Neonidulus cornus (Pritchard & Baker ) Pritchard & Baker, 2010

Beard, Jennifer & Walter, David Evans, 2010, New spider mite genus (Prostigmata: Tetranychidae) from Australia & New Zealand, with a discussion of Yezonychus Ehara, Zootaxa 2578, pp. 1-24 : 4-6

Neonidulus cornus (Pritchard & Baker) comb. nov.

( Fig. 2 )

Schizotetranychus cornus Pritchard & Baker, 1955: 242 ; Manson, 1967: 834 Yezonychus cornus (Pritchard & Baker) Zhang & Martin, 2001: 309

Material examined. Holotype. ɗ. New Zealand, Levin, ex. Elaeocarpus dentatus (Elaeocarpaceae) , xii.1949, K.P. Lamb ( USNM, 2 ɗ on slide; A-27, Lot 50-2779). Paratypes. 2 ɗ, 4 Ψ, 2 deutonymphs, 3 protonymphs, 2 larvae, 11 additional immatures (cannot determine stage, slides require remounting) (all in USNM; 13 slides in total).

Remarks. Dorsal setae h1–3 inserted in commonly observed positions, in all stages. All stages of this mite are orange to red or carmine in colour with light black irregular streaking or black patches ( Manson 1967; Zhang & Martin 2001). The mites live on the underside of leaves of their host plant, Elaeocarpus dentatus (Elaeocarpaceae) , inside natural domatia created at the junction between main veins and side veins, and spin dense webbing over the entrance ( Manson 1967; see Zhang & Martin 2001: 312 for further details).

Manson (1967) listed the number of setae on the legs of the immatures: deutonymph cx 2, 2, 1, 1; fe 5, 3, 2, 0; ge 5, 4, 3, 3; ti 8(1+0), 5, 5, 5; ta 16(3+3), 11(1+3), 7(1+0), 6; protonymph cx 2, 1, 1, 0; fe 3, 3, 2, 0; ge 4, 3, 2, 2; ti 6(1+0), 5, 5, 5; ta 13(2+0), 11(1+0), 6, 4; larva cx 1, 0, 0; fe 3, 3, 2; ge 4, 3, 2; ti 6(1+0), 5, 5; ta 9(1+0), 9(1+0), 4.

Figures

FIGURE 2. Neonidulus cornus (Pritchard & Baker), A. female empodium dorsal aspect (n. b. split into two structures); B. female empodium lateral aspect, showing ventral prong stronger than two dorsal prongs; C. holotype male empodium dorsal aspect; D. holotype male empodium detail, ventral aspect; E. holotype male right leg I, abaxial aspect. Scale bar A – D = 20 μm; E = 100 μm.