Typhlodromalus sinespinosus 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 : 19-20

Typhlodromalus sinespinosus Moraes, Zannou & Oliveira , sp. nov. ( Fig. 10 )

DIAGNOSIS — This species is different from the other Typhlodromalus species by a combination of the following characters: absence of S5, dorsal shield with lateral setae (except Z5) smooth and calyx of spermatheca basally bulged.

FEMALE — (11 specimens measured).

Dorsum — Dorsal shield sculptured, with roundish elements centrally, sparse striae throughout, with an indentation on each side, near S5/Z5; 340(320–384) long and 210(192–229) wide. Idiosomal setal pattern 10A:8B/JV–3:ZV, a characteristic which distinguishes the athiasae species group of Chant & McMurtry (2005a). Setae j1 34(30– 37), j3 44(38–46), j4 16(14–19), j5 15(13–19), j6 20(18–26), J2 21(16–24), J5 8(8–10), z2 24(21–26), z4 39(35–43), z5 14(11–16), Z1 19(16–24), Z4 54(48–58), Z5 70(62–75), s4 58 (53–61), S2 47 (38–53), S4 28 (19–40), r3 20(16–24), R1 19(14–24). All setae smooth, except Z4 and Z5 which are serrate. S5 absent.

Peritreme — Extending anterior to base of j1.

Venter — Distances between St1–St3 67(64–70), St2–St2 68(64–72), St5–St5 78(67– 86). Ventrianal shield 115(107–125) long, 59(53–62) wide at level of Zv2 and 68(62–74) wide at level of anus, with a pair of elliptical pores slightly posterior to Jv2. Two pairs of metapodal shields; caudoventral setae smooth and sharp­tipped, except Jv5 which is serrate.

Chelicera — Movable digit 38(37–40) long, with 3 to 4 teeth; fixed digit 32(31–33) long, with 9 to 10 teeth and a discernable pilus dentilis.

Spermatheca — Calyx saccular, with a distinctly constricted region followed by a flared region distally, 18(16–20) long; atrium distinct.

Legs — Macrosetae blunt on genua I and II and tibiae III and IV, and knobbed on genua III and IV and tarsus IV; SgeI 21(19–22), Sge II 25 (22–27), Sge III 33 (29–35), Sti III 23 (21–24), Sge IV 52 (48–56), Sti IV 30 (27–34), St IV 66 (59–70). Chaetotaxy of genu III: 1­2/1,2/0­1.

MALE — Unknown.

LOCALITY AND TYPE MATERIAL — Holotype female and 4 paratype females from Elephantopus mollis , 27 km S Yaounde, Central Province, Cameroon, 06­II­1991, A. Onzo, deposited at ESALQ­USP; 1 paratype female from Sida corymbosa , 1 km SW Nkoteng, Central Province, Cameroon, 05­II­1991, A. Onzo, deposited at IITAIM; 1 paratype female from Securinega virosa , 1 km SW Nkoteng, Central Province, Cameroon, 05­II­1991, A. Onzo, deposited at ESALQ­USP. One paratype female from Solanum melongena, Mile 71, Bo Road, Sierra­Leone, 14­I­1992, B.I. Kamara, deposited at IITAIM; 1 paratype female, from Synedrella nodiflora , North of Mayamba, Sierra­Leone, 17­I­1992, B.I. Kamara, deposited at ESALQ­USP. One paratype female from Gossypium sp., 7 miles W Busembatia, Uganda, 05­XII­ 1991, Mugarura, deposited at IITAIM. One paratype female from Erigeron floribundus , 23 km E Kawambosa, Zambia, 14­VI­1992, J.S. Yaninek, deposited at ESALQ­USP.

ETYMOLOGY — The epithet sinespinosus refers to fact that most of the dorsal idiossomal setae are smooth, differing from the closely related T. spinosus .

REMARKS — This new species is very similar to Typhlodromalus spinosus ( Meyer & Rodrigues 1966) , but the latter differs by having serrate dorsal shield setae, except j1, j4, j5, J5, z5, Z1, r3 and R1, which are smooth. Typhlodromalus olombo also resembles this new species, but it has S5 present and Jv5 smooth. Typhlodromalus longisetatus sp. nov. and T. tenuicalyx resemble this new species by the absence of S5, but both have calyx of spermatheca slender; in addition, T. longisetatus has dorsal shield setae subequal in length (except J5).

Figures

FIGURE 10. Typhlodromalus sinespinosus Moraes, Zannou & Oliveira, sp. nov. (female): A. Dorsal shield; B. Ventral surface; C. Spermatheca; D. Chelicera; E. Leg IV.