Typhlodromus (Anthoseius) neomichaeli Zannou, Moraes & Oliveira, 2008

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 : 77-79

Typhlodromus (Anthoseius) neomichaeli Zannou, Moraes & Oliveira , n. sp.

( Fig. 38 )

Diagnosis. Characterized by having all the dorsal setae serrate, except J5, smooth; sternal shield with 2 pairs of setae (ST3 on integument) and posterior margin partially indistinct with a trapezoidal median projection; Ventrianal shield subquadrate; calyx of spermatheca swollen proximally, bladder-like, then narrows and flares distally, 3 times as long as wide; atrium nodular, small.

FEMALE. (2 specimens measured). Idiosomal setal pattern: 12A:8A/JV:ZV.

Dorsum. Dorsal shield, 328 (320–337) long and 200 (197–203) wide, reticulate. With 5 pairs of solenostomes. Setae j1 20 (18–23), j3 27 (26–27), j4 24, j5 24, j6 27 (27–28), J2 31 (31–32), J5 14 (13–15), z2 20, z3 25 (25–26), z4 27 (27–28), z5 25 (25–26), Z4 38 (38–39), Z5 42 (41–43), s4 28 (28–29), s6 32 (31–33), S2 36 (35–37), S4 39 (37–40), S5 30 (28–31), r3 23, R1 30. Setae serrate, except J5, smooth; and Z5, knobbed. Setae J 2, Z4, Z5, s6, S2, S4 and S5 on small tubercles .

Peritreme. Extending to level of j1.

Venter. Sternal shield smooth, with 2 pairs of setae (ST3 on integument); posterior margin partially indistinct, with a trapezoidal median projection; distances between ST1–ST3 64 (63–66), ST2–ST2 61 (61–62). Genital shield smooth; distance between St5–St5 68 (67–68). Ventrianal shield smooth, subquadrate, with anterior margin almost straight, 121 (118–125) long, 99 (98–100) wide at level of ZV2, 93 wide at level of anus, with 4 pairs of pre-anal setae (JV3 present); round pre-anal pores posterior to and slightly mesad of JV2. With 2 pairs of metapodal shields. Caudoventral setae smooth and sharp-tipped, except JV5, serrate.

Chelicera. Movable digit 26 long, with 2 teeth; fixed digit 24 long, with 3 to 4 teeth.

Spermatheca. Calyx short, slightly buldged adjacent to atrium, then narrows and flarers towards vesicle, 15 long; atrium small and nodular.

Legs. Macrosetae knobbed: Sge 23 (18–28), St IV 30 (29–31). Chaetotaxy: genu II: 2-2/0, 2/0- 1; genu III: 1-2/1, 2/0-1.

Locality and type material. Holotype and 1 paratype females from Ficus brachypoda , 5 km S Kashiba , Zambia, 13-VI-1992, J.S. Yaninek, deposited at ESALQ-USP.

Etymology. The name neomichaeli refers to the similarity between this species and T. (A.) michaeli .

Remarks. Typhlodromus (A.) combretum and T. (A.) michaeli differ from this new species by having calyx of spermatheca 1.3 times as long as wide. The calyx of spermatheca is saccular in the former and bellshaped in the latter. Furthermore, dorsal shield setae of T. (A.) combretum are slightly serrate and T. (A.) michaeli has sternal shield with 3 pairs of setae. Typhlodromus (A.) coryphus and T. (A.) machaon also differ from this new species in that the calyx of spermatheca is short and bell-shaped and a long tube, respectively; pre-anal pores absent in former.

Figures

FIGURE 38. Typhlodromus (Anthoseius) neomichaeli Zannou, Moraes & Oliveira, n. sp. (female): A. Dorsal shield; B. Ventral surface; C. Spermatheca; D. Leg IV.