Graminaseius lippiai Ueckermann, Zannou & Moraes

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 : 34-35

Graminaseius lippiai Ueckermann, Zannou & Moraes , n. sp.

( Fig. 20 )

DIAGNOSIS—Seta S2 as long as Z1; ratios s4:S2 = 4, length of dorsal shield: S2 = 34; setae z2 and z4 short, the latter much shorter than distance between its base and that of s4. Fixed cheliceral digit with 4 teeth. Spermatheca with calyx saccular; atrium bifurcate.

FEMALE—(Specimens measured—South Africa: 3).

Dorsum ( Fig. 20 A)—Dorsal shield mostly smooth, with few anterolateral striae, 309 (302–315) long and 177(173–180) wide. Setae j1 19, j3 24(22–25), j4 6, j5 6, j6 9, J2 9, J5 9, z2 12(11–13), z4 9, z5 6, Z1 9, Z4 46(44–50), Z5 48(47–50), s4 35, S2 9, S4 9, S5 9 (8–9), r3 16, R1 9. Setae smooth, except Z4 and Z5, serrate.

Peritreme—Extending forward to level of j1.

Venter ( Fig. 20 B)—Sternal shield mostly smooth, with anterior and lateral striae, posterior margin concave; distances between St1-St3 49(47–50), St2-St2 57. Genital shield with few longitudinal striae; distance between St5-St5 55(54–57). Ventrianal shield pentagonal, with transverse striae, anterior margin slightly concave, 106(104–107) long, 84(82–86) wide at level of Zv2 and 70(66–76) wide at level of anus; preanal pores small mesad and slightly posterior to Jv2.

Chelicera—Movable digit 29(28–30) long (teeth could not be counted due to position of chela); fixed digit 25 long, with 4 teeth and a pilus dentilis.

Spermatheca ( Fig. 20 C)—Calyx saccular, slightly flared distally, 16 long; atrium bifurcate.

Legs—Macrosetae: Sge IV 36 (35–37), Sti IV 23 (22–25), St IV 42 (38–44).

LOCALITY AND TYPE MATERIAL—Holotype female and two paratype females, from Lippia rehmannii, Vygeboom Dam , near Badplaas, Mpumalanga, South Africa, 3-II-1982, E.A. Ueckermann, deposited at NCA-PPRI.

ETYMOLOGY—The epithet lippiai refers to the genus of the plant on which the types of this species were collected.

REMARKS—There are indications of macrosetae on genua II and III, but they are not distinctly longer than other setae on the segments, only slightly stouter. This species is placed in the genus Graminaseius on a provisional basis, pending description of the male to determine whether its spermatodactyl is T-shaped, typical for the species in this genus.

This species was found amongst the type specimens of G. bufortus and it is closely related to the later. However, G. bufortus has Z4, Z5 and s4 ca. 1.5 times longer; fixed cheliceral digit with 6 teeth; calyx of spermatheca swollen basally, bladder-like, then narrowing and flaring distally, more distinctly flaring near vesicle; atrium vacuolate and genua II and III with distinct macrosetae.

Figures

FIGURE 20. Graminaseius lippiai Ueckermann, Zannou & Moraes, n. sp. (female): A. Dorsal shield; B. Ventral surface; C. Spermatheca; D. Leg IV.