Amblyseius anomalus

Zannou, Ignace D., De, Gilberto J., Ueckermann, Eddie A., Oliveira, Anibal R., Yaninek, John S. & Hanna, Rachid, 2007, Phytoseiid mites of the subtribe Amblyseiina (Acari: Phytoseiidae: Amblyseiini) from sub-Saharan Africa, Zootaxa 1550, pp. 1-47 : 5-7

Amblyseius anomalus Van der Merwe

( Fig. 2 )

Amblyseius (Amblyseius) anomalus Van der Merwe, 1968: 157.

Amblyseius anomalus, Chant & McMurtry, 2004: 199 ; Moraes et al. 2004: 16.

FEMALE—(Specimens measured—Benin: 1; Ghana: 1; Kenya: 2; Sierra Leone: 2). Idiosomal setal pattern 10A:9B/JV-3:ZV-3.

Dorsum ( Fig. 2 A)—Dorsal shield mostly smooth, with few anterolateral striae, 325 (312–339) long and 246(232–264) wide. Setae j1 24(19–26), j3 40(37–46), j4 7(6–8), j5 7(6–8), j6 9(8–10), J2 10(10–11), J5 7(6– 8), z2 8(8–10), z4 8(8–10), z5 7(6–8), Z1 9(8–10), Z4 76(72–80), Z5 141(131–147), s4 63 (58–67), S2 9 (8– 10), S4 8 (6–10), S5 9 (6–11), r3 12(10–14), R1 7(5–8). Setae smooth, except Z4 and Z5, serrate.

Peritreme—Extending forward to level of j1.

Venter ( Fig. 2 B)—Sternal shield mostly smooth, with few lateral striae, posterior margin concave; distances between St1-St3 57(54–61), St2-St2 67(64–69). Genital shield smooth; distance between St5-St5 67(62–70). Ventrianal shield smooth, subpentagonal, anterior margin slightly concave, lateral margins slightly concave immediately posterior to Zv2, 107 (104–110) long, 85 (83–86) wide at level of Zv2 and 75 wide at level of anus; preanal pores elliptical, posterior and slightly mesad to Jv2. Two pairs of metapodal shields. Seta Zv3 absent.

Chelicera—Position renders illustrations impossible; movable digit 27 long, with 3 teeth; fixed digit 24(22–26) long, with 10 teeth and a pilus dentilis.

Spermatheca ( Fig. 2 C)—Calyx funnel-shaped, 11(8–16) long and 14(13–16) in diameter near vesicle; atrium bulbous.

Legs—Sharp-tipped macrosetae—Sge I 32 (30–35), Sge II 33 (30–34), Sge III 39 (37–42), Sti III 27 (26– 30), Sge IV 74 (64–82), Sti IV 37 (35–38), St IV 48 (45–50); presence of a prominent erect seta at base of tarsus I.

MALE—(Specimen measured—Sierra Leone: 1).

Dorsum—Dorsal shield pattern as in female, 261 long and 193 wide. Setae j1 19, j3 34, j4 6, j5 6, j6 6, J2 8, J5 6, z2 6, z4 6, z5 6, Z1 6, Z4 56, Z5 106, s4 41, S2 6, S4 6, S5 6, r3 9, R1 6. Setae smooth, except Z4 and Z5, lightly serrate.

Peritreme—Extending to level between j1 and j3.

Venter ( Fig. 2 F)—Ventrianal shield subtriangular, with transverse striae anteriorly to Zv2; 117 long, 133 wide at the anterior corners, 4 pairs of lyrifissures (2 anterior to Jv1, 1 lateral and posterior to Jv1 and 1 lateral and almost in line with Zv2); preanal pores elliptical, posterior and slightly mesad to Jv2.

Spermatodactyl ( Fig. 2 E)—L-shaped; shaft 19 long.

Legs—Sharp-tipped macrosetae: Sge I 23, Sge II 27, Sge III 22, Sti III 20, Sge IV 55, Sti IV 31 and St IV 41.

SPECIMENS EXAMINED—Two females, Benin: Département de l’Atlantique, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Abomey-Calavi, on Mangifera indica , 4-XI-1989, G.J. Moraes. One female, Cameroon: 12 km S Obala, Central Province, on M. indica , 5-II-1991, L. Louis. Two females, Ghana: 3 km E Mankessim, on Mallotus oppositifolius , 12-XI-1989, G.J. Moraes. Four females, Kenya: 25 km S Malindi, on Grewia sp. 1-XII-1989, J.S. Yaninek; 25 km S Malindi, on Triumfetta sp., 1-XII-1989, J.S. Yaninek. Three females and 2 males, Sierra Leone: Masiaka, on Elaeis guineensis , 14-I-1992, A. Kebbie.

REMARKS—The major duct of the spermatheca of the specimens from Kenya and of one of the two specimens from Sierra Leone is inflated as in the original description, while that of the specimens from Benin, Ghana and of one specimen from Sierra Leone is not inflated.

WORLD DISTRIBUTION—Benin, Cameroon, Ghana, Kenya, Sierra Leone and South Africa.

Figures

FIGURE 2. Amblyseius anomalus Van der Merwe A. Female dorsal shield; B. Female ventral surface; C. Spermatheca; D. Female leg IV; E. Spermatodactyl; F. Male ventrianal shield.