosternal apodeme present. Legs with usual series of setae. Legs І 27 (25–29), femur 9 (8–9), basiventral femoral setae (bv) 9 (8–10); genu 5 (5–6), antaxial genual setae (l'') 19 (18–20); tibia 6 (6–7), paraxial tibial setae (l') 5 (5–6), setae located at center; tarsus 5 (5–6); tarsal empodium simple, 4-rayed, tarsal solenidion knobbed. Legs І 23 (21–25), femur 6 (6–7), basiventral femoral setae (bv) 10 (10–11); genu 4 (4–5), antaxial genual setae (l'') 6 (5–6); tibia 5 (5–6); tarsus 6 (5–6); tarsal empodium simple, 4-rayed, tarsal solenidion knobbed. Opisthosoma: dorsal opisthosoma with 46 (44–47) annuli, with elliptical microtubercles, ventrally with 73 (72–75) annuli, with round microtubercles. Setae c2 17 (17–18) on ventral annulus 13 (12–13); setae d 44 (43–45) on ventral annulus 24 (22–24); setae e 14 (13–15) on ventral annulus 41 (39–42), setae f 17 (16–17) on 6th ventral annulus from rear. Setae h1 3 (3–4). Female genitalia 14 (14–15) long, 24 (23–24) wide, coverflap with 8 longitudinal ridges and 3 transverse lines at base, proximal setae on coxisternum ІІ (3a) 17 (17–18).

MALE: Unknown.

Types. Holotype, female, China: Henan Province, Song County, Baiyun Mountain, 33°39.86’N, 111°49.58’E. July 18, 2004, from Dendranthema indicum (L.) Des Moul. (Compositae), coll. Xue, Xiao- Feng. Paratypes, 7 females, with the same data as holotype.

Relation to host. Vagrant on leaf surface. No damage to the host was observed.

Etymology. The specific designation dendranthemae is from the generic name of the host plant, Dendranthema.

Remarks. This species is similar to Epitrimerus amygdali Xue & Hong, 2005, but can be differentiated by the absence of admedian lines (admedian lines present in E. amygdali), paraxial tibial setae (l') located at center (paraxial tibial setae (l') located 1/3 at dorsal base in E. amygdali).