Ueckermannseius eastafricae Moraes, Zannou & Oliveira

De Moraes, G. J., Zannou, I. D., Oliveira, A. R., Yaninek, J. S. & Hanna, R., 2006, Phytoseiid mites of the subtribes Typhlodromalina and Euseiina (Acari: Phytoseiidae: Euseiini) from sub­Saharan Africa, Zootaxa 1114, pp. 1-52 : 30-31

Ueckermannseius eastafricae Moraes, Zannou & Oliveira , sp. nov. ( Fig. 16 )

DIAGNOSIS — This new species is characterized by having s4 ca. 40% as long as distance between its base and the base of z5, Z5 ca. 2.5 times as long as S5, Jv5 blunt and ca. 60% as long as ventrianal shield, and macrosetae of legs III and IV knobbed.

FEMALE — (7 specimens measured).

Dorsum — Dorsal shield mostly smooth, with some striae along lateral margins of proscutum, 390 (336–405) long and 274(258–291) wide. Setae j1 34 (30–38), j3 23(19– 27), j4 15(11–18), j5 14(10–19), j6 12(10–16), J2 13(10–16), J5 5(3–6), z2 20(16–24), z4 21(13–29), z5 14(13–16), Z1 16(13–21), Z4 16(11–19), Z5 39(32–53), s4 26 (19–35), S2 18 (16–22), S4 17 (14–21), S5 16 (14–21), r3 18(16–21), R1 18(14–21). All setae smooth.

Peritreme — Extending to level between j1 and j3.

Venter — Distances between St1–St3 71(62–77), St2–St2 72(69–80), St5–St5 80(67– 90). Ventrianal shield 122(96–130) long, 78(67–85) wide at level of Zv2 and 71(62–75) wide at level of anus, with a pair of elliptical pores posterior to and slightly mesad of Jv2. One pair of metapodal shields; caudoventral setae smooth and sharp­tipped, except Jv5 which is blunt.

Chelicera — Movable digit 38 long, with 4 teeth; fixed digit 34(33–35) long, with 10 teeth and a distinguishable pilus dentilis.

Spermatheca — Calyx tubular, with distal half slender and proximal half bulged, 35 long; atrium distinct.

Legs — Macrosetae sharp­tipped on legs II and knobbed on legs III and IV; Sge II 28 (24–34), Sge III 39 (37–45), Sti III 31 (29–37), Sge IV 57 (51–62), Sti IV 44 (34–56), St IV 58 (51–69). Chaetotaxy of genu III: 1­2/1,2/0­1.

MALE — Unknown.

LOCALITY AND TYPE MATERIAL — Holotype female from Capsicum sp., 26 km NE Bundibugyo, Uganda, 09­X­1990, J.S. Yaninek, deposited at ESALQ­USP; 1 paratype female from Vernonia amygdalina , 5 km N Masaka, Uganda, 06­X­1990, J.S. Yaninek, deposited at IITAIM. Five paratypes females from unknown plant, 17 km S Sonda, Kenya, 03­XII­1989, J.S. Yaninek, deposited at ESALQ­USP.

ETYMOLOGY — The epithet eastafricae refers to the region of Africa (east) where the types of this new species were collected.

REMARKS — Ueckermannseius macrosetosus (Van der Merwe 1965) is similar to this new species, but it has much longer dorsal shield setae, shorter peritreme (extending between j3 and z2) and sharp­tipped Jv5. Ueckermannseius havu ( Pritchard & Baker 1962) also resembles this new species, but it has much longer j3, z2, z4, s4 and Z5, shorter peritreme (extending between j3 and z2), a knobbed Jv5 and lacks Jv4.

Figures

FIGURE 16. Ueckermannseius eastafricae Moraes, Zannou & Oliveira, sp. nov. (female): A. Dorsal shield; B. Ventral surface; C. Spermatheca; D. Leg IV.