Eharius stathakisi, Döker, 2018

Döker, İsmail, 2018, Two new species of Eharius Tuttle & Muma (Acari: Phytoseiidae) from Turkey, with a key to world species, Zootaxa 4413 (3), pp. 482-490 : 486

Eharius stathakisi sp. nov.

( Figures 7–12 )

Diagnosis. This new species also belongs to the kuznetzovi species group as defined by Chant & McMurtry (2003) because setae JV4 are present. Dorsal shield slightly reticulated; bearing three pairs of solenostomes (gd2, gd6 and gd9). Dorsal setae smooth and whip-like except for Z5 which is slightly serrated, and except for r3, Z4, Z5 which are knobbed apically. Peritreme short, reaching to level of z4. Genu II with eight setae; ventrianal shield conspicuously wider at anus level than at level of JV1; one pair of solenostomes posterior to JV2; sternal shield with three pairs of setae; fixed digit of chelicera with two teeth and movable digit without teeth.

Female (n=10). Dorsum ( Figure 7 ). Dorsal setal pattern 10A:8C (r3 and R1 off shield). Dorsal shield oval with a waist at level of Z1, sclerotised and slightly reticulated, with reticulation more apparent between setae Z1 and Z5. Shield with three pairs of solenostomes (gd2, gd6 and gd9), gd2 prominent, others are rounded. Muscle-marks (sigilla) visible on podosoma, length of dorsal shield (j1–J5) 288 (283–293), width (distance between bases of s4) 106 (103–108), width (distance between bases of S2) 133 (130–135). All dorsal setae smooth and whip-like except for Z5 which is slightly serrated. Setae r3, Z4 and Z5 knobbed apically, others are sharp pointed. Measurements of dorsal setae as follows: j1 12 (11–13), j3 26 (25–28), j4 17 (16–19), j5 15 (14–17), j6 10 (9–11), J2 19 (17–20), J5 6 (5–6), z2 29 (28–30), z4 34 (33–36), z5 16 (14–17), Z1 25 (24–27), Z4 29 (28–31), Z5 28 (26–30), s4 34 (32–36), S2 29 (27–30), S5 9 (8–10), r3 32 (30–33) and R1 15 (14–16).

Peritreme. Short, reaching to level of z4.

Venter ( Figures 8 , 12 ). Ventral setal pattern 13 JV -3: ZV -3. Sternal shield smooth, lightly sclerotised, posterior margin of the shield is not visible in some specimens, but if visible, the shield bears three pairs of setae (ST1, ST2 and ST3) and two pairs of pores (Pst1 and Pst2); length (ST1–ST3) 68 (65–70), width (distance between setae ST2) 43 (41–45); metasternal setae ST4 and a pair of pores (Pst3) on metasternal shields. Genital shield smooth; width at level of genital setae (ST5) 41 (40–42). Ventrianal shield elongated with a waist at level of pre-anal pores; conspicuously wider at anus level than at level of setae JV1; transverse striations are visible in pre-anal area, in most specimens three pairs of pre-anal setae (JV1, JV2 and ZV2) were observed. However, four different forms of ventrianal shield (VAS), in terms of insertion of setae ZV2; (a) both sides inserted on VAS, (b) both sides outside VAS, (c) left side outside of VAS; and (d) right side outside of VAS. A pair of para-anal (Pa) and a post-anal setae (Pst); a pair of small pores (gv3) posterior to JV2, distance between pre-anal pores 17, and muscle-marks posterolaterally. Length of ventrianal shield 81 (75–84), width at level of setae JV1 31 (30–33), width at level of anus 52 (50–54). Setae ZV1, JV4 and JV5 and eight pairs of pores on integument surrounding ventrianal shield. Setae JV5 smooth 12 (11–13) in length; not markedly longer than other ventral setae.

CheliCera ( Figure 9 ). Fixed digit 23 long with two apical teeth and Pilus dentilis; movable digit 20 long without teeth. Gnathobrachium is present between the gnathosoma and idiosoma.

SPermatheCa ( Figure 10 ). Calyx cup-shaped 6 (5–8) in length; atrium knobbed; major duct long; minor duct visible.

Legs ( Figure 11 ). Length of legs (basis of coxae to basis of claws): leg I 225 (220–230); leg II 185 (180–190); leg III 165 (163–165); leg IV 205 (200–210). GeII, GeIII and GeIV with eight, seven and seven setae, respectively; Leg IV without macrosetae.

Male. Unknown.

Type material. Holotype female and six paratype females, roadside between Yayladağı and Samandağ Municipalities, Antakya Province, October 17, 2016, on Marrubium vulgare (Lamiaceae) , three paratype females, Yenikonacik village, Pozantı, Adana Province, April 23, 2017 on the same host. The holotype female and eight paratype females are deposited in the mite collection of the Acarology Laboratory, Department of Plant Protection, Çukurova University, Adana, Turkey. One female paratype will be deposited in the Natural History Museum, London, UK.

Etymology. This species is named in honor of Dr. Theodoros I. Stathakis (Agricultural University of Athens, Faculty of Crop Science, Greece) for his contribution to the systematics of the family Phytoseiidae .

Remarks. By having JV4 setae, this new species also belongs to the kuznetzovi species group. Differences between Eharius stathakisi and related species are given in Table 1 and Table 2.

Figures

FIGURES 7–11. Eharius stathakisi sp. nov., female.7. Dorsal shield, 8. Ventral idiosoma, 9. Chelicera, 10. Spermatheca, 11. Leg IV. Scale bar = 100 µm for 7, 8; 30 µm for 9, 10; 60 µm for 11.

FIGURE12. Eharius stathakisi sp.nov. variation of position of setae ZV2: (a) Both sides inserted on shield, (b) Both sides out of shield, (c) Left side out of shield, (d)Right sideout of shield, (e) Left sideout of shield with irregular margins, (f) metapodal plates.