Typhlodromips robusticalyx Moraes, Zannou & Oliveira, 2007

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 : 31-33

Typhlodromips robusticalyx Moraes, Zannou & Oliveira , n. sp.

( Fig. 20 )

Diagnosis. This new species is characterized by having dorsal shield mostly smooth and without distinct constriction at level of seta R1; ventrianal shield vase-shaped and striate on anterior half; calyx of spermatheca funnel-shaped and stout; atrium long and vacuolate; movable and fixed cheliceral digits with 4 and 10 teeth, respectively.

Female. (5 specimens measured).

Dorsum. Dorsal shield mostly smooth, except for few anterolateral striae, without distinct constriction at level of seta R1 , 356 (339–384) long and 257(245–264) wide. Setae j1 22(19–26), j3 28(26–30), j4 10(10–11), j5 9(8–10), j6 10(8–11), J2 14(13–14), J5 10, z2 11(10–13), z4 12(10–14), z5 10(8–11), Z1 17(14–19), Z4 47(43–53), Z5 94(86–98), s4 37 (34–40), S2 15 (14–16), S4 14 (13–14), S5 11 (10–13), r3 17(16–19), R1 11(10–13). All setae smooth, except Z5 which is serrate .

Venter. Sternal shield mostly smooth, except for few lateral striae; posterior margin straight; distances between St1-St3 57(53–62), St2-St2 68(66–70). Genital shield smooth; distance between St5-St5 72(67–75). Ventrianal shield vase-shaped, striate on anterior half, anterior margin convex, 114(109–120) long, 69(61–82) wide at level of Zv2 and 76(74–82) wide at level of anus, elliptical preanal pores slightly posteromesad to Jv2. Two pairs of metapodal shields. Ventral setae smooth.

Chelicera. Movable digit 31 long, with 4 teeth; fixed digit 27 long, with 10 teeth and a pilus dentilis.

Spermatheca. Calyx funnel-shaped, stout 16(15–16) long; atrium vacuolate.

Legs. Sharp-tipped macrosetae; Sge I 32(29–34), Sge II 35(32–37), Sge III 50(45–53), Sti III 33(32–35), Sge IV 74(70–77), Sti IV 33(32–35), St IV 62(61–64). Chaetotaxy: genu: II 2-2/0,2/0-1; genu III: 1-2/1,2/0-1.

Male. Unknown.

Locality and type material. Holotype female from unknown plant, 28 km S Dunkwa, Western Region, Ghana, 11-XI-1989, J.S. Yaninek, deposited at ESALQ-USP. One paratype female from Elaeis guineensis , 28 km S Dunkwa, Western Region, Ghana, 11-XI-1989, J.S. Yaninek, deposited at IITAIM. One paratype female from Securinega virosa, Agbotagon , Atlantic Province, Benin, 10-X-1991, B. Eklou, deposited at IITAIM. One paratype female from Anacardium occidentale, Bo China Farm, Sierra-Leone, 14-XII-1991, B. Kristensen, deposited at IITAIM. One paratype female from Coffea sp. , 34 km S Masaka, Uganda, 05-X-1990, J.S. Yaninek, deposited at ESALQ-USP.

Etymology. The epithet robusticalyx refers to the shape of the calyx of the types of this species.

Remarks. Similarly to this new species, Typhlodromips lambatinus ( Schicha & Corpuz-Raros, 1992) , T. mitassini ( Chant & Hansell, 1971) and T. sinensis Denmark & Muma, 1972 also have ventrianal shield vaseshaped, which is uncommon for species in this genus. However, in all of those species a small but distinct constriction is observed at level of seta R1, and the ventrianal shield is smooth. In addition, T. lambatinus has an extra dorsal shield seta, on one side, regarded as a “freak feature” and its dorsal shield is reticulate; T. mistassini has spermatheca very small and poorly sclerotized and it has seta z2 almost as long as the distance between its base and the base of s4. Typhlodromips sinensis does not have stout calyx and vacuolate atrium.

Figures

FIGURE 20. Typhlodromips robusticalyx Moraes, Zannou & Oliveira, n. sp. (female): A. Dorsal shield; B. Ventral surface; C. Spermatheca; D. Chelicera; E. Leg IV.