Platyseiella marikae Ueckermann, 1990

Ueckermann, Eddie A., Zannou, Ignace D., De Moraes, Gilberto J., Oliveira, Anibal R., Hanna, Rachid & Yaninek, John S., 2007, Phytoseiid mites of the subfamily Phytoseiinae (Acari: Phytoseiidae) from sub-Saharan Africa, Zootaxa 1658 (1), pp. 1-20 : 17-18

Platyseiella marikae Ueckermann

( Fig. 10 )

Platyseiella marikae Ueckermann, 1990: 19 ; Moraes et al., 2004: 259.

FEMALE. ( Specimens measured. South Africa: holotype and 3 paratypes)

Dorsum. Dorsal shield 330(324–337) [324] long and 176(161–195) [182] wide, with irregular striae anterior to j6 and smooth posteriorly. Setae j1 32(31–32) [33], j3 18(17–19) [18], j4 6(6–7) [6], j5 6 [6], j6 7, J2 8(7–9) [7], J5 11(11–12) [11], z2 11(9–13) [11], z4 7(6–7) [7], z5 6(5–7) [6], Z4 83(81–86) [86], Z5 105(104– 106) [104], s4 97(88–107) [107], s6 81(76–84) [83], r3 46(46–47) [46]; R1 13(12–13) [13]. Setae j1, Z4, Z5, s4, s6 and r3 long, thick, serrate; j3 of medium length, thick and serrate; other setae small and smooth.

Peritreme. Extending to level between j1 and j3.

Venter. Sternal shield smooth, with posterior margin irregular; distances between St1-St3 64(62–65) [65], St2–St2 65(64–66) [66]. Genital shield smooth; distance between St5–St5 68(66–69). Ventrianal shield vaseshaped, smooth, anterior margin slightly convex, 113(109–117) long, 66(65–66) wide at level of Zv2 and 65(63–66) wide at level of anus, with 2 pairs of preanal setae (Jv1 off ventrianal shield), preanal pores posterior and slightly laterad to Jv2. Caudoventral setae smooth, except Jv5, serrate.

Chelicera. Movable digit 32(31–33) [33] long, with 2 teeth; fixed digit 30(29–30) [30] long, with 3 teeth and a pilus dentilis.

Spermatheca. Calyx tubular toward atrium and dish-shaped near vesicle, 15(14–17) long; major duct inflate near atrium.

Legs. Macrosetae of leg IV knobbed; Sge IV 16(12–22) [14], Sti IV 34(33–36) [36], Sbt IV 36(33–37) [36], Stt IV 29(27–30) [28], most of the other leg setae blunt distally.

Specimens examined. Holotype female and 3 paratype females, South Africa: Western Cape Province, Outeniqua Pass, near George, on Dryopterus sp., 24-VIII-1988, E.A. Ueckermann.

Remarks: This species has setae J2 and R1 present, setae r3 inserted on dorsal shield, setae Jv1 inserted off the ventrianal shield and preanal pores widely separated and therefore it belongs to the platypilis species group ( Chant & McMurtry 1994).

World distribution. South Africa.

Figures

FIGURE 10. Platyseiella marikae Ueckermann (female): A. Dorsal shield; B. Ventral surface; C. Spermatheca; D. Chelicera; E. Leg IV.