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Leipothrix menthae is a species of gall mite found in Montenegro.[1]
Females: Body elongate, spindle-shaped, 183–204 μm long, light yellow. Gnathosoma downcurved. Prodorsal shield subtriangular (50–55 μm long) with a frontal lobe; median line present only on the anterior quarter; submedian lines entire and sinuous. Scapular setae (sc) 4–7 μm long, converging. Legs with all segments present; femoral setae (bv) absent; empodium 4-rayed. Coxae ornamented with numerous short lines. Female genital coverflap with scorings arranged in two ranks, about 10 μm per rank. Opisthosoma with 42–60 μm smooth dorsal annuli and 74–87 μm ventral annuli bearing rounded microtubercles; a longitudinal middorsal ridge fades above setae f.[1]
Males: Smaller (142–183 μm long). Similar to female but with simpler chaetotaxy and genitalia.[1]
Known only from its type locality: the village of Zaton near Bijelo Polje, Montenegro.[1]
It is found on the undersurface of leaves of its host plant, Mentha piperita (Lamiaceae).[1]
Feeds as a free-living vagrant on the host plant, causing no visible damage (no gall induction).[1]
The specific epithet menthae is derived from the generic name of its host plant, Mentha.[1]
Belongs to the genus Leipothrix. It is morphologically closest to Leipothrix lysimachiae, from which it differs in the ornamentation of the prodorsal shield, the appearance of the coxigenital area and female genitalia, the lengths of coxal and opisthosomal setae, and its host plant.[1]
