Neoseiulus bicaudus (Wainstein)

Palevsky, Eric, Gal, Shira & Ueckermann, Edward A., 2009, Phytoseiidae from date palms in Israel with descriptions of two new taxa and a key to the species found on date palms worldwide (Acari: Mesostigmata), Journal of Natural History 43 (27 - 28), pp. 1715-1747 : 1729-1732

Neoseiulus bicaudus (Wainstein)

( Figure 6A–F )

Amblyseius bicaudus Wainstein 1962a, p. 146 .

Neoseiulus bicaudus ; Moraes de et al. 2004, p. 108; Chant and McMurtry, 2007, p. 25.

Material examined

One male from C. dactylon in date palm orchards, Samar, 3 April 2000; one male from C. dactylon in date palm orchards, Samar, 8 May 2000; one male from C. dactylon in date palm orchards, Samar, 29 May 2000; one male from fruit of P. dactylifera, Samar , 05 June 2000; one female from fruit of P. dactylifera, Yotvata , 5 May 2002; one male and nine females from fruit of P. dactylifera, Yotvata , 16 June 2002.

Female (n = 10)

Dorsum ( Figure 6A , Table 3). Dorsal shield elongate oval and reticulate with seven pairs of solenostomes present, gd1, gd2, gd4, gd5, gd6, gd8 and gd9. Dorsal setae smooth, except for S4, S5, Z4 and Z5, faintly serrate. Setae r3 and R 1 on integument.

Peritreme. Extending to level of setae j3. Venter ( Figure 6B , Table 3). Sternal shield ornamented with vague longitudinal striae, three pairs of setae and two pairs of lyrifissures, ST4 on small metasternal shields. Posterior margin of shield straight with two small lateral lobes. Ventrianal shield faintly reticulate with three pairs of preanal setae and a pair of small preanal pores almost posterior to JV2. Opisthogaster with seven pairs of platelets, four pairs of setae and two pairs of metapodal shields adjacent to ZV1. Two slender platelets between genital and ventrianal shields. Seate JV5 serrate.

Chelicera ( Figure 6C , Table 3). Fixed digit with six teeth and a pilus dentilis, movable digit with one tooth.

Spermatheca ( Figure 6D , Table 3). Calyx bowl-shaped connected to nodular atrium by a rather long stalk.

Legs ( Figure 6E , Table 3). Leg IV with one macroseta. Chaetotaxy of genu II: 2-2/0, 2/0-1, genu III: 1-2/1, 2/0-1.

Male (n = 5)

Dorsum ( Table 3). Dorsal shield pattern as in female, setae smooth, except for S4, S5, Z4 and Z5, faintly serrate.

Peritreme. Extending to level between j3 and z2. Venter ( Table 3). Ventrianal shield subtriangular, reticulate with three pairs of preanal setae, a pair of very small pores, posterior to JV2.

Spermatodactyl ( Figure 6F , Table 3). L-shaped.

Legs ( Table 3). Macroseta St IV pointed. Chaetotaxy of genua II and III as in female.

Remarks

Wainstein (1977) synonymized N. bicaudus with N. comitatus . However, Chant and McMurtry (2003) kept them separate based on the absence or presence of a stalk between the calyx and atrium of the spermatheca. Setae Z5 of N. comitatus are also considerably shorter (68) than those of N. bicaudus (82–84), setae Z4 and S5 are apparently equal or subequal in length in N. comitatus while S5 is longer than Z 4 in N. bicaudus .

Figures

Figure 6. Neoseiulus bicaudus. (A) Dorsal view; (B) ventral view; (C) chelicera; (D) spermatheca; (E) leg IV; (F) male spermatodactyl.