Neoseiulus zaheri (El-Borolossy)

Abo-Shnaf, Reham I. A. & De, Gilberto J., 2014, Phytoseiid mites (Acari: Phytoseiidae) from Egypt, with new records, descriptions of new species, and a key to species, Zootaxa 3865 (1), pp. 1-71 : 31-33

Neoseiulus zaheri (El-Borolossy)

( Figs 45–51 )

Amblyseius zaheri El-Borolossy , in Nasr & Abou-Awad, 1985: 246; Zaher, 1986: 114; Moraes et al., 2004: 55.

Female (holotype and one paratype).

Dorsal shield strongly reticulate; 359 [376] long and 175 [188] wide, with 17 pairs of setae, six pairs of pores and ten pairs of lyrifissures ( Fig. 45 ). Setae j1 21 [21], j3 22 [22], j4 13 [15], j5 13 [14], j6 15 [15], J2 18 [18], J5 12 [15], z2 15 [16], z4 18 [18], z5 13 [14], Z1 18 [19], Z4 30 [31], Z5 58 [63], s4 25 [25], S2 23 [26], S4 23 [25], S5 24 [28], r3 24 [26], R1 24 [26]. Setae smooth, except S4, S5, Z4 and Z5, lightly serrate; setae S4, S5 and Z 4 set on tubercles. Peritreme extending forward almost to level of j3.

Venter ( Fig. 46 ). Sternal shield strongly reticulate, posterior margin slightly concave, with three pairs of setae and two pairs of lyrifissures. Distances between st1–st1 51 [52], st2–st2 52 [62], st3–st3 66 [68], st4–st4 75 [75]. Genital shield with longitudinal striae; distance between st5–st5 63 [71]. Ventrianal shield subpentagonal, reticulate; 114 [128] long, 99 [108] wide at ZV2 level and 79 [90] wide at level of anus; with three pairs of pre-anal setae and a pair of pre-anal pores posteromesad of JV2. Seta JV5 36 [42]. Ventral setae smooth, except JV5, serrate. Two pairs of metapodal plates.

Spermatheca ( Fig. 48 ). Calyx of spermatheca saccular, 10 [13] long; atrium distinct.

Gnathosoma. Corniculi distally convergent; basal width of corniculus 5, distance between bases of corniculi 7. Movable cheliceral digit 32 [32] long, with 1 [1] tooth; fixed digit 28 [32] long, with 7 [7] teeth; dorsal and lateral lyrifissures distinct ( Fig. 47 ).

Legs. Macroseta sharp-tipped: St IV 46 [46] ( Fig. 49 ); chaetotaxy of genu II 2, 2/0, 2/0, 1; genu III 1, 2/1, 2/0, 1.

Male (one paratype).

Dorsal shield pattern as in female; 287 long and 171 wide. Setae j1 16, j3 20, j4 11, j5 12, j6 14, J2 15, J5 13, z2 13, z4 15, z5 12, Z1 15, Z4 28, Z5 41, s4 21, S2 18, S4 21, S5 21, r3 21, R1 18. Setae smooth, except S4, S5, Z4 and Z5, lightly serrate; setae S4, S5 and Z 4 set on tubercles. Peritreme extending forward to z2.

Venter. Distances between st1–st1 43, st2–st2 48, st3–st3 52, st4–st4 42, st 5– st 5 38. Ventrianal shield subtriangular, strongly reticulate ( Fig. 51 ); 106 long and 141 wide at anterior corners; with three pairs of pre-anal setae, a pair of pre-anal pores and three pairs of lyrifissures. Seta JV5 26.

Gnathosoma. Movable cheliceral digit 22 long, with one tooth; fixed digit 23 long, with four teeth; lateral lyrifissures distinct. Shaft of spermatodactyl 23 long ( Fig. 50 ).

Legs. Macroseta sharp-tipped: St IV 39; chaetotaxy of genua II and III as in female.

Specimens examined. One female on a slide labeled “H” [probably “ holotype ”], one female and one male on a slide labeled “A” [probably “allotype”] (deposited at the mite collection of the Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University, Giza governorate, Egypt), from I. cylindrica , at Asyut governorate, November 1978 (coll. M.A. El- Borolossy).

Previous records from Egypt. Asyut governorate ( Zaher, 1986; Nasr et al., 2011); Beni Suef, Damietta, Monufia and Qualyubia governorates ( Nasr et al., 2011); unspecified governorate ( Nasr & Abou-Awad, 1985).

Remarks. According to Nasr & Abou-Awad (1985), A. zaheri was first described in an unpublished MSc thesis ( El-Borolossy, 1979). Nasr & Abou-Awad (1985) mentioned the name of this species (indicating El- Borolossy as the author) in a key to the Egyptian Amblyseius . That constitutes the original description of the species, despite the fact that no information was then provided about the type specimens. Zaher (1986) provided a detailed redescription of the species, with illustrations and setal measurements, mistakenly mentioning Yousef & El-Brollosy [sic] as the authors. This species was apparently described from the specimens examined in this study. Measurements of the specimens examined are close to those reported by Zaher (1986) for a single female. However, differently from what was shown in that publication, the type specimens examined in this study have sternal shield strongly reticulate and genu III with seven setae.

Figures

FIGURES 45 – 51. Neoseiulus zaheri: 45. Female dorsal shield; 46. Female ventral shields; 47. Female chelicera; 48. Spermatheca; 49. Genu, tibia and basitarsus of female leg IV; 50. Spermatodactyl; 51. Male ventrianal shield.