Amblyseius meridionalis Berlese, 1914

Kolodochka, L. O., 2024, Predatory Mites (Parasitiformes, Phytoseiidae) Of The Fauna Of Ukraine: Review Of The Genus Amblyseius With A Key To Species, Zoodiversity 58 (6), pp. 461-496 : 473-475

Amblyseius meridionalis Berlese, 1914 ( fig. 6 )

Amblyseius obtusus var. meridionalis ( Berlese, 1914) : 144.

Amblyseius meridionalis : Athias-Henriot, 1958: 32.

Typhlodromus (Amblyseius) meridionalis : Chant, 1959: 85.

Phytoseiulus (Proprioseius) meridionalis : Wainstein, 1962: 17.

Typhlodromus meridionalis : Hirschmann, 1962: Taf. 11, fig. 217.

Typhlodromus (Typhlodromus) meridionalis : Westerboer & Bernhard, 1963: 690.

Material. Type. Holotype}, Italy, Basilicata, Potenza , in humus (collection date No. of the specimen unknown, not located, not examined).

Non-type. 14 specimens (12}, 2 {) — Autonomous Republic of Crimea, Donetsk, Odesa, Poltava, Cherkasy Regions .

R e d e s c r i p t i o n. F e m a l e. The dorsal shield ( fig. 6 , 1 ) is well sclerotised, with a dark marginal border, ovoid, frontally narrowed, with light lateral notches; smooth, 7 pairs of solenostomes (it, iv, id, isc, il, is, ic), the largest are ic. All dorsal setae are smooth and sharp. Setae PM4 are very long, whip-shaped, PM3 are long, AD1, AL3, AM1 are elongated, the rest are short or microsetae. Seta AM1 extends far beyond theca AL1. Setae AL1, AL2, PL1 and PL2 of equal length; PL3 is slightly (2 μ) longer than them. Peritremes reach theca AD1. The ventrianal shield ( fig. 6 , 2 ) is somewhat wider than the genital shield, rounded-pentagonal; transversely striated, anal pores small, not close together, round. Metapodal scutes elongated, the anterior one no less than 1.4 times shorter than the larger posterior one ( fig. 6 , 3 ). The posterior part of the peritremal shield is curved, with almost parallel edges, with a pore at the end ( fig. 6 , 4 ). On Df there are 4 chelicerae (3 small distal and a large medial one), on Dm there are 2 ( fig. 6 , 5 ). The funnel of the spermatheca is large, widening towards the sac, its walls are evenly thickened; the atrium is massive, sessile; large duct ( fig. 6, 6 ). Leg IV has 3 long macrochaetes; the largest is on the knee ( fig. 6 , 7 ). The genu and tibia III, as well as genu II, also have macrochaetes, but of much shorter length.

Measurements: Lds 365, Wds 252; Lvas 120, Wvas 102, Lian 41, Ltar 123; setae length: AD1 24; AD2, AD3; AD4 – 5; PD2 5; PD4 12; AM1 47; AM2 4; AL1 10; AL2 10; AL3 73; PL1 10; PL2 10; PL3 12; PM1 7; PM3 107; PM4 188; AS 11; PS 8; PV 86; MChIV: ge 90, ti 75, ta 65, MChIII: ge 38, MChII: ge 33.

Male. Preanal setae 3 pairs; anal pores round, spaced ( fig. 6 , 8 ). The spermatodactyl is massive, L-shaped, flattened at the end in the form of a “scapula” and bent back at an angle ( fig. 6 , 9 ). Lds — 310.

D i f f e r e n t i a l d i a g n o s i s. Amblyseius meridionalis differs from the very similar A. neobernhardi Athias-Henriot in having relatively shorter setae PM4, a cone-shaped funnel of the spermatheca, and fewer teeth on both fingers of the cheliceral claw (in A. neobernhardi the length of PM4 is about 215 μ, the funnel is cylindrical, Df of the chelicerae with 8 teeth, and Dm – with 3).

D i s t r i b u t i o n, h a b i t a t, o c c u r r e n c e. Europe, South Caucasus (Aserbaidjan), North Africa ( Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia), North America ( USA, Canada). In Ukraine: Wood-and-Steppe, Steppe, Crimea (seaside slope of the Main Mountain Range), soil, nests of small rodents and burrowing birds; common.

Note. Description, morphometry and illustrations are given for non-type specimens from the Odesa Region after comparing them with voucher specimens from the collection of B. A. Wainstein and with illustrations of this species in publications by various authors.

Figures

Fig. 6. Amblyseius meridionalis (Berlese, 1914).} (1–7), {(8, 9): 1 — dorsal shield; 2 —ventral body surface; 3 — metapodal plates; 4 — caudal part of peritremal shield; 5 — chelicera; 6 — spermatheca; 7 — fragment of leg IV; 8 — ventrianal shield; 9 — chelicera.

Fig. 1. Amblyseius andersoni (Chant, 1957).} (1–7), {(8, 9): 1 — dorsal shield; 2 — ventral body surface; 3 — metapodal plates; 4 — posterior part of peritremal schield; 5 — chelicera; 6 — spermatheca; 7 — fragment of leg IV; 8— ventrianal shield; 9 — chelicera.

Fig.2. Amblyseius filixis Karg, 1970.} (1–7), {(8, 9): 1 — dorsal shield; 2 — ventral body surface; 3 —metapodal plates; 4 — caudal part of peritremal schield; 5 — chelicera; 6 — spermatheca; 7 — fragment of leg IV; 8 — ventrianal shield; 9 — chelicera.

Fig. 3. Amblyseius irinae Wainstein et Arutunjan, 1973.} (1–7), {(8, 9): 1 — dorsal shield; 2 — ventral body surface; 3 — metapodal plates; 4 — caudal part of peritremal shield; 5 — chelicera; 6 — spermatheca; 7 — fragment of leg IV; 8 — ventrianal shield; 9 — chelicera.

Fig.4.Amblyseius kalandadzei Gomelauri, 1968 b.} (1–7), {(8, 9): 1 — dorsal shield; 2 — caudal part of ventral body surface; 3 — metapodal plates; 4 — caudal part of peritremal shield; 5 — chelicera; 6 — spermatheca; 7 — fragment of leg IV; 8 — ventrianal shield; 9 — chelicera.

Fig. 5. Amblyseius krantzi(Chant,1959).} (1–7), {(8, 9): 1 — dorsal shield; 2 —ventral body surface; 3 — metapodal plates; 4 — caudal part of peritremal shield; 5 — chelicera; 6 — spermatheca; 7 — fragment of leg IV; 8 — ventrianal shield; 9 — chelicera.

Fig. 7. Amblyseius microorientalis Wainstein & Begjarov, 1971.} (1–7), {(8, 9): 1 — dorsal shield; 2 —ventral body surface; 3 — metapodal plates; 4 — caudal part of peritremal shield; 5 — chelicera; 6 — spermatheca; 7 — fragment of leg IV; 8 — ventrianal shield; 9 — chelicera.

Fig. 8. Amblyseius nemorivagus Athias-Henriot, 1961.} (1–7), {(8, 9): 1 — dorsal shield; 2 — ventral body surface; 3 — metapodal plates; 4 — caudal part of peritremal shield; 5 — chelicera; 6 — spermatheca; 7 — fragment of leg IV; 8 — ventrianal shield; 9 — chelicera.

Fig. 9. Amblyseius neobernhardi Athias-Henriot, 1966.}: 1 — dorsal shield; 2 — ventral body surface; 3 — metapodal plates; 4 — caudal part of peritremal shield;5 — chelicerae; 6 — spermatheca; 7 — fragment of leg IV.