Typhlodromus (Anthoseius) crassus 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 : 29-31

Typhlodromus (Anthoseius) crassus Van der Merwe

( Fig. 12 )

Typhlodromus (Anthoseius) crassus Van der Merwe, 1968: 50 ; Moraes et al., 2004: 320; Chant & McMurtry, 2007: 152. Typhlodromus (Typhlodromus) crassus, Tseng, 1983: 67 .

Amblydromella crassa, Moraes et al., 1986: 160 .

Amblydromella (Amblydromella) crassa, Denmark & Welbourn, 2002: 307 .

FEMALE. ( Specimens measured— South Africa: holotype, 3 paratypes and 5 additional specimens). Idiosomal setal pattern 12A:8A/JV:ZV .

Dorsum. Dorsal shield 328 (309–353) [325] long and 192 (173–205) [195] wide, lightly reticulate. With 5 pairs of solenostomes. Setae j1 19 (17–22) [21], j3 19 (17–21) [19], j4 14 (12–16) [15], j5 16 (13–18) [17], j6 17 (14–21) [18], J2 21 (18–23) [21], J5 10 (9–11) [9], z2 16 (13–20) [20], z3 18 (16–21) [19], z4 19 (15–22) [22], z5 16 (14–19) [16], Z4 33 (28–40) [30], Z5 59 (50–64) [52], s4 20 (17–23) [22], s6 24 (21–28) [25], S2 26 (20–32) [25], S4 28 (20–35) [24], S5 15 (11–19) [19], r3 16 (15–20) [20], R1 16 (15–20) [19]. Setae smooth, stout and sharp-tipped, except Z4, serrate, and Z5, serrate and knobbed.

Peritreme. Extending to level of j1.

Venter. Sternal shield smooth, with 3 pairs of setae; posterior margin convex; distances between ST1-ST3 56 (52–62) [55], ST2-ST2 56 (51–62) [53]. Genital shield smooth; distance between ST5-ST5 60 (54–65) [58]. Ventrianal shield smooth, pentagonal, with anterior margin straight, 107 (97–119) [103] long, 92 (84– 103) [84] wide at level of ZV2, 81 (74–89) [86] 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 sharp-tipped, except JV5, knobbed.

Chelicera. Movable digit 25 (21–29) [25] long, with 3 teeth; fixed digit 24 (21–29) [22] long, with 5 teeth.

Spermatheca. Calyx cup-shaped, short and broad, 9 (8–10) long; atrium small.

Legs. Macrosetae generally knobbed (sometimes sharp-tipped); Sge IV 12 (6–18), St IV 27 (24–31) [24]. Genu (in addition to macroseta) and tibia of leg IV and genu of leg III with 1, 2 and 2 knobbed setae, respectively. In some specimens, those setae on genua III and IV are sharp-tipped but longer than other setae on these segments. Chaetotaxy: genu II: 2-2/0, 2/0-1; genu III: 1-2/1, 2/0-1.

MALE. (Specimens measured— South Africa: 2)

Dorsum. Dorsal shield pattern and setae as in female, 241 (235–246) long and 139 (134–143) wide. Setae j1 13 (12–14), j3 15, j4 10, j5 12 (11–12), j6 14 (13–14), J2 16 (15–16), J5 10 (9–10), z2 14 (13–14), z3 15, z4 14, z5 13 (12–13), Z4 25 (24–26), Z5 40 (39–41), s4 15 (14–15), s6 17 (16–17), S2 18 (17–19), S4 18 (17– 19), S5 11 (10–11), r3 14, R1 15.

Peritreme. Extending to level of j1.

Venter. Ventrianal shield subtriangular; mostly smooth, with few striae, fused with peritrematal shields; 90 (87–92) long, 124 (121–126) wide at the anterior corners; with 4 pairs of pre-anal setae and 2 distinguishable pairs of lyrifissures (1 anterior to JV1, 1 lateral and posterior to ZV2); round pre-anal pores slightly posterior and mesad of JV2. Caudoventral setae smooth and sharp-tipped.

Spermatodactyl. Forked distally, with one member of fork knobbed, shaft 18 (17–19) long.

Legs. Macrosetae blunt on leg III and knobbed on leg IV; Sti III 14, 11 (10–12), Sge IV 10, Sti IV 14, St IV 18 (17–19). Chaetotaxy of genua II and III as in female.

Specimens examined. South Africa: Holotype female, Kwazulu / Natal Province, Munster , on Phoenix reclinata , 14-IV-1955, M.K.P. Smith Meyer; 2 paratype females, Kwazulu / Natal Province, Shelly Beach, on a plant species of the family Compositae , 13-V-1965, M.K.P. Smith Meyer; 1 paratype female from Kwazulu / Natal Province, Richards Bay , on unidentified plant, 29-XI-1962, G.G. van der Merwe; 1 female and 2 males, Kwazulu / Natal Province, Giant’s Castle Nature Reserve , on Myrsine africana , 3-II-1982, M.K.P. Smith Meyer; 1 female, Free State Province, Golden Gate National Park , on Pyrus sp. , 10-II-1982, E.A. Ueckermann; 1 female, Kwazulu / Natal Province, Loteni Nature Reserve , on Kiggelaria africana , 17-I-1991, S. Neser; 1 female, Kwazulu / Natal, Mkhomazi State Forest , on Malus sp. , 19-I-1991, M.K.P. Smith Meyer; 1 female, Kwazulu / Natal, Ramsgate, on Chromolaena odorata , 3-IX-1990, E.A. Ueckermann.

World distribution. South Africa.

Figures

FIGURE 12. Typhlodromus (Anthoseius) crassus Van der Merwe: Female—A. Dorsal shield; B. Ventral surface; C. Chelicera; D. Spermatheca; E. Leg IV; Male—F. Spermatodactyl; G. Ventrianal shield.