Neoseiulus elisiensis, Stathakis, Theodoros I., Kapaxidi, Eleftheria V. & Papadoulis, Georgios Th., 2013

Stathakis, Theodoros I., Kapaxidi, Eleftheria V. & Papadoulis, Georgios Th., 2013, Two new species of the genus Neoseiulus Hughes (Acari: Phytoseiidae) from Greece with re-description of Neoseiulus leucophaeus (Athias-Henriot), Zootaxa 3681 (5), pp. 563-572 : 564-566

Neoseiulus elisiensis n. sp.

Diagnosis. This new species belongs to the barkeri species group of Chant because the atrium of the spermatheca is forked at the juncture with the major duct, and to the kennetti species subgroup of Chant & McMurtry by having atrium narrower than the base of calyx, nodular; calyx cup-shaped; major duct of normal width. It is similar to. N. kodryensis (Kolodochka) , N. inflatus (Kuznetsov) and N. gracilis (Muma) , which are also members of the same species subgroup. Differences between Neoseiulus elisiensis n. sp. and the related species are summarised in Table 1.

TABLE 1. Differences between N. elisiensis n. sp. and related species. BtIV, basitarsus IV. a From 2 specimens; b from Kolodochka, 1980; c from Kuznetsov, 1984; d from Muma, 1962; Moraes, et al., 1997.

Female (n = 2). Dorsum ( Figure 1 ). Dorsal setal pattern 10A:9B (r3 and R1 on interscutal membrane). Dorsal shield oval with waist, sclerotised, reticulated, bearing five pairs of solenostomes (posterolateral to j3, posteromedian to z4, anteromedian to Z1, anterolateral to Z4 and anterior to S5); three pairs of small pores (sensilla) visible on dorsal shield; muscle-marks (sigilla) visible, mostly on podosoma, length of dorsal shield (j1– J5) 376 (372–380), width (distance between bases of s4) 167 (162–172), (distance between bases of S2) 208 (202– 214). All dorsal setae smooth except for Z4 and Z5, which are slightly serrated. Measurements of dorsal setae as follows: j1 23 (22–24), j3 38 (36–40), j4 20 (18–22), j5 19 (18–20), j6 22 (20–24), J2 35 (30–40), J5 11 (10–12), z2 30 (28–32), z4 38 (36–40), z5 19 (18–20), Z1 41 (40–42), Z4 60 (59–61), Z5 56 (53–59), s4 44, S2 49, S4 26 (24– 28), S5 23 (22–24), r3 29 (28–30) and R1 31 (30–32).

Peritreme. Extending to level between setae j1 and j3.

Venter ( Figure 2 ). Ventral setal pattern 14:JV–3:ZV. Sternal shield smooth, slightly sclerotised, with three pairs of setae (ST1, ST2 and ST3) and two pairs of pores (pst1 and pst2); length (ST1–ST3) 61 (59–63), width (distance between setae ST2) 68 (65–71); metasternal setae ST4 and a pair of pores (pst3) on metasternal shields. Genital shield reticulated; width at level of genital setae (ST5) 74 (73–75). Ventrianal shield pentagonal, reticulated, with three pairs of preanal setae (JV1, JV2 and ZV2), anal setae (a1, a2 and a3), one pair of small solenostomes posteromedian of JV2 and sigilla posterolaterally. Length of ventrianal shield 125 (115–135), width 106 (95–117). Setae JV4, JV5, ZV1, ZV3 and seven pairs of pores in integument surrounding ventrianal shield. Setae JV5 smooth, 31 (30–32) in length.

Chelicerae ( Figure 3 ). Fixed digit 31 (30–32) long with five visible teeth, with pilus dentilis; movable digit 31 (30–32) long with one tooth.

Spermatheca ( Figure 4 ). Calyx cup-shaped, 11 (10–12) long; atrium nodular, slightly forked; major duct broad, minor duct visible.

Legs ( Figure 5 ). Length of legs (base of coxae to base of claws): leg I 277; leg II 249 (242–257); leg III 267 (265–269); leg IV 339 (325–352). GeII, GeIII and GeIV with eight, seven and seven setae, respectively; BtIV with one short macroseta 31 (30–32) in length.

Male. Unknown.

Type material. Holotype female collected at Kaiafas Lake, Co. Eleia, Peloponnesus, 11 June 2011, on Rubus sp. ( Rosaceae ). One female paratype collected at Lampia, Co. Eleia, Peloponnesus, 11 June 2011, on Salix sp. ( Salicaceae ).

Etymology. The name of this new species is derived from Elis (ancient name of the Eleia county) where it was found.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 5. Neoseiulus elisiensis n. sp., female. 1. Dorsal shield; 2. Ventral idiosoma; 3. Chelicera; 4. Spermatheca; 5. Leg IV. Scale bar = 100 μm for 1, 2, 30 μm for 3, 4, 60 μm for 5.