Neoseiulella crassipilis (Athias-Henriot and Fauvel)

Kanouh, M., Kreiter, S., Douin, M. & Tixier, M. - S., 2012, Revision Of The Genus Neoseiulella Muma (Acari: Phytoseiidae). Re-Description Of Species, Synonymy Assessment, Biogeography, Plant Supports And Key To Adult Females, Acarologia 52 (3), pp. 259-348 : 308-310

Neoseiulella crassipilis (Athias-Henriot and Fauvel)

( Figure 24 )

Pegodromus crassipilis Athias-Henriot and Fauvel 1981: 72-73 ; Ragusa 2006: 3. Typhlodromus crassipilis (Athias-Henriot and Fauvel) Chant and Yoshida-Shaul 1989: 1011-1013 . Neoseiulella crassipilis (Athias-Henriot and Fauvel) Moraes et al. 2004: 293 ; Chant and McMurtry 2007: 147.

Adult female ( Figure24 a – d )

Dorsal shield ( Figure 24a ) — Dorsal shield heavily reticulated throughout: length 454; width 248 (at level of s4) and 290 (286 – 294) (at level of Z1). Five pairs of solenostomes: gd1, gd2, gd6, gd8, and gd9. No poroid visible. The presence of gd1 was stated by Athias-Henriot and Fauvel (1981), but not by Chant and Yoshida-Shaul (1989). Sub-lateral setae (r3 and R1) on the dorsal shield. Dorsal shield bearing 21 pairs of setae, all are thick and serrated: j1 35 (34 – 36); j3 51 (50 – 52); j4 39 (37 – 40); j5 37 (34 – 39); j6 50 (49 – 50); J2 63 (62 – 64); J5 17 (16 – 17); z2 35 (34 – 35); z3 45 (44 – 45); z4 62 (59 – 65); z5 30 (28 – 31); Z1 65 (64 – 65); Z4 73 (71 – 75); Z5 67 (65 – 68); s4 57 (56 – 58); s6 58 (57 – 58); S2 68 (65 – 71); S4 75 (72 – 77); S5 39 (37 – 40); sub-lateral setae r3 49 (44 – 54) and R1 44 (40 – 47). Peritreme extending anteriorly to the level of j1.

Ventral shields ( Figure 24b ) — Sternal shield 47 (45 – 48) long and 79 (78 – 80) wide (at level of ST2), smooth with distinct striation on the lateral areas, with two pairs of setae (ST1 and ST2) and two pairs of poroids. ST3 and ST4 on separate platelets. A pair of small poroids accompanies ST4. Genital shield 143 (141 – 145) long and 82 wide (at level of ST5), distinctly reticulated along. Four platelets or sigillla separate between genital and ventrianal shields. No pair of poroids visible close to the genital shield (ST 5) and 2 pairs of poroids around the genital shield. Ventrianal shield subquadrateshaped, 160 (158 – 162) long and 168 (163 – 172) wide (at level of ZV2), strongly reticulated, with four pairs of preanal setae (JV1, JV2, JV3 and ZV2) and a pair of solenostomes gv3 posterormediad to JV3. Four pairs of caudoventral setae (ZV1, ZV3, JV4 and JV5) on the integument surrounding the ventrianal shield. JV5 44 (42 – 45) long, serrated. Primary metapodal plate or inguinal sigillum 65 (63 – 66) long and 5 wide. This plate much longer than those of all the species of this genus.

Spermatheca ( Figure 24c ) — Cervix 13 long, cupshaped.

Chelicera ( Figure 24d ) — One large tooth and a pilus dentilis on the fixed digit. The movable digit, 30 long, unidentate.

Legs — Measurements of legs: leg I 316 (313 – 319); leg II 293 (287 – 298); leg III 300 (293 – 307); leg IV 385 (383 – 387). Eight setae (2-2/1, 2/0-1) on the genu II. No macroseta on legs.

This species is easily distinguished from the other species of the genus by the shape of the ventrianal shield and the reticulation of the genital shield.

Material examined — Three female paratypes deposited in Montpellier SupAgro, UMR CBGP, Campus International de Baillarguet , CS 30016 , 34988 Montferrier-sur-Lez, France ).

Adult male ( Figure 24e, f )

Dorsal shield chaetotaxy similar to the female. Ventrianal shield 152 long and 196 wide, distinctly reticulated, bearing six pairs of preanal setae with four or five pairs of poroids. Spermatodactyl L-shaped. This description is based on a male paratype specimen.

Previous reports — N. crassipilis is only known from the West-Palaearctic area. Countries from which this species was reported are: France (Athias- Henriot and Fauvel 1981; Viollier and Fauvel 1984) and Greece ( Ragusa and Tsolakis 1998; Ragusa 2006). It was collected on Pyrus amygdaliformis Vill. and Pyrus sp. ( Rosaceae ).

Figures

FIGURE 24: Neoseiulella crassipilis (Athias-Henriot and Fauvel). Female (paratype): a – dorsal shield; b – ventral shields; c – spermatheca; d – chelicera. Male (paratype): e – ventrianal shield; f – spermatodactyl.