Neoseiulella steveni (Schicha), 2004

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 : 336-337

Neoseiulella steveni (Schicha)

( Figure 41 )

Typhlodromus steveni Schicha 1987: 135-136 ; Chant and Yoshida-Shaul 1989: 1026-1028. Neoseiulella (Typhloctona) steveni (Schicha) Denmark and Rather 1996: 64-66. Neoseiulella steveni (Schicha) Moraes et al. 2004: 296 ; Chant and McMurtry 2007: 147.

Adult female ( Figure 41a – e )

Dorsal shield ( Figure 41a ) — Dorsal shield smooth, except for the lateral area of the podosoma lightly reticulated: length 359 (344 – 373); width 175 (166 – 183) (at level of s4) and 190 (183 – 197) (at level of Z1). Seven pairs of solenostomes: gd1, gd2, gd4, gd5, gd6, gd8, and gd9. No poroid visible. Sublateral setae (r3 and R1) on the lateral margin. Dorsal shield bearing 19 pairs of setae, all smooth, except Z5 slightly serrated: j1 24 (34 – 24); j3 31 (31 – 32); j4 17 (15 – 18); j5 16 (15 – 17); j6 17 (16 – 18); J2 21 (20 – 22); J5 11 (10 – 12); z2 18 (16 – 19); z3 33 (30 – 35); z4 30 (29 – 30); z5 18 (17 – 18); Z1 20 (18 – 21); Z4 52 (50 – 53); Z5 74 (72 – 75); s4 38 (37 – 39); s6 43 (40 – 45); S2 46 (44 – 48); S4 25 (23 – 26); S5 25 (23 – 26); sub-lateral setae r3 28 (27 – 28) and R1 20 (19 – 21). Peritreme extending anteriorly to the level between j1-j3 .

Ventral shields ( Figure 41b ) — Sternal shield 73 (66 – 80) long and 77 (75 – 79) 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 128 (124 – 131) long and 63 (61 – 65) wide (at level of ST5), smooth. Four elongate platelets or genital sigilla separating genital and ventrianal shields not discernible in the specimen examined. One pair of poroids close to the genital shield (ST 5) and 1 pair of poroids around the genital shield. Ventrianal shield 124 (121 – 126) long and 98 (94 – 101) wide (at level of ZV2), smooth to faintly striate, with four pairs of preanal setae (JV1, JV2, JV3 and ZV2) and without solenostome gv3. Four pairs of caudoventral setae (ZV1, ZV3, JV4 and JV5) on the integument surrounding the ventrianal shield. JV5 49 (47 – 51) long, smooth. Primary metapodal plate or inguinal sigillum 29 (28 – 30) long and 5 wide. In a paratype specimen: secondary metapodal plate or inguinal sigillum 21 long and 3 wide.

Spermatheca ( Figure 41c ) — Cervix 4 long, Ushaped.

Chelicera ( Figure 41d ) — Six teeth and a pilus dentilis observed on the fixed digit. Movable digit 29 (27 – 31) long, bidentate.

Legs ( Figure 41e ) — Measurements of legs: leg I 369 (364 – 374); leg II 339 (328 – 350); leg III 298 (294 – 302); leg IV 434 (422 – 443). Eight setae (2-2/1, 2/0-1) on the genu II. One pointed macroseta 48 (42 – 54) long, on the basitarsus IV.

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

Adult male

Described by Schicha (1987) and Denmark and Rather (1996). We were not able to borrow the male type specimens of this species.

Previous reports — N. steveni is only known from New South Wales ( Australia), on Banksia sp. ( Proteaceae ).

Figures

FIGURE 41: Neoseiulella steveni (Schicha). Female (holotype): a – dorsal shield; b – ventral shields; c – spermatheca; d – chelicera; e – leg IV.