Typhlodromus sichirei El-Banhawy & Knapp, 2011

El-Banhawy, E. M. & Knapp, M., 2011, Mites of the family Phytoseiidae Berlese from Kenya (Acari: Mesostigmata) 2945, Zootaxa 2945 (1), pp. 1-176 : 61

Typhlodromus sichirei El-Banhawy & Knapp n. sp.

( Fig. 104 )

Material examined. Holotype female, Kakamega rain forest, altitude 1620 m, July 24, 2006 (El-Banhawy) . Paratypes, 1 male, same data as female ; 11 females, Mweiga KWS, Nyeri district, Central Province, altitude 1600 m, July 12, 2004 (El-Banhawy) .

Female: Dorsal shield reticulated, 310 long, 195 wide. Measurements of dorsal setae: j1 12, j3, j4 14, j5 15, j6 17, J2 18, J5 9, z2 14, z3 16, z4 18, z5 14, Z4 28, Z5 46, s4, s6 22, S2, S4 25, S5 15, r3 16, R1 20, JV5 37. Setae Z 4, Z5, JV5, serrated, Z5, JV5 knobbed, remaining setae smooth. Peritrematal shield fused anteriorly with dorsal shield, reaching level of j1. Sternal shield posteriorly concave, distances between St I-St III 68 , St II-St II 58 , St IV on platelets. Genital shield 70 wide. Ventri-anal shield 102 long, 75 wide, with a pair of small elliptical pre-anal pores and four pairs of pre-anal setae (JV1, JV2, JV3, ZV2). Two pairs of metapodal platelets, two pairs of sigillar sclerites and four pairs of setae surrounding ventri-anal shield. Fixed digit of chelicera with six teeth, movable digit with three teeth. Spermatheca calyx bell-shaped, 12 long, 7 wide distally, atrium conspicuous, 5 long. Macrosetae knobbed, Sge II 12 , Sge III 12 , Sti III 14 , Sge IV 14 , Sti IV 14 , St IV 28 . Chaetotaxy : genu II 2 , 2 / 0, 2/0, 1, genu III 1 , 2 /1, 2/0, 1.

Male: Dorsal chaetotaxy as in female. Ventri-anal shield 80 long, 115 wide, with longitudinal striations, a pair of pre-anal pores and four pairs of pre-anal setae. Spermatodactyl U-shaped distally, shaft 16 long.

Remarks. This species is closely related to T. umbraculus Ueckermann & Loots. The presence of St III on sternal shield and macrosetae on leg II and III separate these species.

Figures

FIGURE 104. Typhlodromus sichirei El-Banhawy & Knapp n. sp. (Female). A. Dorsal shield; B. Ventral shields; C. Chelicera; D. Spermatheca; E. Genu II; F. Leg III; G. Leg IV; (Male). H. Ventri-anal shield; I. Spermatodactyl.