Euseius africanus (Evans)

El-Banhawy, E. M. & Knapp, M., 2011, Mites of the family Phytoseiidae Berlese from Kenya (Acari: Mesostigmata) 2945, Zootaxa 2945 (1), pp. 1-176 : 35-36

Euseius africanus (Evans)

( Fig. 52 )

Typhlodromus africanus Evans, 1954: 524 .

Typhlodromus (Amblyseius) africanus .— Chant, 1959: 96.

Amblyseius (Amblyseius) africanus .— Pritchard & Baker, 1962: 283.

Material examined. Kenya, 1 male, Mukaka Forests, Kwale, Coast Province , Kenya, July 26, 2005 (El-Banhawy); 2 females, Kilifi, July 18, 2005; 4 females, Pate Island, July 20, 2005; 9 females, Manda Island, July 21, 2005; 13 females, Wasini Island , July 26, 2005; 9 females, Mukaka Forest , Kwale, July 26, 2005; 4 females, University of Nairobi , Marine Station , Diani Beach , Moana , Coast Province , July 26, 2005 (El-Banhawy) .

Female: Dorsal shield smooth with anterior lateral striations, 290 long, 200 wide. Measurements of dorsal setae, j1 28, j3 35, j4, j5, j6, J2, J5 4-6, z2 7, z4 8, z5, Z1 6, Z4 10, Z5 53, s4 48, S2, S4, S5 8, r3, R1 8, JV5 32. Seta Z 5 serrated, remaining setae smooth. Peritrematal shield fused anteriorly with dorsal shield, reaching level of j3. Sternal shield smooth, with posterior lobe, distances between St I-St III 55 , St II-St II 58 , St IV on platelets. Genital shield 76 wide. Ventri-anal shield 92 long, 64 wide, with a pair of crescentic pre-anal pores, and three pairs of preanal setae (JV1, JV2, ZV2). Two pairs 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 tubular, 21 long, slightly flared distally, atrium incorporated in calyx. Macrosetae blunt distally, Sge II 25 , Sge III 26 , Sge IV 35 , Sti IV 30 , St IV 46 . Chaetotaxy : genu II 2 , 2 / 0, 2/0, 1, genu III 1 , 2 / 1, 2/0, 1.

Male: Chaetotaxy of dorsal shield as in female. Ventri-anal shield 97 long, 130 wide, with anterior striations, a pair of pre-anal pores and three pairs of pre-anal setae. Spermatodactyl straight, toe 5 long, shaft 25 long.

Remarks. The female holotype was collected from Lyamungo, Tanzania, and described by Evans, 1954. This species has also been reported from Burundi ( Moraes et al., 2006).

Figures

FIGURE 52. Euseius africanus (Evans) (Female). A. Dorsal shield; B. Ventral shields; C. Chelicera; D. Spermatheca; E. Genu II; F. Genu III; G. Leg IV (Male); H. Ventri-anal shield; I. Spermatodactyl.