Typhlodromus (Anthoseius) grastis Ueckermann & Loots, 1988

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 : 48

Typhlodromus (Anthoseius) grastis Ueckermann & Loots

( Fig. 22 )

Typhlodromus (Anthoseius) grastis Ueckermann & Loots, 1988: 21 ; Moraes et al., 2004: 326; Chant & McMurtry, 2007: 152.

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

FEMALE. ( Specimens measured— South Africa: holotype, 6 paratypes and 1 additional specimen). Idiosomal setal pattern 12A:8A/JV:ZV .

Dorsum. Dorsal shield 353 (343–364) [353] long and 183 (173–206) [181] wide; strongly reticulate. With 5 pairs of solenostomes, not indicated in fig 22A. Setae j1 21 (20–23) [21], j3 17 (16–19) [17], j4 12 (11–13) [13], j5 11 (11–12) [11], j6 13 (11–15) [15], J2 15 (14–18) [14], J5 10 (9–11) [11], z2 14 (12–16) [15], z3 16 (14–17) [17], z4 17 (15–19) [18], z5 12 (11–15) [13], Z4 28 (26–31) [31], Z5 46 (43–48) [47], s4 19 (16–22) [19], s6 22 (19–24) [23], S2 24 (22–26) [26], S4 29 (26–31) [31], S5 25 (26–31) [30], r3 18 (15–19) [19], R1 18 (17–19) [19]. Setae serrate and sharp-tipped, except j4–J5 and z5, smooth; and Z4, Z5, S4 and S5, knobbed.

Peritreme. Extending to level of j1.

Venter. Sternal shield smooth, with 2 pairs of setae (ST3 on integument); posterior margin with a wedgeshaped median projection; distances between ST1–ST3 66 (59–69) [69], ST2–ST2 55 (53–58) [53]. Genital shield smooth; distance between ST5–ST5 53 (50–59) [52]. Ventrianal shield with few striations around anus, broadly oval, with anterior margin almost straight, 120 (115–125) [122] long, 107 (99–119) [109] wide at level of ZV2, 93 (87–96) [92] wide at level of anus, with 4 pairs of pre-anal setae (seta JV3 present); round pre-anal pores posteromesad of JV2. With 2 pairs of metapodal shields. Caudoventral setae smooth and sharptipped, except JV5, serrate and knobbed.

Chelicera. Movable digit 30 (27–31) [30] long, with 3 teeth; fixed digit 29 (28–31) [28] long, with 4 teeth.

Spermatheca. Calyx a broad tube, 20 (16–22) [21] long.

Legs. Macrosetae knobbed; Sge IV 16 (15–17) [15], Sti IV 21 (19–22) [21], St IV 32 (30–35) [34]. Chaetotaxy: genu II: 2-2/0, 2/0-1; genu III: 1-2/1, 2/0-1.

MALE. Paratype male damaged, unsuitable for description .

Specimens examined. South Africa: Holotype female and 4 paratype females, North-West Province, Rustenburg Nature Reserve , on grass, 11-XII-1979, E.A. Ueckermann; 1 paratype female, Mpumalanga Province, Marble Hall, on Eragrostis superba , 8-IV-1975, M.K.P. Smith Meyer; 1 female, Gauteng Province, Roodeplaat near Pretoria, on grass, 15-I-1980, A.S. Dippenaar-Schoeman. Zimbabwe: 1 paratype female, Hartley, on Rotboellia mosambicensis , 21-III-1969, M.K.P. Smith Meyer.

World distribution. South Africa and Zimbabwe.

Figures

FIGURE 22. Typhlodromus (Anthoseius) grastis Ueckermann & Loots (female): A. Dorsal shield; B. Ventral surface; C. Chelicera; D. Spermatheca; E. Leg IV.