Neoseiulella ferraguti Moraza & Peña-Estévez, 2006

Estévez, María Lourdes Moraza Miguel Á Ngel Peña, 2006, A new species of Neoseiulella (Acari: Phytoseiidae) from the Macaronesian Region, Canary Islands, Zootaxa 1366, pp. 55-59 : 56-58

Neoseiulella ferraguti Moraza & Peña-Estévez , sp. nov.

Figures 1–7

Diagnosis. Dorsal shield 387 long, 258 wide at level of S2, with smooth surface. Heterogeneous dorsal setae: setae z2 = J5 and at least three times shorter than s6; Z5 at least five times longer than J5; J5 well developed. Sternal shield of female with two pairs of sternal setae; ventrianal shield of female with four pairs of preanal setae and a pair of well separated pores. Poculiform spermatheca. Macroseta on genu, tibia and basitarsus on leg IV. Ventrianal shield in male with seven pairs of preanal setae.

Female ( Figures 1–4 ) (1 specimen measured).

Idiosoma dorsum ( Figure 1 ): Dorsal shield oval, 387 long, 258 wide at level of S2, with smooth surface. Nineteen pairs of smooth dorsal setae except for Z4 and Z5, which are slightly serrate. Marginal setae located on small tubercles. Length of setae j1 = 28, j3 = 47, j4 = j5 = 30, j6 = 37, J2 = 34, J5 = 17, z2 = 62, z3 = 52, z4 = 47, z5 =30, Z1 = 34, Z4 = 77, Z5 = 96, s4 = s6 = 62, S2 = 71, S4 = 51, S5 = 32, r3 = 28, R1 = 40. Peritreme extending to level of j1.

Idiosoma venter ( Figure 2 ): Sternal shield smooth, with two pairs of smooth setae, st1 (28 long) longer than st2 (22 long) and two pairs of lyrifissures; slightly concave posterior and convex anterior margins. Setae st3 (21 long) and st4 (22 long) and gv1 on metasternal shields. Genital shield (126 long, 65 wide at posterior margin) with posterior lateral margin tapering at level of st5 (26 long). Ventrianal shield (130 long and 120 wide at level of Zv2, 77 wide at level of anus), with four pairs of preanal setae and a pair of wellseparated pores posterior to Jv3. Four pairs of smooth opisthogastric setae around the ventrianal shield. Zv1 (20), Zv3 (13), Jv4 (28) Jv5 (70), and two pairs of well-developed metapodal shields. Calyx of spermatheca poculiform ( Fig. 3 ), as long as wide (13).

Chelicerae ( Figure 4 ): Movable digit of chelicerae (34 long) with two small teeth; fixed digit (38 long) with a row of seven minute teeth.

Legs: Measurements of legs (from base of leg to base of pretarsus) as follows: leg I: 400, leg II: 272, leg III: 296 and leg IV: 389. Three pointed macrosetae on leg IV: Sge IV 54, Sti IV 50, St IV 57; dorsal setae of tibia I as long as macrosetae on genu.

Male ( Figures 5, 7 ) (1 specimen measured). Body shape similar to female.

Idiosoma dorsum: Dorsal shield 308 long, 200 wide at level of S2, with setae r3 and R1 on the shield. Dorsal chaetotaxy, adenotaxy and poroidotaxy similar to female. Peritreme extending to level of j1.

Idiosoma venter: Sternogenital shield smooth. Ventrianal shield free and faintly striate, with a pair of punctiform preanal pores posterior to Jv3 ( Fig. 7 ) and seven pairs of thin and smooth preanal setae. Ratio length/width: 0.8 (150 long, 183 wide). Seta Jv5 on soft opisthogastric cuticle.

Chelicera ( Figure 5 ): Movable digit with one tooth, fixed digit with two small distal teeth and a basal minute tooth. Spermatodactyl L-shape with a conspicuous heel.

Legs: Similar to those of female. Measurements of legs (from base of leg to base of pretarsus) as follows: leg I: 391, leg II: 267, leg III: 267 and leg IV: 369. Three pointed macroseta on legs IV: Sge IV 35, Sti IV 32, St IV 46 ( Fig. 6 ).

Etymology. This new species is named after Francisco Ferragut, an eminent acarologist.

Type material: Holotype female from lichens on dead log, UTM: 28 RCS 868 606, altitude 550 meters, Chamorga (Tenerife), 25 January 1997; one paratype male from soil and litter of Cheirolophus canariensis var. subexpinnatus (Burchard) , altitude 275 meters, coordinates UTM: 28 RCS 145 386, Tamargo (Tenerife), 8 December 1995. Holotype and paratype deposited in the Museum of Zoology of University of Navarra (MZUNAV).

Discussion. N. ferraguti sp. nov. belongs to the tiliarum species group as defined by Chant and McMurtry (1994). The new species differs from the other species of the group especially by the presence of three pointed macrosetae on legs IV (only two distinct), smooth dorsal shield and the relative length of dorsal setae. Neoseiulella cassiniae (Collyer, 1982) has three not capitate macrosetae in leg IV, dorsal shield ornate, dorsal opisthonotal setae short (their tips do not reach the bases of the following setae) and lacks ventrianal pores.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 7. Neoseiulella ferraguti Moraza & Peña-Estévez, sp. nov. 1. Female, idiosoma dorsal (holotype). 2. Female, idiosoma ventral (holotype). 3. Spermatheca. 4. Female, chelicera, antiaxial view. 5. Male, chelicera, antiaxial view. 6. Male, lateral aspect of right leg IV (genu, tibia and tarsus). 7. Male, ventrianal shield.