Phytoseius dominicensis Ferragut & Moraes

Ferragut, Francisco, Moraes, Gilberto Jose & Navia, Denise, 2011, Phytoseiid mites (Acari: Phytoseiidae) of the Dominican Republic, with a re-definition of the genus Typhloseiopsis De Leon, Zootaxa 2997, pp. 37-53 : 43-45

Phytoseius dominicensis Ferragut & Moraes sp. nov.

( Figures 1–6 )

Diagnosis. Dorsal shield mostly smooth, except for few scanty diagonal striae along anterolateral margins and centrally near j3 and j4; with four pairs of solenostomes and sixteen pairs of setae, all sharp-tipped, except Z4, spatulate, and Z5, blunt-tipped. Most of setae on dorsal shield smooth, except j3, j4, z2, Z5 and r3 which are serrated. Idiosomal setal pattern 12A:5A/JV-3,4:ZV. Ventrianal shield smooth, with three pairs of preanal setae and a pair of small pores posterior to JV2. Calyx of the spermatheca funnel-shaped, with a long neck; atrium bulbous; major duct broad. Fixed and movable cheliceral digits with three and one teeth, respectively. Basitarsus IV with a short, curved and blunt-tipped macroseta.

FEMALE ( Figs 1–4 ) (holotype and 7 paratypes).

Dorsum ( Fig. 1 ): Dorsal shield elongated, with almost parallel lateral margins, 250 µm long (240–250) and 115 µm wide (112–122); mostly smooth, except for few scanty diagonal striae along anterolateral margins and transverse central striae near j3 and j4. With four pairs of solenostomes (gd2, gd5, gd6 and gd9) and sixteen pairs of setae (pattern 12A:5A according to Chant & Yoshida-Shaul, 1992), all sharp-tipped, except Z4, spatulate, and Z5, blunt-tipped. All dorsal setae smooth, except j3, j4, z2, Z5 and r3 serrated; in three specimens setae z3 and s4 are also serrated; setae j1, j6, J2 and Z4 never serrated. Measurements of setae: j1: 20 (20–22), j3: 23 (23–26), j4: 19 (19–22), j5: 16 (16–19), j6: 17 (17–20), J2: 16 (14–18), J5: 8 (8–9), z2: 17 (16–19), z3: 31 (30–32), z4: 21 (21–26), z5: 17 (16–19), Z4: 34 (32–37), Z5: 47 (44–52), s4: 41 (40–45), s6: 50 (50–56), r3: 34 (32–38), R1: 19 (17–23). Peritreme reaching the level of j1.

Venter ( Fig. 2 ): Smooth, quadrangular sternal shield, with three pairs of setae (st1, st2 and st3) and two pairs of lyrifissures; posterior margin straight; st4 on platelets. Genital shield smooth; posterior end 55 (55–58) µm wide. Ventrianal shield smooth, vase-shaped, 70 µm long (64–78) and 37 µm wide (34–40) near JV1; with three pairs of preanal setae and a pair of small pores behind JV2. Three pairs of setae and three pairs of small platelets around ventrianal shield; JV5 40 µm long (35–46), slightly spatulate; ZV1 slightly longer than ZV3. Metapodal plates not discernible with none of the specimens examined.

Spermatheca ( Fig. 4 ): Calyx funnel-shaped, 13 µm long (13–14), with a long neck; atrium bulbous; major duct broad.

Chelicera ( Fig. 3 ): Fixed digit 22 µm long, with three small teeth, one proximal and two distal to pilus dentilis ; movable digit 25 µm long, with one tooth.

Legs: Measurements of legs as follows: leg I: 132 µm long, leg II: 106, leg III: 98, leg IV: 148. A single curved and blunt-tipped macroseta, 20 µm long (18–22), inserted on basitarsus IV. Chaetotactic formula of genu II: 2-2/0, 2/0-1; genu III: 1-2/0, 2/0-1.

MALE ( Figs 5, 6 ) (2 paratypes).

Dorsum. Dorsal shield oval, with irregular margins and a lobed projection at level of r3, 198 µm long, 118 µm wide (115–120); with faint striae along lateral margins anterior to Z4 and smooth centrally; with four pairs of solenostomes (gd2, gd5, gd6 and gd9) and seventeen pairs of thick and pointed setae, except J5, short, Z4, slightly spatulate, and Z5, blunt-tipped. Setae j3, z2, z3, z4, s4, s6, r3 and Z5 serrated. Measurements of setae j1: 17 (16–18), j3: 20, j4: 17 (16–17), j5: 15 (14–15), j6: 16 (14–18), J2: 13 (12–14), J5: 7 (6–7), z2: 17 (16–17), z3: 22, z4: 22 (21–22), z5: 15 (14–16), Z4: 22 (21–23), Z5: 22 (21–22), s4: 31 (30–31), s6: 34, r3: 27 (26–27), R1: 13 (11–14). Peritreme reaching the level of z2.

Ve n te r ( Fig. 6 ): Ventrianal shield with scanty striae, triangular, 81 µm long (80–82) and 111 µm wide (109– 113) at anterior corners; anterolateral margins fused with peritrematal shields; with three pairs of preanal setae and no distinct pores; seta JV5 serrated, 18 µm long (17–18).

Chelicerae ( Fig. 5 ): Fixed digit 20 µm long, with 3 teeth; movable digit 21 µm long, with 1 tooth. Spermatodactyl L-shaped with a prominent heel and a pointed lateral process. The upper margin of the shaft with a membranous border.

Legs: A single curved and blunt-tipped macroseta, 18 µm long, inserted on basitarsus IV.

Specimens examined. Holotype female and two paratype females on Waltheria indica L. ( Malvaceae ), one paratype female on an unidentified plant, four paratype females and two males on Phyllostylon brasiliense Capanema (Ulmaceae) ; Boca del Diablo, Las Galeras (Peninsula de Samaná). Geographic coordinates 19°15'52" N, 69°09'58" W; 25 m asl, collected on 3-X-2008. Holotype and some paratypes were deposited at Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, Madrid, Spain (MNCN). Reference number of holotype: MNCN 20.02/17145; three paratype females and two males: MNCN 20.02/17146, 20.02/17147, 20.02/17148.

Etymology. The name dominicensis refers to the Dominican Republic, the country where the types of this new species were collected.

Remarks. This new species is most similar to Phytoseius pernambucanus Moraes & McMurtry, 1983 . However, the latter has dorsal shield rugose and with three pairs of solenostomes (gd2, gd6 and gd9), setae j4, j5, j6, J2 and z5 thin and short (8–11 µm), most dorsal shield setae blunt-tipped, sternal shield with only two pairs of setae, fixed cheliceral digit with four teeth and calyx of spermatheca with shorter neck. Phytoseius dominicensis sp. nov. was collected in galls caused by eriophyoid mites on Waltheria indica .

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 6. Phytoseius dominicensis Ferragut & Moraes, n. sp. 1. Dorsal shield of female; 2. Ventral idiosoma of female; 3. Chelicera of female; 4. Spermatheca of female. 5. Chelicera of male; 6. Ventrianal shield of male.