Euseius nicholsi (Ehara & Lee)

Oliveira, Daniel C., Charanasri, Vatana, Kongchuensin, Manita, Konvipasruang, Ploychompoo, Chandrapatya, Angsumarn & De, Gilberto J., 2012, Phytoseiidae of Thailand (Acari: Mesostigmata), with a key for their identification, Zootaxa 3453, pp. 1-24 : 7

Euseius nicholsi (Ehara & Lee)

Amblyseius (Amblyseius) nicholsi Ehara & Lee, 1971: 67 ; Ehara & Bhandhufalck, 1977: 61; Wu, 1984: 224.

Euseius nicholsi .— Wu et al., 1997b: 115; Moraes et al., 1986: 49; 2004b: 75; Chant & McMurtry, 2005a: 215; 2007: 121.

Specimens examined. Six females and two males, on Ziziphus mauritiana Lam. , at Ratchaburi Province, April 1995.

Female

Dorsal shield 331 (320–345) long and 254 (235–264) wide; j1 29 (26–31), j3 25 (24–25), j4 11 (10–13), j5 11 (10–13), j6 14 (12–15), J2 16 (14–18), J5 7 (5–8), z2 19 (17–20), z4 21 (19–22), z5 12 (10–13), Z1 15 (14–16), Z4 16 (14–17), Z5 58 (48–61), s4 34 (28–35), S2 21 (18–25), S4 25 (22–26), S5 27 (23–30), r3 15 (12–17), R1 14 (13–15); distances between St1-St3 57 (52–59), St2-St2 67 (65–68), St5-St5 77 (70–83); ventrianal shield 101 (95–109) long, 52 (47–56) wide at level of ZV2, 76 (72–80) at anus level; calyx of spermatheca 7 (6–8) long; fixed cheliceral digit 24 (23–24) long, movable cheliceral digit 24 (23–25) long; Sge II 20 (18–22), Sge III 28 (23–32), Sti III 23 (21–24), Sge IV 45 (41–48), Sti IV 33 (31–35), St IV 54 (47–56). Chaetotaxy: genu II 2, 2/0-2/0, 1; genu III 1, 2/1-2/0, 1.

Male

Dorsal shield 230–240 long and 183–185 wide; j 1 26–28, j 3 26–29, j 4 11–12, j 5 11–12, j 6 13–14, J 2 13–15, J5 5–6, z 2 20–22, z 4 24–25, z 5 12–14, Z 1 13–14, Z4 16, Z5 48–50, s4 32 –34, S 2 21 –22, S 4 23 –24, S 5 25 –27, r 3 16–18, R 1 12–15; ventrianal shield 95–100 long and 130–150 wide at level of anterior corners; fixed cheliceral digit 19 long, movable cheliceral digit 20 long; spermatodactyl L-shaped, shaft 17–18 long, foot 10–12 long; Sge II 19, Sge III 24–25, Sge IV 38–39, Sti IV 29–34, St IV 45–48. Chaetotaxy of genua II and III as in female.

Previous records. China, Hong Kong and Thailand (Provinces of Nakhon Pathom, Pathum Thani and Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Ehara & Bhandhufalck, 1977).

Remarks. The females examined are slightly smaller than the holotype (dorsal shield about 10% shorter) and the larger setae are correspondingly shorter than reported for the holotype. The metapodal platelets of some specimens are similar to those reported in the original description (with a lateral appendix, probably because of the partial fusion of the two platelets of each side); however, other specimens have platelets with a wavy margin where fusion with smaller platelet could have occurred. Likewise, the males examined are smaller (dorsal shield about 15% shorter) than those reported by Wu (1984) and Wu et al. (1997b), the larger setae being also shorter (seta Z1 about 40% shorter).