Neoseiulella runiacus (Kolodochka)

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 : 329-331

Neoseiulella runiacus (Kolodochka)

( Figure 37 )

Typhloctonus runiacus Kolodochka 1980: 64-65 ; Denmark and Rather 1984: 75-76; Moraes et al. 1986: 233; Kolodochka 2009: 488-489. Typhlodromus runiacus (Kolodochka) Chant and Yoshida-Shaul 1989: 1015-1017 . Neoseiulella (Typhloctona) runiaca (Kolodochka) Denmark and Rather 1996: 63-64. Neoseiulella runiaca (Kolodochka) Moraes et al. 2004: 295 ; Chant and McMurtry 2007: 147.

Adult female ( Figure 37a – d )

Dorsal shield ( Figure 37a ) — Dorsal shield heavily reticulated throughout: length 382; width 220 (at level of s4), 271 (at level of Z1). Four pairs of large solenostomes on the dorsal shield: gd2, gd5, gd6, and gd9. No poroid visible. Sub-lateral setae (r3 and R1) on the lateral margin. Dorsal shield bearing 19 pairs of setae, all smooth, except J5 and Z5 serrated. Most dorsal setae thick and on tubercles: j1 18; j3 23; j4 18; j5 18; j6 28; J2 32; J5 17; z2 17; z3 26; z4 25; z5 20; Z1 30; Z4 39; Z5 44; s4 27; s6 28; S2 31; S4 26; S5 24; sub-lateral setae r3 22 and R1 15. Peritreme extending anteriorly to the level of j1.

Ventral shields ( Figure 37b ) — Sternal shield 51 long and 64 wide (at level of ST2), smooth, with two pairs of setae (ST1 and ST2) and two pairs of poroids. ST3 and ST4 are inserted on separates platelets and a pair of small poroids accompanying ST4. Genital shield 136 long and 67 wide (at level of ST5), smooth. Six elongate platelets or genital sigilla situated between genital and ventrianal shields. One pair of poroids close to the genital shield (ST 5) and 2 pairs of poroids around the genital shield. Ventrianal shield subquadrate-shaped, 110 long and 108 wide (at level of ZV2), distinctly reticulated, with four pairs of preanal setae (JV1, JV2, JV3 and ZV2) and a pair of circular solenostomes gv3 posterior to JV3. Four pairs of caudoventral setae (ZV1, ZV3, JV4 and JV5) on the integument surrounding the ventrianal shield. JV5 16 long, smooth. Primary metapodal plate or inguinal sigillum 45 long and 4 wide.

Spermatheca ( Figure 37c ) — Cervix 9 long, cupshaped.

Chelicera ( Figure 37d ) — Four teeth and a pilus dentilis on the fixed digit. Movable digit 23 long, bidentate.

Legs — Measurements of legs: leg I 250; leg II 230; leg III 240; leg IV 300. Seven setae (2-2/0, 2/0- 1) on the genu II. No macroseta on legs.

Material examined — The female holotype deposited in the ASU, Institute of Zoology , Academy of Sciences, Kiev, Ukraine .

Adult male ( Figure 37 e-f)

Dorsal shield similar to but smaller than female. Ventrianal shield 120 long and 142 wide, distinctly reticulated and bearing 5 pairs of preanal setae and three pair of poroids. Spermatodactyl L-shaped. This description is based on a paratype specimen.

Previous reports — The type specimens of N. runiacus were collected from Zakarpattia region ( Ukraine) on Alnus viridis (Chaix) DC. (Betulaceae) and Fagus silvatica L. ( Fagaceae ) ( Kolodochka 1980, 2009). Chant and Yoshida-Shaul (1989) indicated that a specimen originally identified as Typhlodromus aceri , collected in the Lake District ( UK), was in fact N. runiacus .

Remarks — N. runiacus is similar to N. sexapori . Except for characteristics of dorsal setae (thick on N. runiacus ; simple on N. sexapori ), the nature of J5 (serrated on N. runiacus ; smooth on N. sexapori ), and the length of the peritreme (extending to the level of j1 on N. runiacus ; extending to the level between z2-j3 on N. sexapori ), all other morphological characters are similar. As several authors have already shown the importance of such characters for species differentiation ( Athias-Henriot 1977; Chant and Yoshida- Shaul 1983; Chant and McMurtry 1994; Ragusa and Tsolakis 1998; Swirski et al. 1998; Chant and Mc- Murtry 2007), we consider that N. runiacus and N. sexapori are two valid species.

Figures

FIGURE 37: Neoseiulella runiacus (Kolodochka). Female (holotype): a – dorsal shield; b – ventral shields; c – spermatheca; d – chelicera. Male (paratype): e – ventrianal shield; f – spermatodactyl.