Platyseiella eliahui Ueckermann, 1992

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 : 15-16

Platyseiella eliahui Ueckermann

( Fig. 9 )

Platyseiella eliahui Ueckermann, 1992: 20 ; Moraes et al., 2004: 259.

FEMALE. (Specimens measured. Zambia: 2)

Dorsum. Dorsal shield 308 long and 155(150–160) wide, striate. Setae j1 29(28–30), j3 30, j4 9(8–10), j5 8, j6 8, J2 9(8–10), J5 9(8–10) z2 25, z4 28, z5 8, Z4 35, Z5 73, s4 53, s6 76(75–78), r3 38, R1 12. Setae j1, j3, z2, z4, Z4, Z5, s4, s6 and r3 thick, long and serrate; J5 and R1 of medium length and serrate; other setae short and smooth

Peritreme. Extending to level of j1.

Venter. Sternal shield smooth, with posterior margin convex; distances between St1–St3 65, St2–St2 65. Genital shield smooth; distance between St5–St5 65. Ventrianal shield vase-shaped, smooth, anterior margin slightly convex, 100 long, 45 wide at level of Zv2 and 58(55–60) wide at level of anus, with one pair of preanal setae (Jv1 and Zv2 off ventrianal shield), preanal pores posterior to Jv2. Caudoventral setae smooth and sharp-tipped, except Jv5, thick and serrate.

Chelicera. Movable digit 28 long, with 2 teeth; fixed digit 25 long, with 3 teeth and a pilus dentilis.

Spermatheca. Calyx tubular toward atrium and dish-shaped near vesicle, 18 long; major duct inflate near atrium.

Legs. Macrosetae of leg IV knobbed; Sti IV 22(20–23), Sbt IV 36(33–38), Stt IV 30(29–31).

Specimens examined. Zambia: 150 km SW Mpika , on Pteridium aquilinum , 17-VI-1992, A. Onzo .

Remarks. Contrary to the original description and illustrations, the specimens examined here have Z4 serrate. After re-examining the holotype, one of the authors of the present paper (E.A. Ueckermann, author of the species) confirmed the serration of that seta. 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 and Zambia.

Figures

FIGURE 9. Platyseiella eliahui Ueckermann (female): A. Dorsal shield; B. Ventral surface; C. Spermatheca; D. Leg IV.