Typhlodromus (Typhlodromus) athiasae Porath and Swirski

Palevsky, Eric, Gal, Shira & Ueckermann, Edward A., 2009, Phytoseiidae from date palms in Israel with descriptions of two new taxa and a key to the species found on date palms worldwide (Acari: Mesostigmata), Journal of Natural History 43 (27 - 28), pp. 1715-1747 : 1737-1740

Typhlodromus (Typhlodromus) athiasae Porath and Swirski

( Figure 8A–F )

Typhlodromus athiasae Porath and Swirski 1965, p. 90 .

Typhlodromus (Typhlodromus) athiasae ; Denmark, 1992, p. 5; Chant and McMurtry, 2007 p. 157.

Typhlodromus perdibus Wainstein and Arutunjan 1968, p. 1242 ; Denmark 1992, p. 21.

Typhlodromus siwa El Badry, 1967a p. 183 ; Chant and Yoshida-Shaul 1987 p. 1791.

Typhlodromus hellenicus Swirski and Ragusa 1977 p. 75 ; Chant and Yoshida-Shaul 1987 p. 1792.

Material examined

One female from C. dactylon in date palm orchard, Samar, 9 March 2000; one female from C. dactylon in date palm orchard, Samar, 5 April 2000; one male from fruit of P. dactylifera, Samar , 27 April 2000; one female from C. dactylon in date palm orchard, Samar, 5 June 2000; one male and one female from C. dactylon in date palm orchard, Samar, 9 January 2001; three females from C. dactylon in date palm orchard, Samar, 4 February 2001; one female from fronds of P. dactylifera, Yotvata , 21 February 2002; one female from fruit of P. dactylifera, Yotvata , 8 May 2002; one female from C. dactylon in date palm orchard, Yotvata, 9 May 2002; one male from fruit of P. dactylifera, Samar , 30 May 2002; one male from fruit of P. dactylifera, Samar , 10 June 2002; one male from fruit of P. dactylifera, Samar , 24 July 2007.

Female (n = 10)

Dorsum ( Figure 8A , Table 5). Dorsal shield elongate-oval and reticulate with four pairs of solenostomes present, gd2, gd6, gd8 and gd9. Dorsal setae smooth, except for Z4 and Z5, serrate and and longer than others; setae S5 absent. Setae r3 and R 1 on integument.

Peritreme. Extending anterior to level of setae j3.

Venter ( Figure 8B , Table 5). Ventral shields smooth, except for ventrianal shield which has a few striae. Sternal shield with two pairs of setae and two pairs of lyrifissures. Setae ST3 and ST4 on small metasternal shields, third pair of sternal lyrifissures associated with ST4. Posterior margin of shield with a median lobe. Ventrianal shield pentagonal with four pairs of preanal setae without preanal pores. Opisthogaster with five pairs of platelets, four pairs of setae and two pairs of metapodal shields.

Chelicera ( Figure 8C , Table 5). Fixed digit with three teeth and a pilus dentilis, movable digit with one small tooth.

Spermatheca ( Figure 8D , Table 5). Calyx a broad cylinder with atrium incorporated.

Legs ( Figure 8E , Table 5). Leg IV with only StIV, with a small knob distally. Chaetotaxy of genu II: 2-2/0, 2/0-1, genu III: 1-2/1, 2/0-1.

Male (n = 5)

Dorsum ( Table 5). Dorsal shield pattern as in female, all setae smooth, except for Z4 and Z5.

Peritreme. Extending to level between z2 and z3.

Venter ( Table 5). Ventrianal shield subtriangular, reticulate with three pairs of preanal setae.

Spermatodactyl ( Figure 8F , Table 5). Straight slightly curved distally.

Legs ( Table 5). Macroseta St IV with small knob distally. Chaetotaxy of genua II and III same as in female.

Remarks

This species was originally described from Citrus sp. at Rehovot, Israel ( Porath and Swirski 1965) and is commonly found in dust, litter, herbs, shrubs and trees ( Swirski et al. 1998). It is the dominant phytoseiid on Citrus sp. and apples in the hot dry inner valleys of Israel ( Palevsky 1997; Palevsky et al. 2003a).

Figures

Figure 8. Typhlodromus athiasae. (A) Dorsal view; (B) ventral view; (C) chelicera; (D) spermatheca; (E) leg IV; (F) male spermatodactyl.