Kuzinellus eastafricanus Moraes, Zannou & Oliveira

De, Gilberto J., Zannou, Ignace D., Ueckermann, Eddie A., Oliveira, Anibal R., Hanna, Rachid & Yaninek, John S., 2008, Phytoseiid mites of the tribe Paraseiulini Wainstein (Acari: Phytoseiidae) from sub-Saharan Africa, Zootaxa 1687, pp. 1-34 : 8

Kuzinellus eastafricanus Moraes, Zannou & Oliveira , n. sp.

( Fig. 4 )

Diagnosis. This species is characterized by having dorsal setae thick, thorn-like; Z4 and Z5 serrate; J5 ca. 0.6 times as long as j1, j4 and j5; J2 ca. 0.4 times as long as the distance between its base and the base of Z4; Z4 ca. 0.8 times as long as the distance between its base and the base of Z5; calyx of spermatheca tubular, slen- der; atrium bulbous, larger in diameter than the slender portion of calyx; genu II with 7 setae.

FEMALE. (4 specimens measured).

Dorsum. Dorsal shield 306 (288–317) long and 167(163–173) wide; strongly ornamented with roundish elements. Setae j1 18(18–19), j3 21, j4 19(18–19), j5 19(18–19), j6 24(21–26), J2 28(26–29), J5 12(11–13), z2 19(18–21), z3 22(21–22), z4 24(21–26), z5 21(19–22), z6 21(19–22), Z4 39(38–40), Z5 38(35–40), s4 26 (24–27), s6 27 (26–29), S2 34 (32–35), S4 36 (32–38), S5 26 (21–29), r3 21(19–22), R1 24. Setae thick, thorn-like, smooth, sharp-tipped, except Z4 and Z5, serrate; most setae inserted on small tubercles; seta R1 inserted on membrane.

Peritreme. Extending to level of j1.

Venter. Sternal shield smooth, with 3 pairs of setae; posterior margin indistinct; distances between ST1- ST3 60(59–61), ST2-ST2 48(46–50). Genital shield smooth; distance between ST5-ST5 54(48–56). Ventrianal shield smooth, pentagonal, constricted laterally at level of preanal pores, anterior margin straight, 94(86– 99) long, 62(58–64) wide at level of ZV2, 59(56–61) wide at level of anus; setae JV2 and JV3 present; round preanal pores posterior to and in longitudinal line with JV2. Caudoventral setae smooth and sharp-tipped.

Chelicera. Movable digit 20 long, apparently with 2 teeth; fixed digit 19 long, apparently with 3 teeth.

Spermatheca. Calyx tubular, slender, flaring towards vesicle, 18(18–19) long; atrium about twice as wide as diameter of calyx next to it.

Legs. Sharp-tipped macroseta: St IV 21 (19–22). Chaetotaxy: genu II: 2-2/0, 2/0-1; genu III: 1-2/1, 2/0-1.

MALE: Unknown.

Locality and type material. Holotype and 6 paratype females from Ficus sp., Luweero, Uganda, 5-X- 1990, J.S. Yaninek, deposited at ESALQ-USP. One paratype female from unknown plant, Luweero, Uganda, 5-X-1990, J.S. Yaninek, deposited at ESALQ-USP. One paratype female from Cassia spectabilis , Masindi, Butiaba, Uganda, 11-X-1990, J.S. Yaninek, deposited at IITAIM. Two paratype females from Ficus sycomorus, Sondu, Nyanza Province, Kenya, 3-XII-1989, J.S. Yaninek, deposited at IITAIM.

Etymology. The epithet eastafricanus refers to the region of Africa where the types of this species were collected.

Remarks. Kuzinellus sennarensis (El-Badry) differs from this new species by having seta J2 ca. 0.9 times as long as the distance between its base and the base of Z4, Z4 as long as the distance between its base and the base of Z5, and Z4 and Z5 not serrate. Kuzinellus acanthus also differs from the new species by having seta J2 as long as the distance between its base and the base of Z4 and calyx of spermatheca asymmetric. Kuzinellus blairi and K. niloticus differ by having calyx of spermatheca funnel-shaped and saccular, respectively.

Figures

FIGURE 4. Kuzinellus eastafricanus Moraes, Zannou & Oliveira, n. sp. (female): A. Dorsal shield; B. Ventral surface; C. Spermatheca; D. Leg IV.