Amblyseius compositus

Lofego, A. C., De Moraes, G. J. & Castro, L. A. S., 2004, Phytoseiid mites (Acari: Phytoseiidae) on Myrtaceae in the State of São Paulo, Brazil, Zootaxa 516, pp. 1-18 : 3-4

Amblyseius compositus Denmark & Muma

Amblyseius compositus Denmark & Muma, 1973: 240; 1989: 95; Moraes et al., 1986: 11; 2004: 21.

Specimens examined: São Carlos: C. pubescens VII­2001 (1); P. guajava , V­2000 (2), I­ 2001 (1). Pirassununga: M. guianensis , X­2000 (1); P. guajava , I­2000 (1). Luiz Antônio: C. pubescens , I­2000 (4), X­2000 (6); Myrcia bella , I­2000 (1), X­2000 (1), IX­2001 (2); M. guianensis I­2000 (2), X­2000 (13), X­2001 (1); P. c i n e re u m I­2000 (2).

Associated phytophagous mites: Aculus sp. ( Eriophyidae ) on M. guianensis ; Mesalox sp. on P. guineense and C. pubescens ; Brevipalpus sp. ( Tenuipalpidae ) on C. pubescens ; Tenuipalpus sp. on C. pubescens , M. bella and M. guianensis ; Oligonychus sp. on C. pubescens and M. bella .

Previous record: Brazil — Bahia, Piauí, São Paulo.

Remarks: The measurements of 6 adult females collected are similar to those given in the original description, except for Z5, which is ca. 20% longer, and s4, which is ca. 15% shorter. The average measurements followed by the respective ranges (in parentheses) are: dorsal shield length 327 (318–335), width 195 (188–200), j1 27 (25–28), j3 45 (40–48), j4 6 (4–8), j5 4 (4–5), j6 6 (4–8), J2 6 (4–8), J5 7 (6–8), z2 12 (9–15), z4 10 (8–11), z5 4 (3– 5), Z1 6 (5–8), Z4 81 (75–88), Z5 125 (123–133), s4 70 (68–73), S2 9 (8–10), S4 7 (5–9), S5 9 (5–10), r3 16 (15–18), R1 11 (8–13), Sge I 29 (28–30), Sge II 31 (28–33), Sge III 32 (25–35), Sti III 23 (23–25), Sge IV 58 (48–63), Sti IV 35 (30–40), St IV 57 (53–60), St1– St3 60 (58–63), St2–St2 75, St5–St5 68 (63–73), length of ventrianal shield 112 (108– 115), width at ZV2 level 72 (70–75), width at anus level 70, length of calyx of spermatheca 6 (5–8).

The measurements of a single male are: dorsal shield length 258, width 175, j1 23, j3 40, j4 8, j5 4, j6 8, J2 8, J5 8, z2 10, z4 13, z5 4, Z1 8, Z4 63, Z5 95, s4 58, S2 8, S4 8, S5 8, r3 15, R1 8, Sge I 25, Sge II 25, Sge III 20, Sge IV 43, Sti IV 28, St IV 50, width of ventrianal shield 133 at anterior corners, length of shaft of spermadactyl 13. This is the first description of a male of this species.