Neonidulus

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 : 3-4

Neonidulus gen nov. Beard & Walter

( Figs 2–22 )

Type species: Schizotetranychus cornus Pritchard & Baker 1955 , original designation

Diagnosis. Three pairs of prodorsal setae, nine pairs of dorsal opisthosomal setae, seta f2 absent, setae h1–3 present; empodia lacking basal stalk ( Figs 2 , 3 , 16), split into two structures each with three prongs ( Figs 2 A– D, 3), often with ventral prong of each pair much thicker than two dorsal prongs; tenent hairs thick with large heads. Insertion of posterior dorsal opisthosomal setae h2 variable in relation to setae h1, from obviously anterior to the insertion of h1 to obviously posterior. Female with spinneret (suζ) broader than long. Live within nests with a thickly woven silken roof, i.e. life type WN sensu Saito (1983; 1985; 2009).

opposite the instar in which they first appear (F = female); parentheses indicate pairs of setae. Trochanter Femur Genu Tibia Tarsus

Leg I

Etymology. This genus name is derived from the Latin “neo” meaning “spin”, and from the Latin

“nidulus”, a masculine diminutive form of “nidis” meaning “nest”, and refers to the nests built by these mites,

with a densely woven web canopy.

Remarks. The dorsal chaetotaxy of this genus is the same as Yezonychus Ehara and Tribolonychus Zhang

& Martin, i.e. seta f2 absent. The empodia of female Neonidulus (a pair of structures each with three prongs)

differ to those of Yezonychus (basal stalk, split distally into two claw-like structures) and Tribolonychus (a

total of three separate prongs, medial claw dorsal to two lateral claws). The legs of the Australian and New

Zealand species of Neonidulus have the same number of setae on tr I–IV, ge I–IV, ti I–IV, but different

numbers on the coxae, femora and tarsi. The leg setal count for New Zealand species N. cornus , N. falsicornus

and N. brevipilus is: female cx 2, 2, 1, 1; tr 1, 1, 1, 1; fe 9, 5, 2, 0; ge 5, 4, 3, 3; ti 8(1+0), 5, 5, 5; ta 16(3+3),

12(2+3), 7(1+0), 7(1+0); male same as female except ta I with 17(4+3) ( Fig. 2 E). The number of setae on cx

I–IV, fe I–IV and ta I–IV for N. tereotus is: female cx 2, 1, 1, 1; fe 9, 6, 3, 3; ta 15(3+3), 12(2+3), 8(1+0),

8(1+0); male same as female except ti I 9 (2+0) and ta I 17 (5+3). The males of the three New Zealand species

do not have an enlarged or modified leg I like those present on the Australian species, N. tereotus ( Figs 2 E, 15,

17).

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.

FIGURE 3. Neonidulus falsicornus (Zhang & Martin) empodia, A. deutonymph empodium III, lateral aspect showing the ventral prong is the strongest of three; B. male empodium I, ventral aspect showing the pair of three-pronged structures; C. male empodium I, lateral aspect; D. male empodium III, lateral aspect showing the ventral prong is the strongest of three. Scale bar = 20 μm.

FIGURE 4. Neonidulus falsicornus (Zhang & Martin) female, posterior dorsum. Scale bar = 50 μm.

FIGURE 5. Neonidulus falsicornus (Zhang & Martin) deutonymph, posterior dorsum. Scale bar = 50 μm.

FIGURE 6. Neonidulus falsicornus (Zhang & Martin) larva, posterior dorsum (slightly twisted off-centre). Scale bar = 50 μm.

FIGURE 7. Neonidulus tereotus sp. nov. adult female dorsum. Scale bar = 100 μm.

FIGURE 8. Neonidulus tereotus sp. nov. female venter. Scale bar = 100 μm.