Amblydromalus nakuruensis 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 : 6-7

Amblydromalus nakuruensis Moraes, Zannou & Oliveira , sp. nov. ( Fig. 3 )

DIAGNOSIS — This species is characterized by the relatively short Z4 and relatively long funnel­shaped calyx of spermatheca.

FEMALE — (1 specimen measured).

Dorsum — Dorsal shield smooth, 349 long and 208 wide. Setae j1 34, j3 43, j4 13, j5 11, j6 16, J2 16, J5 8, z2 24, z4 38, z5 13, Z1 18, Z4 27, Z5 62, s4 59, S2 35, S4 16, S5 21, r3 24, R1 13. All setae smooth.

Peritreme — Extending to level of j1.

Venter — Distances between St1–St3 67, St2–St2 66, St5–St5 85. Ventrianal shield 114 long, 62 wide at level of Zv2 and 70 wide at level of anus, with a pair of small pores posterior to and slightly mesad of Jv2. Two pairs of metapodal shields; caudoventral setae smooth and sharp­tipped.

Chelicera — Movable digit 35 long, apparently with 4 teeth; fixed digit 38 long, with at least 9 teeth and a clearly discernible pilus dentilis.

Spermatheca — Calyx funnel­shaped, 22 long; atrium not clearly discernable.

Legs —Macrosetae sharp­tipped; Sge II 27, Sge III 26, Sti III 24, Sge IV 43, Sti IV 26 (St IV broken). Chaetotaxy of genu III: 1­2/1,2/0­1.

MALE — Unknown.

LOCALITY AND TYPE MATERIAL — Holotype female from Triumphetta sp., 39 km W Nakuru, Kenya; 04­XII­1989, J.S.Yaninek; deposited at ESALQ­USP.

ETYMOLOGY — The epithet nakuruensis refers to Lake Nakuru, in the proximity of the location where the type of this new species was collected.

REMARKS — Differently from what is reported by Chant & McMurtry (2005a) for limonicus species group, in this species Z4 is ca. 50% as long as the distance between its base and the base of Z5, there is no distinguishable macroseta on genu I, and Jv2 and Zv2 are not distinctly anterior when compared with species in other groups.

Females of this new species resemble Amblydromalus higuilloae ( Denmark & Muma 1975), but the latter differs by having longer Z4 and much shorter calyx of spermatheca. Amblydromalus laetus ( Chant & Baker 1965) is also similar to this new species, but it has shorter z2, longer Z4, lightly serrate Z5 and tubular calyx of spermatheca.

Figures

FIGURE 3. Amblydromalus nakuruensis Moraes, Zannou & Oliveira, sp. nov. (female): A. Dorsal shield; B. Ventral surface; C. Spermatheca; D. Leg IV.