Neoseiulus umbraticus (Chant, 1956)

Tixier, Marie-Stephane, Allam, Latifa, Douin, Martial & Kreiter, Serge, 2016, Phytoseiidae (Acari: Mesostigmata) of Morocco: new records, descriptions of five new species, re-descriptions of two species, and key for identification, Zootaxa 4067 (5), pp. 501-551 : 514-515

Neoseiulus umbraticus (Chant, 1956)

Typhlodromus umbraticus Chant, 1956: 26 .

Typhlodromus (Typhlodromus) umbraticus .—Beglyarov, 1958: 107. Amblyseius umbraticus .—Athias-Henriot, 1959: 138.

Typhlodromus (Amblyseius) umbraticus .—Chant, 1959: 75. Amblyseius (Typhlodromopsis) umbraticus .—Muma, 1961: 287. Amblyseius (Amblyseius) umbraticus .—Wainstein & Vartapetov, 1973: 103. Amblyseius (Neoseiulus) umbraticus .—Karg, 1991: 23.

This is the first report of this species from Morrocco. Very few studies exist on its biology. Kazak et al. (2002) showed its ability to develop feeding on T. urticae . Sengonca & Dresher (2001) studied the ability of this species to develop feeding on Thrips tabaci (Lindeman) and concluded that this food alters its biological parameters in comparison to T. urticae .

Specimens examined: 2001, Meknes on unknown plant (1 female); 2003, Gorges of Zegzel on Echium sp. ( Boraginaceae ) (2 females), Mentha pulegium (Limiaceae) (6 females), S partel Cape on Dittrichia viscosa (Asteraceae) (7 females, 3 males).

Previous records: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Byelorussia, Caucasus region, Denmark, England, France, Georgia, Germany, Hungary, Iran, Italy, Jamaica, Latvia, Mexico, Moldova, Montenegro, Norway, Poland, Russia, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, USA.

Redescription of the adult female (n=2)

As the initial drawings of the original description are excellent, new drawings are not presented in this paper.

Dorsum. Dorsal shield lightly reticulated 330 long and 200 wide, with five solenostomes (gd1, gd2, gd6, gd8 and gd9), 17 pairs of dorsal setae and two pairs of sub-lateral setae: j1 18; j3 32, 35; j 4 17, 20; j5 15; j6 17; J2 22; J5 5, 7; z2 23; Z1 25; z4 32, 35; z5 15; Z4 53; Z5 63; s4 50; S2 45, 47; S 4 25, 30; S 5 25, 27; r 3 27, 30; R1 23. All setae smooth. Peritreme extending between j1 and j3.

Venter. All shields very lightly reticulated. Sternal shield with three pairs of setae and two pairs of lyrifissures; one pair of sternal setae on small metasternal plate; posterior margin straight. Distances between ST1 – ST3 63; ST2 – ST2 62, 65; ST5–ST5 65. Two pairs of metapodal plates 25 long, 5 wide for the largest and 15, 17 long, 3 wide for the smallest. Ventri-anal shield with three pairs of pre-anal setae, JV1, JV2, and ZV2 and no pre-anal pores. Membrane surrounding ventri-anal shield with four pairs of setae ZV1, ZV3, JV4 and JV5, ventri-anal shield 100 long; 92, 97 wide at anterior corners, and 65 wide at level of anus. JV5 43, 47 long.

Legs. Legs IV with two macrosetae on genu, GeIV 30, on basitarsus STIV 40, 42. Chaetotactic formula of genu II: eight setae, 2 2/0, 2/1 1.

Chelicera. Fixed digit 30 long with three teeth and movable digit 25 long with two teeth.

Spermatheca. Cup-shaped and pocular ( Denmark et al., 1999), with a cervix 14, 16 long and 10 wide, atrium well differentiated.