Amblyseius neolargoensis

Zannou, Ignace D., De, Gilberto J., Ueckermann, Eddie A., Oliveira, Anibal R., Yaninek, John S. & Hanna, Rachid, 2007, Phytoseiid mites of the subtribe Amblyseiina (Acari: Phytoseiidae: Amblyseiini) from sub-Saharan Africa, Zootaxa 1550, pp. 1-47 : 20-21

Amblyseius neolargoensis Van der Merwe

( Fig. 12 )

Amblyseius (Amblyseius) neolargoensis Van der Merwe, 1965: 59.

Amblyseius neolargoensis, Meyer & Rodrigues, 1966: 27; Chant & McMurtry, 2004: 208; Moraes et al. 2004: 41. Amblyseius vazimba Blommers & Chazeau, 1974: 312 (synonymy according to Ueckermann & Loots, 1988).

FEMALE—(Specimens measured—South Africa: holotype and 1 additional specimen; Mozambique: 1). Idiosomal setal pattern 10A:9B/JV-3:ZV.

Dorsum ( Fig. 12 A)—Dorsal shield smooth, 363(362–372) [356] long and 263(246–277) [277] wide. Setae j1 39 (38–41) [41], j3 49(47–50) [50], j4 6 [6], j5 6[6], j6 8(6–9) [6], J2 9 [9], J5 10(9–13) [13], z2 8(6– 9) [6], z4 8(6–9) [6], z5 6 [6], Z1 9[9], Z4 158(154–161) [158], Z5 334(331–337) [334], s4 132(131–132) [132], S2 13 [13], S4 12 (9–13) [13], S5 12 (11–13), r3 12(9–13) [13], R1 13 [13]. Setae smooth.

Peritreme—Extending forward to level of j1.

Venter ( Fig. 12 B)—Sternal shield smooth, except for few anterior and lateral striae; posterior margin straight; distances between St1-St3 56(54–57) [57], St2-St2 66(63–68) [66]. Genital shield smooth; distance between St5-St5 66(63–69) [69]. Ventrianal shield (not visible in holotype) smooth, vase-shaped, anterior margin convex, 104(91–117) long, 60 wide at level of Zv2 and 74(72–76) wide at level of anus; preanal pores elliptical, slightly posterior and mesad to Jv2. Two pairs of metapodal shields.

Chelicera ( Fig. 12 C)—Movable digit 31(28–32) [32] long, with 3 teeth [3]; fixed digit 28 [28] long, with 11 [11] teeth and a pilus dentilis.

Spermatheca ( Fig. 12 D)—Calyx tubular, swollen near atrium, 28 [28] long; atrium large.

Legs—Sharp-tipped macrosetae: Sge I 50 (47–54) [47], Sge II 41 [41], Sge III 66 (63–69) [63], Sti III 47 [47], Sge IV 174(173–174) [173], Sti IV 117(113–120) [113], St IV 78 (76–79) [76]; presence of a prominent erect seta at base of tarsus I.

MALE: Not encountered in this study.

SPECIMENS EXAMINED— South Africa: Munster, Kwazulu/ Natal, holotype female, on unidentified plant, 14-IV-1955, M.K.P. Smith Meyer; Botanical Gardens, Durban, Kwazulu/ Natal, 1 female, on grass, 31- I-1966, M.K.P. Smith Meyer. One female, Mozambique: Gurve, on Camellia sinensis , 21-III-64, M.K.P. Smith Meyer.

REMARKS— Amblyseius largoensis and A. neolargoensis are very similar. The resemblance between the two species is discussed in the remark section of the former.

WORLD DISTRIBUTION—Cape Verde, Hawaii, Madagascar, Mozambique, Reunion Island, South Africa and Zimbabwe.

Figures

FIGURE 12. Amblyseius neolargoensis Van der Merwe (female): A. Dorsal shield; B. Ventral surface; C. Chelicera; D. Spermatheca; E. Leg IV.