Euseius rhusi (Van der Merwe)

El-Banhawy, E. M. & Knapp, M., 2011, Mites of the family Phytoseiidae Berlese from Kenya (Acari: Mesostigmata) 2945, Zootaxa 2945 (1), pp. 1-176 : 42-43

Euseius rhusi (Van der Merwe)

( Fig. 68 )

Amblyseius (Amblyseius) rhusi Van der Merwe, 1965: 63 .

Euseius rhusi .— Moraes et al., 1986: 52; Chant & McMurtry, 2005a: 215.

Typhlodromalus rhusi .— Moraes et al., 2004: 203.

Material examined. Kenya, 4 females, Chogoria gate, Mt . Kenya, altitude 2935m, July 16, 2004; 1 female, 1 male, Mutubia gate, Mt . Kenya, altitude 2400m, 17 July, 2004; 1 female, Kilifi, July 18, 2005; 16 females, Manda Island, mangrove, July 20, 2005; 2 females, Mukaka forest , Kwale, Coast Province , July 27, 2005; 2 females, Nyahururu ( Thompson falls ) altitude 2500 m, May 6, 2006; 12 females, Taita Hills, altitude 1631 m, July 2, 2006; 1 female, Kisii, altitude 1557m, July 22, 2006; 9 females, Kakamega rain forest, altitude 1600m, July 24, 2006 (El- Banhawy) .

Female: Dorsal shield smooth, 320 long, 240 wide, with five pairs of pores. Measurements of dorsal setae: j1 22, j3, j4, j5, j6, J2 5, J5 7, z2, z4 12, z5, Z1, Z4 9, Z5 25, s4 14, S2, S4 12, S5 9, r3, R1 12, JV5 28. Peritrematal shield fused anteriorly with dorsal shield, reaching level of j1. Sternal shield smooth, with posterior lobe, distances between St I-St III 60 , St II-St II 65 , St IV on platelets. Genital shield 87 wide. Ventri-anal shield 96 long, 70 wide, with a pair of crescentic pre-anal pores and three pairs of pre-anal setae (JV1, JV2, ZV2). A pair of metapodal platelets, two pairs of sigillar sclerites and four pairs of setae surrounding ventri-anal shield. Fixed digit of chelicera with three small teeth clustered distally, movable digit with one tooth. Spermatheca calyx 45 long, anteriorly enlarged, posteriorly filamentous, flared distally, atrium conspicuous. Macrosetae, Sge II 22 , Sge III 39 , Sti III 35 , Sge IV 80 , Sti IV 65 , St IV 82 . Chaetotaxy: genu II 2 , 2 / 0, 2/0, 1, genu III 1 , 2 /1, 2/0, 1.

Remarks. The female holotype was collected from Amanzimtoti (Natal), South Africa ( Van der Merwe, 1965). The male was described from unknown locality ( Moraes et al., 2006). This species has been recorded from Burundi, Kenya and Rwanda.

Figures

FIGURE 68. Euseius rhusi (Van der Merwe) (Female). A. Dorsal shield; B. Ventral shields; C. Chelicera; D. Spermatheca; E. Genu II; F. Genu III; G. Leg IV.