Typhlodromalus clavicus, Denmark & Muma, 1973

Lofego, Antonio Carlos, Barbosa, Marina Ferraz De Camargo, Demite, Peterson Rodrigo & Moraes, Gilberto José De, 2024, Phytoseiidae (Acari: Mesostigmata) of the subfamily Amblyseiinae from Brazil, Zootaxa 5439 (1), pp. 1-306 : 171-172

Typhlodromalus clavicus Denmark & Muma ( Figure 120)

Typhlodromalus clavicus Denmark & Muma, 1973: 257.

Typhlodromalus clavicus .— Moraes et al., 1986: 128, 2004a: 196; Chant & McMurtry, 2005b: 199, 2007: 111. Typhlodromalus simus Denmark & Muma, 1973: 259. New synonym.

Typhlodromalus simus .— Moraes et al., 1986: 134, 2004a: 204; Chant & McMurtry, 2005b: 199, 2007: 111.

Specimens measured. SP (3) and holotypes of respectively T. clavicus and T. simus (in square brackets).

Dorsal shield of female scantly areolate, smooth posteriad of J2 and with scant anterolateral striae, 348 (345–352) [330; 330] long and 208 (200–225) [204; 198] wide. Setal lengths: j1 33 (31–34) [28; 29], j3 45 (44–47) [37; 38], j4 12 (12–13) [8; 10], j5 11 (11–12) [8; 10], j6 14 (14–15) [14; 15], J2 16 (15–16) [13; 15], J5 10 (9–10) [8; 10], z2 17 (16–18) [13; 14], z4 48 (45–49) [39; 38], z5 9 (9–10) [8; broken], Z1 22 (20–26) [23; 19], Z4 77 (72–80) [66; 61], Z5 87 (85–91) [75; 70], s4 61 (60–63) [53; 53], S2 34 (33–36) [28; 25], S4 24 (23–27) [24; 20], S5 12 (11–13) [8; 6], r3 23 (22–23) [22; broken] and R1 16 (15–17) [14; broken]. Peritreme extending forward to level of j1. Distances between st1–st3 62 (62–63) [59; 65], st2–st2 67 (65–71) [59; 65], st5–st5 79 (78–82) [75; 74]. Ventrianal shield 116 (111–125) [98; 110] long, 64 (63–65) [59; 61] wide at level of Zv2 and 71 (70–74) [62; 65] at anus level. Spermathecal calyx tubular, 13 (12–15) long; atrium nodular. Fixed cheliceral digit 32 (30–35) long, with 8–9 teeth; movable digit 32 (30–35) long, with three teeth. Macrosetae on legs I–IV, sharp-tipped, except SgeIV and StIV, capitate; SgeI 13 (12–16) [22; 20], SgeII 26 (24–26) [23; 21], SgeIII 34 (32–38) [31; 29], SgeIV 61 (60–67) [53; 52], StiIII 22 (21–23) [19; 17], StiIV 28 (27–30) [24; 21] and StIV 71 (70–74) [62; 65] .

Distribution in Brazil. São Paulo ( Denmark & Muma, 1973).

Distribution elsewhere. El Salvador and Honduras.

Remarks. Both T. clavicus and T. simus were described from Brazil. The measurements are similar to those of the original description. In the original description, T. simus was reported to have genu IV with only six setae, none of which ventral; an examination of the holotype of that species showed genu III to have seven setae, one of which is ventral. A comparison of the holotypes of T. clavicus and T. simus indicated no major differences between them, with very similar measurements; additionally, their type specimens were collected from the same general area, in S„o Paulo state, Brazil. Hence, they are here synonymized. Additionally, this species is very similar to T. aripo , from which it seems to be distinguished basically by the ratio of setae z4: z2, as suggested in the key provided in this paper.