Typhlodromus (Anthoseius) michaeli Ueckermann & Loots, 1988

Ueckermann, Edward A., Zannou, Ignace D., De Moraes, Gilberto J., Oliveira, Anibal R., Hanna, Rachid & Yaninek, John S., 2008, Phytoseiid mites of the tribe Typhlodromini (Acari: Phytoseiidae) from sub-Saharan Africa, Zootaxa 1901 (1), pp. 1-122 : 65-67

Typhlodromus (Anthoseius) michaeli Ueckermann & Loots

( Fig. 32 )

Typhlodromus (Anthoseius) michaeli Ueckermann & Loots, 1988: 31 ; Moraes et al, 2004: 337.

Amblydromella (Aphanoseia) michaeli, Denmark & Welbourn, 2002: 308 .

FEMALE. (Specimen measured— South Africa: holotype, 9 paratypes and 3 additional specimens; Zambia: 2). Idiosomal setal pattern: 12A:8A/JV:ZV .

Dorsum. Dorsal shield, 348 (324–384) [349] long and 183 (177–216) [177] wide; reticulate, with some roundish and elongate elements centrally. With 5 pairs of solenostomes. Setae j1 21 (17–26) [22], j3 22 (19– 26) [23], j4 17 (14–25) [17], j5 18 (15–27) [20], j6 22 (16–29) [23], J2 24 (19–33) [24], J5 11 (10–13) [12], z2 19 (16–26) [21], z3 20 (17–28) [21], z4 22 (19–29) [23], z5 20 (18–26) [20], Z4 29 (26–33) [31], Z5 39 (39– 47) [43], s4 25 (24–32) [26], s6 26 (23–33) [29], S2 30 (26–34) [30], S4 34 (32–46) [37], S5 26 (23–30) [29], r3 20 (18–25) [18], R1 23 (19–30) [23]. Setae sharp-tipped and serrate, except J5, smooth; and Z5, knobbed.

Peritreme. Extending to level of j1.

Venter. Sternal shield smooth, with 2 (ST3 on integument) or 3 pairs of setae; posterior margin with a median lobe; distances between ST1–ST3 64 (60–69) [65], ST2–ST2 57 (55–62) [56]. Genital shield smooth; distance between ST5–ST5 64 (58–69) [61]. Ventrianal shield smooth, subquadrate, with anterior margin slightly concave, 123 (113–132) [119] long, 105 (99–110) [104] wide at level of ZV2, 92 (83–106) [85] wide at level of anus, with 4 pairs of pre-anal setae (seta JV3 present); round pre-anal pores posterior to and almost longitudinally aligned with JV2. With 2 pairs of metapodal shields. Caudoventral setae smooth and sharptipped, except JV5, serrate, knobbed or not.

Chelicera – Movable digit 29 (27–31) [30] long, with 2 teeth; fixed digit 26 (21–29) [25] long, with 4 teeth.

Spermatheca. Calyx bell-shaped, with distal half thick-walled, 16 (13–19) [19] long; atrium small, nodular.

Legs. Macrosetae on leg IV short, stout and knobbed on genu, sharp-tipped or knobbed on tarsus; Sge IV 11 (8–15) [8], St IV 30 (26–38). These segments also bear several knobbed setae each in addition to macrosetae. Chaetotaxy: genu II: 2-2/0, 2/0- 1; genu III: 1-2/1, 2/0-1.

MALE. (Specimens measured— South Africa: 2)

Dorsum. Dorsal shield pattern and setae as in female, 285 (284–285) long and 167 wide. Setae j1 17, j3 17, j4 12 (10–13), j5 13 (11–14), j6 13, J2 16 (15–16), J5 9 (8–9), z2 13 (11–15), z3 13 (12–14), z4 15 (13– 16), z5 13 (11–15), Z4 21, Z5 31, s4 17 (16–18), s6 19 (17–20), S2 19 (18–19), S4 20, S5 15 (14–16), r3 16 (14–17), R1 16 (15–16). Caudoventral setae smooth and sharp-tipped, except JV5, serrate and knobbed .

Peritreme. Extending almost to level of j1.

Venter. Ventrianal shield subtriangular, with few striations, fused with peritrematal shields, 101 (98–104) long, 121 (119–122) wide at anterior corners; with 4 pairs of pre-anal setae and no distinguishable lyrifissures; minute round pre-anal pores posterior to and almost longitudinally aligned with JV2. Shield in both paratype specimens not suitable for drawing.

Spermatodactyl. L-shaped, shaft 18 long.

Legs. Macrosetae knobbed; Sge IV 13 (11–14), St IV 24 (21–26). Chaetotaxy of genua II and III as in female.

Specimens examined. Zambia: 2 females, 30 km W Mpika, on Parinari curatellifolia , 17-VI-1992, A. Onzo. South Africa: Holotype female and 3 paratype females, Limpopo Province, Letaba Estates, on Citrus sinensis , 9-XII-1980, M.K.P. Smith Meyer; 1 paratype female, Mpumalanga Province, Mont Rose, on Dichrostachys cinerea , 25-III-1976, L. Venter; 1 paratype female, Limpopo Province, near Zebediela, on Vangueria infausta , 23-II-1976, L. Venter; 1 paratype female and 2 paratype males, Gauteng Province, Roodeplaat near Pretoria, on Acacia caffra , 29-XI-1979, E.A. Ueckermann; 1 paratype female, Kwazulu / Natal, 25 km from Jozini to Ingwavuma, on Maytenus senegalensis , 19-IX-1972, F.W. Schultz; 1 paratype female Eastern Cape Province, 15 km from East London to Umtata, on Sida rhombifolia , 9-II-1974, F.W. Schultz; 1 female, Mpumalanga Province, 21 km from Nelspruit to Kaapmuiden, on Lantana camara , 6-II-1985, M.K.P. Smith Meyer; 1 female, Eastern Cape Province, Aliwal North, on Ulmus parvifolia , 12-III-1986, E.A. Ueckermann; 1 female, Mpumalanga Province, Crocodile Bridge, Kruger National Park , on unidentified plant, 5-II- 1985, E.A. Ueckermann.

Remarks. Length of dorsal setae of specimens examined varies considerably between and within countries. One of the two specimens from Zambia has the longest dorsal setae and sharp St IV. In addition to the macrosetae on genu and basitarsus of leg IV, the specimen from Zambia also has 4, 4 and 1 knobbed setae on genu, tibia and basitarsus; respectively. Both specimens have 3 pairs of sternal setae and seta JV5 sharptipped; all specimens from South Africa have 2 pairs of sternal setae (ST3 inserted on integument), seta JV5 knobbed and one knobbed macroseta on each of genu and basitarsus of leg IV. A few South African specimens may also have an extra small knobbed seta on tibia IV.

World distribution. South Africa and Zambia.

Figures

FIGURE 32. Typhlodromus (Anthoseius) michaeli Ueckermann & Loots: Female—A. Dorsal shield; B. Ventral surface; C. Chelicera; D. Spermatheca; E. Male- Spermatodactyl;F. Female—Leg IV.