Aristadromips aberdaresensis 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 : 23-24

Aristadromips aberdaresensis Moraes, Zannou & Oliveira , n. sp.

( Fig. 15 )

Diagnosis. This new species is distinct by having dorsal shield mostly smooth, with lateral striae between j1 and S2; z2 and z4 approximately as long as distances between their bases and the bases of the setae next behind; ventrianal shield of the female constricted at level of Jv2, with transverse striae anteriorly to preanal pores and with reticulation between preanal pores and anterior margin of anus; male with 6 pairs of preanal setae.

Female. (5 specimens measured).

Dorsum. Dorsal shield mostly smooth, with lateral striae in region anterior to S2, 352 (344–362) long and 206(200–211) wide. Setae j1 26(24–29), j3 39(35–40), j4 21(19–24), j5 15(14–16), j6 18(16–19), J2 19(18– 19), J5 10(10–11), z2 29(27–30), z4 36(30–37), z5 12(11–13), Z1 28(27–30), Z4 55(53–58) Z5 76(74–80), s4 51 (50–53), S2 47 (45–50), S4 28 (26–30), S5 27 (24–30), r3 35(32–37), R1 22(21–24). Setae smooth, except Z4 and Z5 which are lightly serrate; r3 and R1 inserted on interscutal membrane .

Venter. Sternal shield smooth, posterior margin straight; distances between St1-St3 66(62–67), St2-St2 63(62–64). Genital shield smooth; distance between St5-St5 64(61–69). Ventrianal shield pentagonal, constricted laterally at level of Jv2, with transverse striae anteriorly to preanal pores and with reticulation between preanal pores and anterior margin of anus; anterior margin about straight, 120(117–125) long, 82(80–85) wide at level of Zv2 and 78(75–80) wide at level of anus, elliptical preanal pores posteromesad to Jv2. Two pairs of metapodal shields. Ventral setae smooth.

Chelicera. Movable digit 33(33–34) long, apparently with 3 teeth; fixed digit 29(28–29) long, apparently with 12 teeth and a pilus dentilis.

Spermatheca. Calyx bell-shaped, 18(16–24) long; atrium appressed to the base of the calyx.

Legs. Sharp-tipped macrosetae; Sge II 25(22–29), Sge III 22(19–24), Sti III 20(18–21), Sge IV 41(40–43), Sti IV 31(27–34), St IV 66(64–72). Chaetotaxy: genu II: 2-2/0,2/0-1; genu III: 1–2/1,2/0–1.

Male. (1 specimen measured).

Dorsum. Dorsal shield pattern as in female, 275 long and 197 wide. Setae j1 21, j3 32, j4 21, j5 16, j6 18, J2 16, J5 10, z2 19, z4 29, z5 14, Z1 19, Z4 40, Z5 51, s4 42, S2 38, S4 24, S5 22, r3 26, R1 24. Setae smooth, except Z4 and Z5 which are lightly serrate .

Venter. Ventrianal shield subtriangular, reticulate; 118 long, 147 wide at the anterior corners; with 6 pairs of preanal setae, 4 pairs of lyrifissures (anteromesad to Zv1, posterolateral to Zv1, anterolateral to Zv3 and between Zv2 and Zv3), elliptical preanal pores in line with Jv2.

Spermatodactyl. Shaft distally bifurcate, 30 long.

Legs. Sharp-tipped macrosetae; Sge II 18, Sge III 18, Sti III 16, Sge IV 27, Sti IV 24 and St IV 51. Chaetotaxy of genua II and III as in female.

Locality and type material. Holotype female, 7 paratype females and 1 allotype male from Erynoglossum sp., Aberdares, Kenya, 26-XII-1989, H. Van der Berg, deposited at ESALQ-USP.

Etymology. The epithet aberdaresensis refers to the location where the types of this species were collected.

Remarks. This species fits the description of Aristadromips except for the larger value of the sum of the ratios “length of dorsal shield/ length of S4” and “length of dorsal shield/ length of S5” (ca. 25.6) and for having z2 and z4 aproximately as long as the distances between their bases and the bases of the following setae. Such characteristics are intermediate between those of Aristadromips and Typhlodromips De Leon. Within the latter genus, the shape of the spermatheca would place this species closer to those of the ariri species group of Chant & McMurtry (2005b). The number of male preanal setae, however, indicates that it should be placed in the genus Aristadromips .

Aristadromips masseei ( Nesbitt, 1951) differs from this new species by having the calyx of spermatheca distinctly wider and shorter, and by having preanal pores of both sexes smaller and distinctly further apart. Three species of the ariri species group of Typhlodromips resemble this new species: T. alpicola ( Ehara, 1982) , T. hamiltoni ( Chant & Yoshida-Shaul, 1978) and T. tee ( Schicha, 1983) . However, for each of them the sum of the ratios “length of dorsal shield/ length of S4” and “length of dorsal shield/ length of S5” is considerably larger than 26.0. In addition, dorsal shield is reticulate in T. alpicola and smooth in T. hamiltoni , and both have shorter dorsocentral setae than this new species. The calyx of the spermatheca is cup-shaped in T. hamiltoni , whereas ventrianal shield is smooth in T. tee . The males of T. alpicola and of T. tee have only 3 pairs of preanal setae (the male of T. hamiltoni has not been described).

Figures

FIGURE 15. Aristadromips aberdaresensis Moraes, Zannou & Oliveira, n. sp.: A. Female dorsal shield; B. Female ventral surface; C. Spermatheca; D. Female leg IV; E. Spermatodactyl; F. Male ventrianal shield.