Typhlodromus (Anthoseius) athenas Swirski and Ragusa 1976

Chatti, A., Kreiter, S., Lebdi-Grissa, K. & Ksantini, M., 2017, Phytophagous and predatory mites on olive trees in Tunisia. Catalogue, description of one new species and key for identification (Acari, Eriophyidae, Tetranychidae, Tenuipalpidae and Phytoseiidae), Acarologia 57 (2), pp. 233-254 : 241-242

Typhlodromus (Anthoseius) athenas Swirski and Ragusa 1976

Typhlodromus (Anthoseius) athenas Swirski and Ragusa, 1976: 111 .

Amblydromella athenas Moraes et al., 1986: 154 .

Amblydromella (Aphanoseia) athenas Denmark and Welbourn, 2002: 308.

Typhlodromus (Anthoseius) athenas Moraes et al., 2004: 310 ; Chant and McMurtry, 2007: 152.

Distribution — Greece, Israel, Italy, Morocco, Portugal, Spain (Demite et al. 2016).

Material examined — Sfax: Aouled Msallem (34°58’21.97"N, 10°47’20.72"E), April 2008, 6 ♀♀ and 1 ♂ and May 2010, 8 ♀♀ and 2 ♂♂; Hageb (34°42’16.50"N, 10°39’18.97"E), April 2008, 4 ♀♀ ; Taous (34°56’02.88"N, 10°36’52.77"E), May 2008, 6 ♀♀ , and May 2010 adults; Ltayfa 34°44’58.23"N, 10°11’39.67"E) April 2008, 11 ♀♀ and 1 ♂ ; Jbenyana (35°03’14.28"N, 10°55’46.63"E), May 2009, 5 ♀♀ and 2 ♂♂ ; Karkennah: Sidi Yousef (34°39’30.27"N, 10°59’42.70"E), March 2011, 7 ♀♀ ; Aouled Yaneg (34°40’22.19"N, 11°08’15.07"E), April 2011, 17♀♀ and 1 ♂ ; Ramla (34°43’17.06"N, 11°12’34.35"E), June 2011, 8 ♀♀ ; Mellita (34°39’24.43"N, 11°1’59.42"E), June 2011, 3 ♀♀ ; Ataya (34°44’26.25"N, 11°18’8.47"E), June 2011, 4 ♀♀ . Gafsa: Oasis Gafsa (34°24’55.53"N, 8°44’42.69"E), March 2004, 6 ♀♀ and 2 ♂♂, March 2007, 9 ♀♀ and 1 ♂ , and April 2008, 14 ♀♀ and 1 ♂; Guetar (34°20’16.39"N, 8°54’55.85"E), April 2008, 9 ♀♀ and 1 ♂ ; Bou Omran (34°21’38.47"N, 9°8’16.61"E), April 2008, 8 ♀♀ and 2 ♂♂ ; Bou Saad (34°21’57.24"N, 9°9’48.46"E), April 2008, 5 ♀♀ . Cap Bon: Grambalia (36°36’46.35"N, 10°31’30.59"E), March 2009, 2 ♀♀, April 2010, 4 ♀♀ , and May 2009, 8 ♀♀ and 1 ♂; Beni Kalled (36°36’44.77"N, 10°31’30.72"E), May 2009, 9 ♀♀ , and April 2010, 4 ♀♀ and 1 ♂. Sidi Bouzid: Regueb (34°50’26.08"N, 9°47’49.20"E), March 2008, 2 ♀♀ ; and April 2010, 11 ♀♀ and 1 ♂; Sidi Bouzid (35°02’03.70"N, 9°25’24.77"E), April 2009, 7 ♀♀ .

Note — This species has been frequently observed on olive trees and arboreal plants ( Tixier et al. 2013). Typhlodromus (Anthoseius) athenas appears well adapted to high temperatures occurring in the Mediterranean region and may be a useful biological control agent ( Kolokytha et al. 2011).