Phytoseius aheroseius El-Banhawy & Knapp, 2011

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

Phytoseius aheroseius El-Banhawy & Knapp n. sp.

( Fig. 75 )

Material examined. Holotype female, Kenya, Wyaundo Island , Nyanza Province, altitude 1340 m, December 12, 2005 (El-Banhawy).

Female: Dorsal shield smooth, 250 long, 125 wide, with a pair of notocephalic pores near z5 and six pairs of pores. Measurements of dorsal setae: j1 28, j3 39, j4, j5 4-5, j6 9, J2 12, J5 6, z2 12, z3 28, z4 16, z5 4, Z4 30, Z5 46, s4 42, s6 48, r3 35, R1 14, JV5 40. Setae j1, j3, s4, s6, Z4, Z5, r3 serrated, remaining setae minute. Peritrematal shield fused anteriorly with dorsal shield, reaching level of j1. Sternal shield, distances between St I-St III 58 , St II- St II 66 , St IV on platelets. Genital shield 65 wide. Ventri-anal shield 80 long, 52 wide, (L/W ratio 1.6: 1), with a pair of tiny pre-anal pores near margin and three pairs of pre-anal setae (JV1, JV2, ZV2). A pair of metapodal platelets, a thin longitudinal sclerite and three pairs of setae surrounding ventri-anal shield. Fixed digit of chelicera with three teeth, movable digit without teeth. Spermatheca calyx sclerotised, 12 long, anterior half narrow, then suddenly flared towards vesicle, atrium conspicuous, 3 long. Macrosetae knobbed, Sge IV 16 , Sti IV 20 , St IV 35 ; 35. Chaetotaxy: genu II 2 , 2 / 0, 2/0, 1, genu III 1 , 2 /0, 2/0, 1.

Remarks. This species is similar to P. kisumuensis Moraes & McMurtry. The presence of notocephalic pores, length of spermathecal calyx and the knobbed macrosetae on leg IV distiguish P. aheroseius . The male is unknown.

Figures

FIGURE 75. Phytoseius aheroseius El-Banhawy & Knapp n. sp. (Female). A. Dorsal shield; B. Ventral shields; C. Chelicera; D. Spermatheca; E. Leg IV.