Typhlodromalus spinosus (Meyer & Rodrigues)

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 : 21-23

Typhlodromalus spinosus (Meyer & Rodrigues) ( Fig. 11 )

Amblyseius spinosus Meyer & Rodrigues, 1966: 30

Kampimodromus spinosus, Quilici et al., 2000: 100

Typhlodromalus spinosus, Moraes et al., 2004: 204

Typhlodromalus spinosus, Chant & McMurtry, 2005a: 199

FEMALE — (Species measured — Benin: 1; Burundi: 1; Kenya: 3; Democratic Republic of Congo: 1).

Dorsum — Dorsal shield sculptured anteriorly to Z4, with roundish elements centrally, irregular elements sublaterally and few striae along anterolateral margins, with an indentation on each side, near S5/Z5; 332(322–344) long and 202(192–210) wide. Idiosomal setal pattern 10A:8B/JV–3:ZV, a characteristic which distinguishes the athiasae species group of Chant & McMurtry (2005a). Setae j1 29(26–33), j3 33(29–38), j4 15(14– 16), j5 16(14–18), j6 22(19–25), J2 24(21–25), J5 9(8–10), z2 22(21–24), z4 34(30–40), z5 16(14–18), Z1 23(19–26), Z4 48(43–50), Z5 65(61–68), s4 47 (43–53), S2 42 (37–48), S4 30 (22–38), r3 18(16–23), R1 18(14–21). Setae j1, j4, j5, J5, z5, Z1, r3 and R1 smooth; other setae serrate. S5 absent.

Peritreme — Extending anterior to base of j1.

Venter — Distances between St1–St3 64(61–68), St2–St2 65(62–69), St5–St5 71(67– 78). Ventrianal shield 103(99–109) long, 51(43–55) wide at level of Zv2 and 62(58–70) wide at level of anus, with a pair of elliptical pores roughly aligned with Jv2. Two pairs of metapodal shields; caudoventral setae smooth and sharp­tipped, except Jv5 which is serrate.

Chelicera — Movable digit 36(35–37) long, with 3 to 4 teeth; fixed digit 30(29–30) long, with 9 to 10 teeth and a discernible pilus dentilis.

Spermatheca — Calyx saccular, with a distinctly constricted region followed by a flared region distally, 16(15–18) long; atrium distinct.

Legs — Macrosetae blunt on genu I and tibiae III and IV and knobbed on genua II to IV and tarsus IV; Sge I 16 (13–20), Sge II 19 (14–23), Sge III 27 (22–33), Sti III 20 (19–23), Sge IV 43 (40–48), Sti IV 26 (24–30), St IV 55 (53–58). Chaetotaxy of genu III: 1­(2,2)/1­1.

MALE — (Specimen measured — Kenya: 1)

Dorsum — Dorsal shield pattern as in female, 246 long and 152 wide. Setae j1 19, j3 22, j4 11, j5 13, j6 14, J2 14, J5 5, z2 16, z4 26, z5 13, Z1 16, Z4 30, Z5 40, s4 34, S2 24, S4 16, r3 13, R1 13; r3 and R1 on dorsal shield. Setae j1, j4, j5, J5, z5, Z1, r3 and R1 smooth; other setae serrate. S5 absent.

Peritreme — Extending to level of j1.

Venter — Ventrianal shield subtriangular, with anterior transversal striae; 91 long, 136 wide at the anterior corners; with 3 pairs of preanal setae, 4 pairs of lyrifissures (1 anterior to Jv1 and 3 anterolateral) and a pair of elliptical pores posterior to Jv2.

Spermatodactyl — Shaft 24 long.

Legs — Macrosetae blunt on genu I and tibiae III and IV and knobbed on genua II to IV and tarsus IV; Sge I 14, Sge II 14, Sge III 19, Sti III 13, Sge IV 29, Sti IV 18 and St IV 40. Chaetotaxy of genu III same as in female.

SPECIMENS EXAMINED: Benin: Gangnigon, on Securinega virosa , 22­VIII­1991, B. Eklou. Burundi: 16 km NW Bujumbura, on unknown plant, 11­XII­1989, J.S. Yaninek. Democratic Republic of Congo: 34 km E Matadi, Kenge, Bas­Congo, on Cajanus cajan , 11­VII­1991, A. Onzo. Kenya: 5 km N Kinango, Coastal Province, on Acacia sp., 29­XI­ 1989, J.S. Yaninek; 5 km N Kinango, Coastal Province, on unknown plant, 29­XI­1989, J.S. Yaninek; Katumani Research Station, on unknown plant, 26­XII­1989, J.S. Yaninek.

REMARKS — Contrary to the original description and to the specimen used to illustrate the dorsal shield, some of the specimens examined in the present study have serrate j4, j5 and z5; some specimens have blunt Sge II and Sge III.

Typhlodromalus (= Amblyseius ) serengati ( El­Banhawy & Abou­Awad, 1990) was described based on specimens collected on an unspecified substrate in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania. This species was not included in this paper because, based on its original description, we did not find significant differences between it and T. spinosus . Although this species is more similar to T. spinosus than to T. athiasae , the authors only compared it with the latter, in the original description. According to them, the main difference between those species is the shape of the calyx of spermatheca. The illustration provided in the original description shows the calyx to be very similar to that of T. spinosus . The authors also mentioned that S4 is absent in T. serengati , but their illustration indicates S5 rather than S4 to be absent (as also occurs in T. athiasae and T. spinosus ). The synonymy between T. serengati and T. spinosus is not officially proposed in this paper because the type of the former was not examined in this study.

WORLD DISTRIBUTION — Benin, Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Mozambique, Reunion Island.

Figures

FIGURE 11. Typhlodromalus spinosus (Meyer & Rodrigues) (female): A. Dorsal shield; B. Ventral surface; C. Spermatheca; D. Leg IV.