Neoseiulus pseudotauricus Papadoulis, Emmanouel & Kapaxidi, 2009

Tixier, Marie-Stephane, Allam, Latifa, Douin, Martial & Kreiter, Serge, 2016, Phytoseiidae (Acari: Mesostigmata) of Morocco: new records, descriptions of five new species, re-descriptions of two species, and key for identification, Zootaxa 4067 (5), pp. 501-551 : 513-514

Neoseiulus pseudotauricus Papadoulis, Emmanouel & Kapaxidi, 2009

Neoseiulus pseudotauricus Papadoulis, Emmanouel & Kapaxidi, 2009: 95 .

This species has been recently described from Greece (Papadoulis et al., 2009). This is the first report of this species after its description. Nothing is known of its biology.

Specimens examined: 2002, Algelmane Mountain Pass on Securigera securidaca (Fabaceae) (2 females), Beni Slimane on Cistus mumbyi (Cistaceae) (1 female).

Previous records: Greece.

Redescription of the adult female (n = 3)

As the initial drawings of the description are excellent, new drawings are not presented in this paper.

Dorsum. Dorsal shield 351 (330−372) long and 202 (200−205) wide, lightly reticulated all along the dorsal shield, with five solenostomes (gd1, gd2, gd6, gd8 and gd9), 17 pairs of dorsal setae and two pairs of sub-lateral setae: j1 22 (20−23), j3 24 (20−27), j4 13 (12−14), j5 13, j6 15, J2 14 (12−15), J5 8 (7−9), z2 22 (20−23), Z1 22 (20−23), z4 25, z5 11 (10−12), Z4 39 (35−48), Z5 65 (60−75), s4 35 (33−40), S2 33, S4 23 (22−25), S5 18 (12−22), r3 26 (22−27), R1 22 (20−23). All setae smooth. Peritreme extending to j1.

Venter. All shields lightly reticulated. Sternal shield with three pairs of setae and two pairs of lyrifissures (not visible in our specimen); a pair of sternal setae (ST4) on small metasternal plates; posterior margin straight. Distances between ST1 – ST3 68 (63−70), ST2 – ST2 63 (60−65), ST5–ST5 67 (65−70). Two pairs of metapodal plates 27 (25−28) long, 5 (5−6) wide for the largest and 13 (12−15) long and 2 wide for the smallest. Ventri-anal shield with three pairs of pre-anal setae JV1, JV2, ZV2 and pre-anal pores present. Membrane surrounding ventrianal shield with four pairs of setae ZV1, ZV3, JV4 and JV5; ventri-anal shield 123 (115−130) long, 111 (105−115) wide at anterior corners, and 100 (95−103) wide at level of anus. JV5 68 (66−70) long.

Legs. Legs IV with three macrosetae on the genu, Sge IV 46 (43−50), tibia, Ti IV 38 (35−40) and basitarsus, ST IV 66 (57−70). Chaetotactic formula of genu II: seven setae, 2 2/1, 2/0 1; genu III: seven setae, 1 2/1, 2/0 1. Length of leg I: 325, II: 275 (180−210), III: 280 (185−195), IV: 350.

Chelicera. Fixed digit 30 long with one tooth; and movable digit 32 long with two teeth.

Spermatheca. With an elongated cervix, 38 long, atrium inserted at the basis of the cervix.