Neoseiulella steeli (Schicha and McMurtry)

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 : 334-336

Neoseiulella steeli (Schicha and McMurtry)

( Figure 40 )

Typhlodromus steeli Schicha and McMurtry 1986: 181-183 ; Schicha 1987: 133-134; Chant and Yoshida- Shaul 1989: 1029-1030. Neoseiulella (Typhloctona) steeli (Schicha and McMurtry) Denmark and Rather 1996: 74-75. Neoseiulella steeli (Schicha and Mc- Murtry) Chant and McMurtry 1994: 248; Moraes et al. 2004: 295-296; Chant and McMurtry 2007: 147.

Adult female ( Figure 40a – d )

Dorsal shield ( Figure 40a ) — Dorsal shield lightly reticulated along the lateral area: length 426; width 250 (at level of s4) and 246 (at level of Z1). Five pairs of solenostomes: gd1, gd2, gd4, gd6, and gd9. Three pairs of poroids. Sub-lateral setae (r3 and R1) on the lateral margin. Dorsal shield bearing 19 pairs of setae, all smooth, except for Z5 slightly serrated: j1 26; j3 36; j4 13; j5 11; j6 15; J2 16; J5 11; z2 13; z3 18; z4 18; z5 12; Z1 19; Z4 42; Z5 82; s4 21; s6 17; S2 17; S4 15; S5 16; sub-lateral setae r3 20 and R1 15. Presence of numerous small visible muscles marks (sigilles) on the dorsal shield. Peritreme extending anteriorly to the level of j1.

Ventral shields ( Figure 40b ) — Sternal shield 82 long and 85 wide (at level of ST2), smooth, with three pairs of setae (ST1, ST2 and ST3) and two pairs of poroids. A pair of metasternal setae (ST4) on separate platelets accompanied by a pair of small poroids. Genital shield 139 long and 86 wide (at level of ST5), smooth. Four elongate platelets or genital sigilla separating genital and ventrianal shields folded under the genital shield. One pair of poroids close to the genital shield (ST 5) and 1 pair of poroids around the genital shield. Ventrianal shield subtriangular-shaped, 144 long and 113 wide (at level of ZV2), smooth, with four pairs of preanal setae (JV1, JV2, JV3 and ZV2) and a pair of small and circular solenostomes gv3 posteromediad to JV3. Four pairs of caudoventral setae (ZV1, ZV3, JV4 and JV5) on the integument surrounding the ventrianal shield. JV5 28 long, smooth. Primary metapodal plate or inguinal sigillum 30 long and 7 wide.

Spermatheca ( Figure 40c ) — Cervix 9 long, cupshaped.

Chelicera — Dentition of the chelicera not discernible on the specimen examined. Schicha and McMurtry (1986) mentioned the presence of ten teeth and a pilus dentilis on the fixed digit of the chelicera, and of three teeth on the movable digit (32 long).

Legs ( Figure 40d ) — Measurements of legs: leg I 408; leg II 360; leg III 341; leg IV 444. Eight setae (2-2/1, 2/0-1) on the genu II. Two macrosetae, 31 and 30 long, on the genu and tibia III. Three other pointed macrosetae, 56, 64 and 55 long, are observed on the genu, tibia and basitarsus IV, respectively.

Material examined — The female holotype deposited in NSW Department of Primary Industries , Agricultural Scientific Collections Unit (Acarology), Orange Agricultural Institute, Australia .

Adult male

Described by Schicha and McMurtry (1986) and Denmark and Rather (1996). We were not able to borrow the male type specimen of this species.

Previous reports — N. steeli is only known from Stirling Range Parc National ( Australia), on Eucalyptus sp. ( Myrtaceae ).

Figures

FIGURE 40: Neoseiulella steeli (Schicha and McMurtry). Female (holotype): a – dorsal shield; b – ventral shields; c – spermatheca; d – leg IV.