Neocosella laurifolia n. sp.

(Fig. 3)

Description. Female: (n = 10) Body spindleform, ivory-white, 210 (171−219) long, 85 (67−86) wide, 74 (72−77) thick. Gnathosoma 30 (29−31), projecting obliquely down, dorsal pedipalp genual setae (d) 4 (3−4). Prodorsal shield semicircular, with frontal lobe, 45 (43−47) long, 67 (66−73) wide; median line, admedian lines and submedian lines absent, shield with some irregular lines and grooves only; at the front of shield ridges form an “H”. Scapular tubercles ahead of rear margin, 60 (58−61) apart, scapular setae (sc) 7 (6−8), directed laterally. Coxal area with short lines, coxae І fused, anterolateral setae on coxisternum І (1b) absent, proximal setae on coxisternum І (1a) 6 (5−6), proximal setae on coxisternum ІІ (2a) 13 (12−14). Legs І 29 (28−30), femur 12 (11−13), basiventral femoral setae (bv) absent; genu 4 (3−4), antaxial genual setae (l'') 28 (26−29); tibiae fused with tarsi; tarsus 10 (9−11); tarsal empodium 5 (5−6), simple, 4-rayed, tarsal solenidion 6 (6−7), knobbed, paraxial unguinal tarsal setae (u') large and bent at 90º angle. Legs ІІ 26 (25−27), femur 11 (10−11), basiventral femoral setae (bv) 8 (7−8); genu 4 (3−4), antaxial genual setae (l'') 7 (6−7); tibiae fused with tarsi; tarsus 8 (7−8); tarsal empodium 6 (5−6), simple, 4-rayed, tarsal solenidion 5 (5−6), knobbed, paraxial unguinal tarsal setae (u') large and bent at 90º angle. Opisthosoma: with a broad furrow, dorsal annuli 26 (25−28); ventral annuli 39 (36−40), both dorsal and ventral annuli with filamentous microtubercles; setae c2 22 (20−24), on ventral annulus 6 (5−6); setae d 42 (39−44), on ventral annulus 14 (12−13); setae e 8 (7−8), on ventral annulus 25 (24−25); setae f 20 (19−21), on 6th ventral annulus from rear; setae h2 60 (55−75), setae h1 absent. Female genitalia 20 (20−21) long, 25 (24−25) wide, coverflap with 33 (30−38) short, sinuate lines, proximal setae on coxisternum ІІІ (3a) 10 (9−10).

Male: Not seen.

Type data: Holotype, female, Jinzhongshan Nature Reserve, 37 km SW of Longlin County (24°8N, 105°34E), Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China, 01-Dec.-2004, from Genianthus laurifolius (Roxb.) Hook.f. (Asclepiadaceae), collected by De-Wei LI, Sui-Gai WEI and Guo-Quan WANG. Paratypes, 17 females, with the same data as holotype.

Relation to host: The mites are vagrant on the undersurface of leaves, no visible damage symptom.

Note: This species is similar to Neocosella corylopsis Wei & Chen, 2009 (in Wei et al. 2009), but can be differentiated by prodorsal shield design, coxal area with short lines, the tarsal empodium is 4-rayed, and the tarsal solenidion is knobbed; in N. corylopsis, admedian and submedian lines complete, coxal area smooth, the tarsal empodium is 5-rayed, and the tarsal solenidion is tapered.

Etymology: The species name is derived from the specific name of the host plant.