Kampimodromus molle (Ueckermann & Loots)

De, Gilberto J., Zannou, Ignace D. & Ueckermann, Eddie A., 2007, Phytoseiid mites of the tribes Afroseiulini, Kampimodromini and Phytoseiulini, and complementary notes on mites of the tribes Euseiini and Neoseiulini (Acari: Phytoseiidae) from sub-Saharan Africa, Zootaxa 1628, pp. 1-22 : 5-6

Kampimodromus molle (Ueckermann & Loots)

( Fig. 1 )

Amblyseius (Kampimodromus) molle Ueckermann & Loots, 1985: 195 .

Kampimodromus molle, Chant & McMurtry, 2003b: 196 ; Moraes, et al., 2004: 96.

FEMALE (Specimen measured. South Africa: 1 paratype).

Dorsum ( Fig. 1 A). Dorsal shield slightly striate, 258 long and 132 wide. Setae j1 16, j3 32, j4 21, j5 24, j6 25, J2 32, J5 13, z2 25, z4 35, z5 22, Z1 32, Z4 30, Z5 32, s4 38, S2 41, S5 16, r3 32, R1 19. Setae distinctly to lightly serrate, except Z1, S5 and R1, smooth.

Venter ( Fig. 1 B). Sternal shield smooth, with posterior margin convex; distances between ST1–ST3 47, ST2–ST2 59. Genital shield smooth, distance between ST5–ST5 41. Ventrianal shield mostly smooth, rectangular, with few transverse striae between JV2 and anus, 76 long, 47 wide at level of ZV2 and 43 wide at level of anus, with 3 pairs of preanal setae. Two pairs of metapodal shields; caudoventral setae smooth and sharptipped, except JV5, serrate.

Chelicera ( Fig. 1 C). Movable digit 19 long, without distinguishable teeth; fixed digit 19 long, with 3 teeth (one at level with the pilus dentilis and 2 distal to it).

Spermatheca ( Fig. 1 D). Calyx shallow cup-shaped, 4 long, 9 in diameter; atrium nodular.

Legs ( Fig. 1 E). Sharp-tipped macroseta: Sbt (basitarsus) IV 20. Chaetotaxy: genu II: 2-2/1, 2/0-1; genu III: 1-2/1, 2/0-1.

MALE (Specimen measured: South Africa: 1 paratype).

Dorsum. Dorsal shield pattern as in female, 260 long and 164 wide. Setae j1 19, j3 25, j4 9, j5 9, j6 14, J2 13 J5 6, z2 14, z4 22, z5 9, Z1 13, Z4 28, Z5 38, s4 32, S2 23, S5 14, r3 16, R1 13. Setae smooth, except Z4 and Z5, serrate.

Venter. Ventrianal shield subtriangular and slightly reticulate, 88 long and 113 wide at anterior corners; with 3 pairs of preanal setae; preanal pores and lyrifissures not distinguishable.

Spermatodactyl ( Fig. 1 F). Straight, narrowing distally and ending in a small “foot”; shaft 23.

Legs. Sharp-tipped macroseta: Sbt IV 19 on left leg and 32 on right leg. Chaetotaxy of genua II and III as in female.

Specimens examined: South Africa: One paratype female and 1 paratype male from Combretum molle (Combretaceae) , Moria, near Polekwane, Limpopo Province 8-V-1981, E. Kassimatis.

Remarks: Tixier et al. (2003) applied morphometric analysis to several Kampimodromus species concluding that Kampimodromus keae Papadoulis & Emmanouel , Kampimodromus molle Ueckermann & Loots and Kampimodromus ragusai Swirski & Amitai were probably junior synonyms of K. aberrans Oudemans ; however, they did not officially synonymize those species. Chant & McMurtry (2003b) also suggested those species to be junior synonyms of K. aberrans , but again did not officially synonymize them. We do not agree on those propositions. Kampimodromus molle differs from K. aberrans having longer setae j5, j6 and z5 ( Tixier et al., 2003) and by lacking pre-anal pores ( Tixier et al., 2003 depicted pre-anal pores for K. aberrans ); K. molle further differs from K. aberrans by having posterior margin of the sternal shield convex instead of concave. We consider the results of the morphometric study of Tixier et al. (2003) to indicate K. molle and K. aberrans to be closely related, but different species. Only the examination of additional specimens collected in the type locality of K. molle may substantiate the differences mentioned above to represent just intra-specific variations, and K. molle to be a junior synonym of K. aberrans . Only the holotype of K. molle was measured by Tixier et al. (2003).

World distribution. South Africa.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Kampimodromus molle (Ueckermann & Loots): A. Female dorsal shield; B. Female ventral surface; C. Spermatheca; D. Female chelicera; E. Female leg IV; F. Spermatodactyl.