Phytoseius amba (Pritchard & Baker)

El-Banhawy, E. M. & Knapp, M., 2011, Mites of the family Phytoseiidae Berlese from Kenya (Acari: Mesostigmata) 2945, Zootaxa 2945 (1), pp. 1-176 : 47-48

Phytoseius amba (Pritchard & Baker)

( Fig. 76 )

Phytoseius (Pennaseius) amba Pritchard & Baker, 1962: 224 .

Phytoseius (Phytoseius) amba .— Denmark, 1966: 46.

Typhlodromus (Phytoseius) amba .— Van der Merwe, 1968: 101. Material examined. Kenya, 1 female, Kilifi, July 18, 2005 ; 3 females, Manda Island , July 21, 2005 ; 3 females, Mukaka forest , Kwale, July 26, 2005 ; 4 females, Moana, Diani-beach , July 26, 2005 , Coast Province ; 3 females, Kisumu, altitude 1310, December 7, 2005 ; 3 females, Wyaundo Island , altitude 1340 m, December 7, 2005 ; 3 females, Ruma National Park , altitude 1370 m, December 9, 2005 ; 3 females, Mfangano Island , altitude 1300 m, December 10, 2005 ; 1 female, Rusinga Island , altitude 1300 m, December 10, 2005 ; 1 female, Ndere Island, Nyanza Province , altitude 1300 m, December 12, 2005 ( El-Banhawy ) .

Female: Dorsal shield smooth, 240 long, 127 wide, with a pair of notocephalic pores near z5 and three pairs of pores. Measurements of dorsal setae: j1 24, j3 60, j4, j5, j6 4-5, J2 9, J5 5, z2 9, z3 39, z4 9, z5 4, Z4 76, Z5 70, s4 95, s6 77, r3 37, R1 14, JV5 50. Setae j1, j3, z3, Z4, Z5, s4, s6, r3 long and serrated, remaining setae minute. Peritrematal shield fused anteriorly with dorsal shield, reaching j1. Sternal shield, distances between St I-St III 58, St II-St II 62, St IV on platelets. Genital shield 65 wide. Ventri-anal shield 80 long, 40 wide (L/W ratio 1.5: 1), with a tiny pair of pre-anal pores near margin and three pairs of pre-anal setae (JV1, JV2, ZV2). A thin longitudinal sigillar sclerite and three pairs of setae surrounding ventri-anal shield. Fixed digit of chelicera with three apical teeth, movable digit with one tooth. Spermatheca calyx 12 long, sclerotised, narrow near atrium, but distal half strongly flared towards vesicle, atrium conspicuous, 4 long. Macrosetae stout and blunt, Sge IV 25, Sti IV 32, St IV 33; 30. Chaetotaxy: genu II 2, 2/0, 2/0, 1, genu III 1, 2/0, 2/0, 1.

Remarks. The female holotype was collected from Beni, DRC, May 7, 1955, E. W. Baker ( Pritchard & Baker, 1962). This species has been reported from South Africa ( Van der Merwe, 1968). The male is unknown.

Figures

FIGURE 76. Phytoseius amba (Pritchard & Baker) (Female). A. Dorsal shield; B. Ventral shields; C. Chelicera; D. Spermatheca; E. Leg IV.