Typhlodromalus tenuicalyx 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 : 23-24

Typhlodromalus tenuicalyx Moraes, Zannou & Oliveira , sp. nov. ( Fig. 12 )

DIAGNOSIS — This species is characterized by a combination of the following characters: dorsal shield without indentation near S5/Z5; S5 absent, dorso­central setae short and calyx of spermatheca slender.

FEMALE — (1 specimen measured).

Dorsum — Dorsal shield sculptured anteriorly to J2, with round elements centrally, irregular elements sublaterally and few striae along anterolateral margins, without indentation near S5/Z5; 278 long and 168 wide. Idiosomal setal pattern 10A:8B/JV­3:ZV, a characteristic which distinguishes the athiasae species group of Chant & McMurtry (2005a). Setae j1 26, j3 34, j4 11, j5 11, j6 14, J2 16, J5 6, z2 14, z4 32, z5 11, Z1 18, Z4 43, Z5 62, s4 43, S2 42, S4 24, r3 18, R1 14. All setae smooth, except Z4 and Z5 which are serrate. S5 absent.

Peritreme — Extending beyond base of j1.

Venter — Sternal shield with bi­dentate median lobe on posterior margin. Distances between St1–St3 62, St2–St2 59, St5–St5 66. Ventrianal shield 98 long, 58 wide at level of Zv2 and 56 wide at level of anus, with a pair of elliptical pores approximately aligned with Jv2. Two pairs of metapodal shields; caudoventral setae smooth and sharp­tipped.

Chelicera — Movable digit 27 long, with 4 teeth; fixed digit 23 long, with 9 teeth and a distinguishable pilus dentilis.

Spermatheca — Calyx slender, 9 long; atrium distinct, small.

Legs — Macrosetae blunt or with very tiny knobs; Sge I 22 Sge II 21, Sge III 29, Sti III 20, Sge IV 43, Sti IV 29, St IV 58. Chaetotaxy of genu III: 1­2/1,2/0­1.

MALE — Unknown.

LOCALITY AND TYPE MATERIAL — Holotype female from Alchornea cordifolia, Umudike , Nigeria, 13­IV­1992; A. Onzo, deposited at ESALQ­USP.

ETYMOLOGY — The epithet tenuicalyx refers to the slender calyx of the spermatheca of this new species.

REMARKS — Differently from most of the species in this genus, as reported by Chant & McMurtry (2005a), the margin of the dorsal shield of T. tenuicalyx sp. nov. does not have an indentation near S5/Z5.

Typhlodromalus sinespinosus Moraes, Zannou & Oliveira , sp. nov. and T. olombo are similar to this new species, but both have an indentation near S5/Z5 and calyx saccular with a distinctly constricted region followed by a flared region distally. Moreover, T. sinespinosus has most dorsal shield setae longer and T. olombo has seta S5 present. Typhlodromalus aripo , Amblydromalus congeae ( De Leon 1965) and Typhlodromalus evansi ( Chant 1959) also resemble this new species, but they have seta S5 present, tubular calyx and much more evident atrium. Similarly to this new species, T. longisetatus does not have S5, but its dorsal shield setae (except J5) are of subequal lengths.

Figures

FIGURE 12. Typhlodromalus tenuicalyx Moraes, Zannou & Oliveira, sp. nov. (female): A. Dorsal shield; B. Ventral surface; C. Spermatheca; D. Chelicera; E. Leg IV.