Neoseiulus bicaudus (Wainstein, 1962) (fig. 1, 2)

Amblyseius bicaudus Wainstein, 1962: 2371 .

T y p e m a t e r i a l. Holotype ♀: [Kazakhstan:] environs of Alma-Ata [Almaty], [43°13´N, 76°51´E], # 1863, 27.05.1957, on cereal, Kargalinka 2 [B. Wainstein] 3 (SIZK).

N o n -t y p e m a t e r i a l e x a m i n e d. Russia: [environs of] Volgograd, on wheat, # 4844, data 26.05.1972, 1 Ơ (A. Badulin) (illustrated); Sochi, Adler, plum tree ( Prunus), # 1304, [date unknown] 1954, 1 ♀, (G. Begljarov) . Kazakhstan: Karaganda Region: Balkhash, (former as “ Dzjezkazghan district ”), 1 ♀, on melon ( Citrullus), # 261, 08.02.1952 (В. Parfentiev) . Tajikistan: Kuliab Region, Piandj, # 1525, 05.06.1955, on mulberry ( Morus), 1 ♀, (I. Lindt); same locality, # 1528, 31.05.1955, 1 ♀ (Z. Strunkova) (SIZK) .

Additional 87 specimens (14 Ơ, 73 ♀) identified by Wainstein as N. bicaudus were also examined in this study. These mites were found on plants, mainly herbaceous: alfalfa ( Medicago), bindweed ( Convolvulus), cane ( Phragmites), cereals, clover ( Trifolium), Paspalum dilatanum, oat ( Avena), soya beans, wheat ( Triticum), as well as apple, blackberry, rose, tea in different locations of Georgia (Ajara), Germany, Kazakhstan, Russia (Krasnodar Region), and Tajikistan during 1957–1973 by several collectors.

D e s c r i p t i o n. Female. Dorsal shield (fig. 1, A) elongated, with constrictions at level of R1, weakly sclerotized, with thin net-like sculpture areas better evident on posterior part of

1 See more details in Demite et al. (2016).

2 Correct spelling of this geographical name.

3 Hereinafter data lacking on the original slide labels are added in square brackets.

shield, 7 pairs of small solenostomes (gd1, gd2, gd4, gd5, gd6, gd8, gd9), 16 pairs of poroids, and 17 pairs of setae acute, thin, short and slightly different in length except Z5 elongated. Dorsal setae smooth except S4, S5, Z4, Z5 weakly serrated. Setae Z5 much longer than others postlateral setae S4, S5, Z4. Seta j3 equal to distance of seta z2 but not extend beyond it. Setae z2 and z4 half of distance to bases of next setae. Seta Z4 longer than distance to solenostome gd9 and equal to distance to base of following seta S5. Setae J5 acute, short and smooth (fig. 1, B).

All ventral setae thin, acute, and smooth with the exception of seta JV5 weakly serrated. Sternal shield with 3 pairs of setae (St1–St3) and 2 pairs of lyrifissures. Setae St4 on separate metasternal platelets each with pore (fig. 1, C). Genital shield with pair of seta (Ge). Narrow transversal sclerotized stria between genital and ventrianal shields. One pair narrow straight-line plates posteroparaxially to setae ZV1 (fig. 1, C).

Ventrianal shield wider than genital shield, elongated, with convex anterior margin, near sub-triangular with lateral constrictions, all finely striated. Three pairs of short preanal setae JV1, JV2, ZV2, one pair of para-anal (Pa) and unpaired post-anal setae (Pst) on ventrianal shield (fig. 1, C). Pre-anal solenostomes (gv3) small, round and disposed posteroparaxially of setae JV2 (fig. 1, C). Four pairs of setae, ZV1, ZV3, JV4 and JV5, 4 pairs of small oval platelets on the integument surrounding the ventrianal shield. Chelicerae normal in size. Fixed digit with 6 (7 on digit of other chelicera) denticles equal in size in two separate rows (2 in distal and 4 or 5 in medial row), movable digit with 1 tooth (fig. 1, D). Metapodal plates elongate, anterior platelet smaller and narrower than posterior plate (fig. 1, E). Infundibulum of spermatheca cup-shaped, atrium large, cervix short (fig. 1, F). Peritremes long, extending forward to level of bases of setae j1 (fig. 1, A). Posterior part of peritremal shield curved and pointed (fig. 1, G). Leg IV with three smooth acute macrosetae: longest on basitarsus, short on tibia and genu (fig. 1, H). Macrosetae on other legs missing. Genu II with 7 setae (2 a –2 ad, 2 pd / 0 av, 0 pv –1 pl) (setae: ad — antero-dorsal, pd — post-dorsal; al — antero-lateral, pl — post-lateral; av — antero-ventral); seta al2 shorter than other setae on the segment (fig. 1I).

Measurements. Length of dorsal shield from j1 to end of shield, Lds 400; width of dorsal shield at R1 level, Wds 180; length of ventrianal shield, Lvas 135; max width of ventrianal shield, Wvas 117; distance between pre-anal solenostomes gv3, Lgv3 38; length of tarsus of leg IV, Ltar IV 104. Length of setae: j1 25, j3 31, j4 15, j5 15, j6 17, J2 21, J5 14, s4 34, z2 23, z4 20, z5 14, S2 35, S4 43, S5 45, Z1 20, Z4 40, Z5 98, r3 34, R1 30, JV5 63; macrosetae on leg IV, MCh IV: ge 27, ti 32, tar 73.

Male from type locality unknown. Non-type male, mentioned above has been studied and drawn here. Dorsal setal pattern in general as in female, chelicera as in fig. 2, A; fixed digit of chelicerae with 5 denticles, movable digit with 1 denticle; spermatodactyle L-shaped; ventrianal shield reticulated with 3 pairs of setae and one pair of small round pre-anal solenostomes gv3 (fig. 2, B).

As opposite to Wainstein (1962) who indicated only one macrosetae, N. bicaudus has really three macrosetae on leg IV.