Typhlodromips culmulus (Van der Merwe)

De Moraes, Gilberto J., Zannou, Ignace D., Ueckermann, Eddie A., Oliveira, Anibal R., Hanna, Rachid & Yaninek, John S., 2007, Species of the subtribes Arrenoseiina and Proprioseiopsina (Tribe Amblyseiini) and the tribe Typhlodromipsini (Acari: Phytoseiidae) from sub-Saharan Africa, Zootaxa 1448 (1), pp. 1-39 : 26

Typhlodromips culmulus (Van der Merwe)

( Fig. 16 )

Amblyseius (Amblyseius) culmulus Van der Merwe, 1968: 132 ; Ueckermann & Loots, 1988: 157.

Typhlodromips culmulus, Moraes et al., 2004 ; 210; Chant & McMurtry, 2005b: 327.

Female. ( Specimens measured. South Africa: holotype and 1 paratype)

Dorsum. Dorsal shield mostly reticulate, but smooth in the central region anterior to J2 and in the region posterior to the pores immediately anterior and mesad to Z4, 334 long and 208 wide. Setae j1 19, j3 22, j4 9, j5 9, j6 13, J2 16, J5 9, z2 13, z4 13 [14], z5 9, Z1 13 [15], Z4 38 [39], Z5 69 [74], s4 30 [32], S2 13, S4 9, S5 9, r3 16, R1 13.

Venter. Sternal shield smooth, posterior margin almost straight; distances between St1-St3 47, St2-St2 52 [54]. Genital shield smooth; distance between St5-St5 60 [62]. Ventrianal shield pentagonal, smooth, anterior margin straight, 110[110] long, 82 [85] wide at level of Zv2 and 79 [82] wide at level of anus, preanal pores mesad and slightly posterior to Jv2. Two pairs of metapodal shields. Ventral setae smooth.

Chelicera. Movable digit 25 [26] long, with 3 teeth; fixed digit 22 [25] long, with 11–12 teeth and a pilus dentilis.

Spermatheca. Calyx dish-shaped, 2 [3], with a tubular section adjacent to the atrium; the latter kidneyshaped.

Legs. Sharp-tipped macrosetae; Sge I 30 [32], Sge II 25 [28], Sge III 28, Sti III 22 [26], Sge IV 49 [47], Sti IV 41, and St IV 63. Chaetotaxy: Sge II: 2-2/0, 2/0- 1; Sge III: 1-2/1, 2/0-1.

Male. (Specimen measured. South Africa: 1).

Dorsum. Dorsal shield pattern as in female, 268 long and 183 wide. Setae j1 19, j3 25, j4 9, j5 9, j6 9, J2 13, J5 9, z2 13, z4 13, z5 9, Z1 9, Z4 38, Z5 54, s4 25, S2 9, S4 9, S5 9, r3 16, R1 11. Setae smooth, except Z4 and Z5 which are serrate .

Venter. Ventrianal shield subtriangular and faintly reticulate; 113 long and 151 wide at anterior corners; with 3 pairs of preanal setae, preanal pores mesad and slightly posterior to Jv2, additional pores not visible.

Spermatodactyl. Shaft 19 long.

Legs. Sharp-tipped macrosetae; Sge I 24, Sge II 22, Sge III 22, Sti III 25, Sge IV 35, Sti IV 32, and St IV 54. Chaetotaxy of genua II and III as in female.

Specimens examined. South Africa: Munster, Kwazulu/Natal Province, from an unidentified plant, 15-IV- 1955, P.A.J. Ryke (holotype and paratype); Agricultural Research Station, East London , Eastern Cape Province, from Achyranthes sicula , 2-XII-1977, M.K.P. Smith Meyer .

Remarks. This species seems very similar, if not identical to Typhlodromips mangleae De Leon, 1967 , a species reported from the Caribbean area and South America.

World distribution. South Africa.

Figures

FIGURE 16. Typhlodromips culmulus (Van der Merwe): A. Female dorsal shield; B. Female ventral surface; C. Spermatheca; D. Female chelicera; E. Female leg IV; F. Spermatodactyl; G. Male ventrianal shield.