| abstract | The genus Luciaphorus was erected by Mahunka (1981) with L. hauseri as the type for the genus. Rack (1983) described a new species of L. perniciosus from Thailand. Afterwards, there is no information available. The mite described here as new species was collected in Fujian Province, China in 1988. The type specimens are deposited in Shanghai Agricultural College. (All measurements are given in micron) Luciaphorus auriculariae Gao, Zou and Jiang sp. nov. (fig. 1—4) This new species can be readily distinguished from the two known species by shorter and distinctly spiculate setae f_1 and f_2 at most twice as long as other setae on hysterosome in female, and by setae Pi and c_2 twice as long as setae Pml and c_1, respectively, in male. Female Body (without gnathosome): 145—149 long, 72—80 wide, yellowish white. Dorsum: Propodosome trapezoidal, with a pair of long peritremes situated before setae Pr_1. Pseudostigmata widely seperated, situated at lateral margin in the middle of propodosome. All dorsal setae distinctly spiculate. Their lengths are as follows: Pr_1 6—8, Pr_28—9, Pi 11—12, c_1 9—10, c_2 11—13,d_1 9—13, e_1 12—13,e_2 11—13, f_1 15, f_2 12. Venter: All ventral setae are smooth except h_3 which is spiculate. Male Body: 152—154 long, 94—97 wide, yellowish white. Dorsum: Propodosome semi-circular. Peritreme and pseudostigmata absent. All dorsal setae weakly spiculate, smooth. Their length are as follows: Pr_1 3—4,Pr_2 2—3,Pml 11—13,Pi 16—17, c_1 5—6, c_2 10—11, d_1 5—6, e_1 4—6, e_2 11—13, f_1 4—5. The dorsum of genital capsule has pebble-like engravings. Venter of propdosome and hysterosoma are as figured. Types Holotype♀, allotype ♂, paratypes 50♀♀ and 30♂♂, 1988. XI. 3, Fujian (Longhai), collected from culture bags of Jewʼs ear mushroom [Auricularia polytricka (Mont) Sacc.] This new species is known as a very important pest mite in Jewʼs ear mushroom cultivation. It damaged millions of culture bags of mushroom in Longhai and Zhangzhou Regions of Fujian Province, China from the autumn of 1988 to the spring of 1989. It is estimated that the mite damage can cause a yield loss of 10%—15%in general and 60% in severe damage. The most obvious symptom of the mite damage is that bases of mushroom sporophores are covered with numerous pearl-like globules just like insect eggs or fish eggs. |