Typhlodromus (Anthoseius) praeacutus Van der Merwe

Ueckermann, Edward A., Zannou, Ignace D., De Moraes, Gilberto J., Oliveira, Anibal R., Hanna, Rachid & Yaninek, John S., 2008, Phytoseiid mites of the tribe Typhlodromini (Acari: Phytoseiidae) from sub-Saharan Africa, Zootaxa 1901 (1), pp. 1-122 : 85-87

Typhlodromus (Anthoseius) praeacutus Van der Merwe

( Fig. 42 )

Typhlodromus (Anthoseius) praeacutus Van der Merwe, 1968: 53 ; Moraes et al., 2004: 343; Chant & McMurtry, 2007: 155.

Amblydromella praeacuta, Moraes et al., 1986: 170 .

Typhlodromus praeacutus, Ueckermann, 1992: 147 .

Amblydromella (Aphanoseia) praeacuta, Denmark & Welbourn, 2002: 308 .

FEMALE. ( Specimens measured— South Africa: holotype, 4 paratypes and 8 other specimens). Idiosomal setal pattern 12A:8A/JV:ZV .

Dorsum. Dorsal shield 321 (283–339) [328] long and 165 (153–177) [161] wide, reticulate between j1 and anterior to Z4 and smooth posteriorly to latter. With 5 pairs of solenostomes, only gd4 not indicated in fig. 42 A. Setae j1 22 (19–25) [19], j3 30 (26–35) [32], j4 19 (14–22) [23], j5 19 (15–22) [22], j6 28 (23–30) [29], J2 35 (28–38) [35], J5 10 (8–12) [11], z2 21 (16–24) [21], z3 29 (26–33) [31], z4 31 (28–34) [34], z5 21 (18– 25) [24], Z4 56 (47–62) [60], Z5 63 (55–71) [66], s4 37 (30–46) [43], s6 41 (33–45) [45], S2 47 (42–56) [56], S4 46 (35–52) [44], S5 18 (13–21) [17], r3 27 (24–30) [30], R1 28 (22–30) [26]. Setae smooth and sharptipped, except Z4 and Z5, serrate. Setae r3 and R1 inserted on integument in most specimens; both r3 and one of members of R1 inserted on integument, other member of R1 on dorsal shield in few specimens .

Peritreme. Extending to level of j1.

Venter. Sternal shield smooth, with 2 pairs of setae (ST3 on separate shields); posterior margin with a median lobe; distances between ST1–ST3 59 (54–62) [62], ST2–ST2 50 (46–54). Genital shield smooth; distance between ST5–ST5 53 (48–59) [52]. Ventrianal shield smooth, pentagonal, with anterior margin straight, 109 (99–115) [104] long, 70 (65–75) [72] wide at level of ZV2, 64 (61–74) [61] wide at level of anus; round pre-anal pores posteromesad of JV2. Caudoventral setae smooth and sharp-tipped.

Chelicera. Movable digit 23 (21–25) [23] long, with 3 teeth [, third tooth minute in some specimens, sometimes seemingly absent, in some specimens]; fixed digit 23 (19–28) [23] long, with 4 – 5 teeth.

Spermatheca. Calyx elongate, bell-shaped, 15 (11–18) [14] long; atrium small, incorporated in calyx.

Legs. Macroseta sharp-tipped; St IV 29 (21–34) [33]. Chaetotaxy: genu II: 2-2/1, 2/0-1; genu III: 1-2/1, 2/ 0-1.

MALE. (Specimens measured— South Africa: 3)

Dorsum. Dorsal shield pattern and setae as in female, 263 (247–294) long and 139 (132–146) wide. Setae j1 17 (16–18), j3 22 (20–24), j4 17 (16–17), j5 15 (13–16), j6 20 (18–22), J2 15, J5 21 (20–23), z2 17 (15–20), z3 22 (21–23), z4 23 (22–25), z5 17 (16–19), Z4 37 (37–38), Z5 38 (36–41), s4 28 (26–29), s6 28 (25–30), S2 30 (28–31), S4 22 (17–24), S5 13 (12–14), r3 20, R1 19 (18–21).

Peritreme. Extending to level of j1.

Venter. Ventrianal shield subtriangular, mostly smooth, with few striae anteriorly to JV1, fused with peritrematal shields, 96 (92–100) long, 127 (115–135) wide at anterior corners; with 4 pairs of pre-anal setae and 2 distinguishable pairs of lyrifissures (1 sublaterad and almost transversally aligned with JV1 and 1 laterad and posterior to ZV2); round pre-anal pores posteromesad of JV2. Caudoventral setae smooth and sharptipped.

Spermatodactyl. Shaft straight, 34 (31–35) long.

Legs. Macroseta sharp-tipped; St IV 25 (24–26). Chaetotaxy of genua II and III as in female.

Specimens examined. South Africa: Holotype female and 1 paratype female, Gauteng, Witbank, on Prunus sp. , 28-III-1964, G.G. van der Merwe; 1 paratype female, Gauteng, Pretoria, on unidentified plant, 9-I- 1964, G.G. van der Merwe; 1 paratype female, Limpopo Province, Timbavati, Kruger National Park, on Abutilon sp , 26-IX-1963, M.K.P. Smith Meyer; 1 paratype female, Mpumalanga Province, Crocodile River , Kruger National Park , on Nuxia congesta , 4-X-1963, M.K.P. Smith Meyer; 1 female and 1 male, Guateng, Pretoria, on Aloe cf. davyana , 10-II-1985, S. Neser; 1 female, Free State Province, Gariep Dam, on Acacia mellifera , 3-III-1986, E.A. Ueckermann; 1 female Mpumalanga Province, 3 km from Swaziland border, on Lonchocarpus capassa , 5-II-1985, E.A. Ueckermann; 1 male, Gauteng, Pretoria, on Peltophorum africanum , 24-III-1986, S. Neser; 1 female and 1 male, Gauteng, Brummeria, Pretoria, on Clerodendrum glabrum , 21-II- 1985, S. Neser; 1 female, Eastern Cape Province, 10 km from Lady Grey to Bossieslaagte, on Diospyros austro - africana , 12-III-1986, M.K.P. Smith Meyer; 1 female, Eastern Cape Province, 5 km from Aliwal North to Lady Grey, on Rhus undulate , 12-III-1986, E.A. Ueckermann; 1 female, Eastern Cape Province, Mount Zebra National Park , on Melianthus sp. , 6-III-1986, E.A. Ueckermann; 1 female, Northern Cape Province, Hotazel, on Tarchonanthus camphoratus , 2-II-1987, M.K.P. Smith Meyer.

Remarks. According to the original description of this species, the dorsal shield of the female is completely reticulate; the median projection of the posterior margin of its sternal shield is bi-dentate, and seta Z5, in few specimens, is slightly knobbed. In addition, the movable and fixed cheliceral digits bear 2 and 3 teeth, respectively.

World distribution. Cape Verde, Lesotho, South Africa, Yemen and Zimbabwe.

Figures

FIGURE 42. Typhlodromus (Anthoseius) praeacutus Van der Merwe: Female—A. Dorsal shield; B. Ventral surface; C. Chelicera; D. Spermatheca; E. Leg IV; Male—F. Spermatodactyl; G. Ventrianal shield.