In apterae, body elongate oval, oval, or subcircular, aleyrodiform, and strongly sclerotized. Prosoma consisting of fused head, thorax, and abdominal segments I–VII, abdominal segment VIII free. Dorsum of prosoma reticulated, corrugated, convoluted, or with wax pores. Submarginal setae on dorsal prosoma distinctly spine-like, pointed or somewhat blunt at apices, sometimes arising from tuberculate bases. Dorsal spinal setae on prosoma minute, long and fine, or spine-like. Abdominal tergite VIII with 4 setae, similar to submarginal setae on dorsal prosoma. Eyes 3-faceted. Antennae concealed under head, 2–4-segmented. Legs short, concealed under body; tarsi small, unsegmented or 2-segmented; claws small, normal, or absent. Siphunculi absent. Cauda knobbed and constricted at base. Anal plate bilobed.

China, India, Japan, Malaysia, and Thailand.

Fagaceae (Castanopsis, Cyclobalanopsis, Lithocarpus, and Quercus) and Lauraceae (Litsea).

Only apterous viviparous females are known. The life cycles of most species are unknown. Parathoracaphis is related to Neohormaphis Noordam, 1991 in sharing the consolidated head, thorax, and abdominal segments I–VII and spine-like submarginal setae on prosoma.

Twelve apterous viviparous females, CHINA: Zhejiang (Huangyan), Jan 1934, on Myrica rubra, coll. F.G. Chen (NHM).

China (Zhejiang).

The host plant is recorded as Myrica rubra with a question mark in the original description (Takahashi 1936). We think it may be an erroneous record.

Sitting tightly on the undersides of leaves of host plant (Takahashi 1936, Blackman and Eastop 1994). The life cycle is unknown.

Thailand.

Quercus sp. and other unspecified Fagaceae species.

This species occurs in large numbers on the undersides of leaves of host plant (Takahashi 1941). The life cycle is unknown.

Known only from the original description. Takahashi (1941) mentioned that the dorsal prosoma of this species has 5 pairs of spine-like spinal setae, tarsi are unsegmented, and claws are absent.

Malaysia.

Quercus sp.

Infesting the undersides of leaves of host plant (Takahashi 1950). The life cycle is unknown.

Known only from the original description. The figure in Takahashi (1950) indicates that the dorsal prosoma of this species has 16 pairs of spine-like submarginal setae and 5 pairs of long and fine spinal setae, a pair of submarginal setae on head dorsum located near the front end, and 2 pairs between the eyes. The original description mentioned that the antennae of P. gooti are 3- or 4-segmented, the tarsi are distinctly 2-segmented, and the claws are slender.

Malaysia.

Quercus sp.

Feeding on the undersides of leaves of host plant (Takahashi 1950). The life cycle is unknown.

Takahashi (1950) mentioned that P. kayashimai was closely related to P. setigera, differing in ornamentation of dorsum and leg measurements. The key to Nipponaphidini species on Quercus and the figure of P. kayashimai in Blackman and Eastop (1994) indicate that submarginal setae on abdominal tergite VI of this species are much smaller than setae on other tergites.

One apterous viviparous female, CHINA: Yunnan (Chuxiong City, Mt. Zixi), 22 Oct 2010, No. 24888, on Castanopsis sp., coll. X.L. Huang (NZMC); 1 apterous viviparous female, CHINA: Yunnan (Chuxiong City, Mt. Zixi), 22 Oct 2010, No. 24894, on Fagaceae, coll. X.L. Huang (NZMC).

China (Yunnan), India.

Castanopsis sp. and Litsea sebifera.

Forming large colonies on the undersides of leaves of host plant, attended by ants sometimes (Fig. 2). Apterous adults bear much filiform and flocculent wax (Fig. 3). The life cycle is unknown.

Figures 1–3. 

Parathoracaphis manipurensis (Pramanick, Samanta & Raychaudhuri). 1 Dorsal view of body of apterous viviparous female 2 a dense colony on underside of leaf of Castanopsis sp. 3 apterous adults in life, covered with much wax (2, 3: Mt. Zixi, Yunnan, China; 22 Oct 2010). Scale bar: 0.10 mm.

Ghosh (1988) described an apterous morph on Amaranthus sp. (Amaranthaceae) as a fundatrix of P. manipurensis. However, the specimen was not collected at the type locality, no life cycle observations were conducted, and Amaranthus sp. is unlikely to be a primary host plant of Nipponaphidini species. Additionally, the presence of siphunculi suggests that it does not belong in Parathoracaphis.

Two apterous viviparous females, CHINA: Yunnan (Kunming City, 25.1407°N, 102.7465°E, altitude 1910 m), 18 Nov 2009, No. 23861, on Quercus sp., coll. J. Chen and Z.H. Luo (NZMC); 16 apterous viviparous females, CHINA: Yunnan (Kunming City, 25.0600°N, 102.7726°E, altitude 2000 m), 5 Dec 2009, No. 24111, on Quercus sp., coll. J. Chen and Z.H. Luo (NZMC); 17 apterous viviparous females, CHINA: Taiwan (Urai), 6 Sept 1931, No. Y7903, on Quercus sp., coll. R. Takahashi (NZMC).

China (Sichuan, Taiwan, and Yunnan), Japan.

Cyclobalanopsis gilva, Lithocarpus sp., Quercus glauca, and Quercus myrsinaefolia.

Apterae are scattered on the undersides of leaves of host plant, with a circle of thin and curved wax filaments along the margin of body and two rather long wax filaments at the hind end of body (Fig. 7). In Japan, apterae occur on undersides of leaves of Quercus throughout the year (Takahashi 1958).

Figures 4–7. 

Parathoracaphis setigera (Takahashi). Apterous viviparous female: 4 dorsal view of body 5 submarginal setae on head dorsum 6 branched linear markings on marginal area of prosoma dorsum 7 apterous adult on underside of leaf of Quercus sp., bearing wax filaments marginally (Kunming, Yunnan, China; 5 Dec 2009). Scale bars: 0.10 mm.

The new species is named for a pair of spine-like, long, thick, and pointed frontal setae. “Spina” (Latin) means “thorn”, “pilosa” (Latin) means “hair”.

Body small, aleyrodiform. Dorsum of prosoma densely covered with convoluted markings medially and short folded-line shaped sculptures pleuro-marginally. Head with a pair of spine-like frontal setae. Dorsum of prosoma with four pairs of minute spinal setae and 16 pairs of spine-like submarginal setae. Antennae 3- or 4-segmented. Tarsi 2-segmented. Claws normal.

Apterous viviparous females: Body oval, aleyrodiform, and strongly sclerotized (Fig. 12). Black in life, with a fringe of long and curved wax filaments, the filaments sparse at the hind end of body (Fig. 25). For morphometric data see Table 1.

Body brown; cauda, anal plate, and genital plate pale in color. Prosoma consisting of fused head, thorax, and abdominal segments I–VII; abdominal segment VIII free (Figs 8, 12). Dorsum of prosoma densely covered with convoluted markings medially and short folded-line shaped sculptures pleuro-marginally (Figs 8, 12–14). The margin of dorsal prosoma with a short transversely striped band, band margin with small shallowly crenulated wax glands (Fig. 15). Between each segment of thoracic notum and abdominal tergites I–IV, shallow concave lines present at pleural and marginal area of prosoma; concave lines between abdominal tergites III and IV sometimes indistinct (Fig. 12). Abdominal tergite VIII with long and short ripples, distributed densely on posterior margin (Fig. 8). Head with a pair of frontal setae, spine-like, long, thick, and pointed (Figs 10, 16, indicated with an arrow in Fig. 8). Dorsum of prosoma with 16 pairs of long thick and spine-like submarginal setae, pointed or somewhat blunt at apices, arising from tuberculate bases (Fig. 8); head dorsum with two pairs anterior to eyes and a pair between eyes (Figs 8, 17), pro-, meso-, and meta-notum each with two pairs, abdominal tergites I–VII each with a pair (Fig. 8); submarginal setae on abdominal tergite V finer and shorter than setae on other tergites, pointed at apices, located near body margin (Fig. 18). Pro-, meso-, meta-notum, and abdominal tergite I each with a pair of minute spinal setae. Abdominal tergite VIII with four setae, similar to submarginal setae on dorsal prosoma (Fig. 8). Frons not protuberant. Eyes 3-faceted. Antennae 3-segmented, rarely 4-segmented, concealed under head, with two apical setae (Figs 9, 19). Primary rhinaria small, rounded, and placed wide apart. Rostrum short, reaching to fore coxae. Ultimate rostral segment short, thick, and blunt, with two pairs of primary setae and a pair of secondary setae (Fig. 20). Legs short, smooth, concealed under body, trochanter and femur fused. Tarsi 2-segmented. First tarsal chaetotaxy: 2, 2, 2. Dorsoapical setae on second tarsal segment expanded at apex and longer than claws. Claws normal. Siphunculi absent. Cauda and anal plate with spinules, genital plate with spinulose transverse stripes. Cauda knobbed, constricted at base, with six or seven setae (Fig. 21). Anal plate bilobed, each lobe with 4–6 setae (Fig. 22). Genital plate broadly rounded, with two anterior setae and 6–8 setae along the posterior margin (Fig. 23).

Figures 8–11. 

8–9 Parathoracaphis spinapilosa sp. n. Apterous viviparous female: 8 dorsal view of body 9 antenna 10–11 Frontal seta: 10 P. spinapilosa sp. n. 11 P. setigera. Scale bars: 0.10 mm.

Figures 12–23. 

Parathoracaphis spinapilosa sp. n. Apterous viviparous female: 12 dorsal view of body 13 convoluted markings on medial area of prosoma dorsum 14 short folded-line shaped sculptures on pleuro-marginal area of prosoma dorsum 15 short transversely striped band on margin of prosoma 16 spine-like frontal seta on head 17 3 pairs of submarginal setae on head dorsum 18 submarginal setae on abdominal tergites V–VII 19 antenna 20 ultimate rostral segment 21 cauda 22 anal plate 23 genital plate. Scale bars: 0.10 mm.

Holotype: apterous viviparous female, CHINA: Yunnan (Kunming City, Mt. Xishan), 24 Apr 1995, No. 13480-1-4-2, on Fagaceae, coll. G.X. Qiao (NZMC). Paratypes: 25 apterous viviparous females, with the same collection data as holotype (NZMC); 4 apterous viviparous females, No. 13480-1-5, with the same collection data as holotype (NHM); 9 apterous viviparous females (COI: KX709878), CHINA: Fujian (Jiangle County, Mt. Longqi, 26.5109°N, 117.2907°E, altitude 730 m), 17 Jun 2011, No. 26901, on Quercus sp., coll. J. Chen, Q.H. Liu, and X.T. Li (NZMC).

The new species resembles the type species P. setigera (Takahashi), but differs from it as follows: dorsum of prosoma densely covered with convoluted markings medially and short folded-line shaped sculptures pleuro-marginally (Figs 8, 12–14) (the latter with convoluted markings in medial and pleural area, and marginal area covered with branched linear markings radiating outwards, Figs 4, 6); head with a pair of long thick and spine-like frontal setae (Fig. 10) (in the latter: these are much shorter and finer, Fig. 11); dorsum of prosoma with 16 pairs of submarginal setae (the latter: 15 pairs, the pair on abdominal tergite V absent); head dorsum with two pairs of submarginal setae anterior to eyes, along the body margin, and a pair between eyes (Fig. 17) (the latter: all three pairs located along the body margin, Fig. 5); antennae 3- or 4-segmented (the latter: 2-segmented).

China (Fujian and Yunnan).

Quercus sp. and unidentified Fagaceae species.

Forming large colonies on the undersides of leaves of host plant (Fig. 24). The colony is attended by ants. Apterae bear long and curved wax filaments around the body (Fig. 25). The life cycle is unknown.

Figures 24–25. 

Parathoracaphis spinapilosa sp. n. (Mt. Longqi, Fujian, China; 17 Jun 2011) 24 A colony on underside of leaf of Quercus sp. 25 apterous adults in life, bearing long and curved wax filaments around the body.