Pronematus ubiquitus (McGregor)

Ueckermann, Edward A. & Grout, Timothy G., 2007, Tydeoid mites (Acari: Tydeidae, Edbakerellidae, Iolinidae) occurring on Citrus in southern Africa, Journal of Natural History 41 (37 - 40), pp. 2351-2378 : 2371-2372

Pronematus ubiquitus (McGregor)

Tydeus ubiquitus McGregor 1932, p 62 .

Pronematus ubiquitus (McGregor) ; Thor 1933, p 46; Baker 1939, p 273; Baker 1946, p 255; Baker 1965, p 115; Meyer and Rodrigues 1966, p 19; Salviejo 1969, p 273.

Material examined

South Africa: North-West Province : one female and one nymph from Citrus limon , farm Mooidoring near Brits , 10 October 2002, E. A. Ueckermann. Mpumalanga Province : 23 females and one nymph from Citrus sp., TSB Whiskey Farm, Komatipoort , 30 September 2002, T. G. Grout ; 22 females and one nymph from Citrus sp., Lowveld Agricultural College, Nelspruit , 14 August 2002, T. G. Grout ; 67 females and three nymphs from Citrus sp., Schoeman Boerdery near Groblersdal (25 ° 02.89S, 29 ° 22.19E), 16–27 January 2003, P. R. Stephen ; 42 females and three nymphs from Citrus sp., Lisbon Estate (24 ° 58.89S, 31 ° 27.19E), 21 February 2003, P. R. Stephen. Limpopo Province : five females from Citrus limon , T-Bar farm near Bela Bela , March 2003, E. A. Ueckermann ; 37 females and one male from Citrus sp., Blydevallei near Hoedspruit (24 ° 29.49S, 30 ° 50.39E), 21 February 2003, P. R. Stephen ; 37 females from Citrus sp., Vleiland near Hoedspruit (24 ° 23.99S, 30 ° 49.89E), 21 February 2003, P. R. Stephen ; 49 females and one nymph from Citrus sp., Bosveld Sitrus near Letsitele (23 ° 50.69S, 30 ° 27.69E). KwaZulu-Natal Province : 30 females from Citrus sp., Pobane farm, Nkwaleni Valley (28 ° 469S, 31 ° 289E), 30 January 2003, P. R. Stephen ; six females from Citrus sp., Latham and Chiazari farm, Nkwaleni Valley (28 ° 489S, 31 ° 299E), 30 January 2003, P. R. Stephen ; 39 females, one male and one nymph from Citrus sp., Crookes Brothers, Nkwaleni Valley (28 ° 479S, 31 ° 349E), 30 January 2003, P. R. Stephen ; 10 females, one male, and one nymph from Citrus sp., Freeman farm, Nkwaleni Valley (28 ° 429S, 31 ° 379E). Northern Cape Province : five females, one male, and two nymphs from Citrus sinensis (Delta Valencias) , Iconos farm near Upington (28 ° 23.69S, 21 ° 24.29E), 13 May 2003, T. G. Grout ; 40 females from Citrus sinensis (Star Ruby) , Kromhout Boerdery near Kakamas (28 ° 47.29S, 20 ° 39.29E), 13 May 2003, T. G. Grout ; 35 females and one nymph from Citrus limon (Eureka) , Zwartbosberg near Kakamas (28 ° 45.29S, 20 ° 42.39E), 14 May 2003, T. G. Grout ; 16 females from Citrus sinensis (Delta Valencias) , Augrabies near Kakamas (28 ° 39.9S, 20 ° 27.59E), 14 May 2003, T. G. Grout ; 21 females, three males, and one nymph from Citrus sinensis (Star Ruby) , Zeekoeisteek near Blouputz (28 ° 27.99S, 20 ° 05.49E), 14 May 2003, T. G. Grout ; 27 females from Citrus sinensis (Delta Valencias) , Rooiduin near Kakamas (28 ° 42.19S, 20 ° 289E), 14 May 2003, T. G. Grout ; seven females from Citrus limon (Eureka) , J. H. Retief Orchard near Kakamas (28 ° 45.49S, 20 ° 31.99E), 14 May 2003, T. G. Grout ; 88 females and one male from Citrus sinensis (Navels) , Warmzand near Kakamas (28 ° 44.49S, 20 ° 48.79E), 13 May 2003, T. G. Grout . Mozambique: one female from Citrus sp., Mapinhane north of Cheline (22 ° 16.99S, 35 ° 06.99E), 29 July 2003, T. G. Grout ; three females and one nymph from Citrus sp., Zandamela Primary School, Zandamela (24 47.49S, 34 18.79E), 26 July 2003, T. G. Grout .

Accession numbers: AcY: 02/59, 03/27–30, 03/32, 03/34–36, 03/38–40, 03/226, 03/228, 03/231–232, 03/239–240, 03/242–245, 03/247–249, 03/253, 03/264, 03/273.

Diagnosis

Adults. This species can be distinguished by the following combination of characters: tarsus I as long as or longer than tibia I, two of terminal setae on tarsus I longer than segment and all terminal setae serrated along entire length; members of ventral setae half as long as distance between them and longitudinally aligned.

Remarks

The identification of the South African specimens as P. ubiquitus was based on reference material identified as such by the late Dr Smith Meyer. She studied the type specimens of P. ubiquitus in 1970 and identified the South African specimens accordingly. At present the condition of the type material renders an examination impossible (Dr Ron Ochoa, personal communication). This species appears to be the dominant species in citrus orchards in southern Africa.