Phytoseius kassasini Basha & Yousef

Abo-Shnaf, Reham I. A. & De, Gilberto J., 2014, Phytoseiid mites (Acari: Phytoseiidae) from Egypt, with new records, descriptions of new species, and a key to species, Zootaxa 3865 (1), pp. 1-71 : 35-36

Phytoseius kassasini Basha & Yousef

Phytoseius kassasini Basha & Yousef, 2000: 233 .

Female (two specimens).

Dorsal shield mostly smooth, with few striae anterolaterad of Z4 and sparse median reticulation anterior to j2; 289, 294 long and 146, 148 wide, with 16 pairs of setae. Setae j 1 29, 31; j3 49, 60; j 4 14, 16; j 5 14, 16; j 6 20, 23; J 2 21, 26; J 5 10, 16; z2 18; z3 44; z 4 20, 21; z 5 14, 16; Z4 62, 68; Z5 88, 91; s4 96, 104; s6 112; r3 49; R1 26. Dorsal setae serrate. Peritreme extending to level of z3.

Venter. Sternal shield smooth, with three pairs of setae and two pairs of lyrifissures. Distances between st1–st1 57; st2–st2 65, 68; st3–st3 73; st4–st4 83. Genital shield smooth; distance between st5–st5 62, 64. Ventrianal shield vase-shaped, smooth; 100, 101 long, 60 wide at ZV2 level and 57 wide at level of anus; with three pairs of pre-anal setae and a pair of pre-anal pores. Seta JV5 65, 68. Ventral setae smooth, except JV5, serrate. One pair of metapodal plates.

Spermatheca. Calyx of spermatheca tubular, 18 long; atrium distinct.

Gnathosoma. Corniculi slightly distally convergent; basal width of corniculus 3, distance between bases of corniculi 8. Movable cheliceral digit 23, 25 long, with one tooth; fixed digit 23, 25 long, with 2–3 teeth.

Legs. Macroseta with tiny distal knob: St IV 36; chaetotaxy of genu II 2, 2/0, 2/0, 1; genu III 1, 2/0, 2/0, 1.

Specimens examined. Two females from L. camara leaves, at Dakahlia governorate, May 2006 (coll. R.I.A. Abo-Shnaf).

Previous records from Egypt. Ismailia governorate ( Basha & Yousef, 2000).

Remarks. This species was originally described from the holotype female and five paratype females collected in Kassasin Horticultural Station, Kassasin, Ismailia governorate, Egypt. The original description was detailed, with illustrations and setal measurements. The longer setae of the females examined are 1.2–1.5 times as long as the measurements provided by Basha & Yousef (2000).