Typhlodromalus athiasae Pritchard & Baker

Typhlodromalus athiasae (Pritchard & Baker) (Fig. 7)

Amblyseius (Amblyseiella) athiasae Pritchard & Baker, 1962: 291 Typhlodromalus athiasae, Moraes et al., 2004: 196

Typhlodromalus athiasae, Chant & McMurtry, 2005a: 199

FEMALE — (Specimens measured — Benin: 2; Cameroon: 6; Kenya: 3; Nigeria: 1; Uganda: 1; Democratic Republic of Congo: 1 in addition to holotype).

Dorsum — Dorsal shield sculptured throughout, with mostly roundish to elongate elements, with an indentation on each side, near S5/Z5; 340(320–371) [298] long and 201(176–237) [196] wide. Idiosomal setal pattern 10A:8B/JV­3:ZV, a characteristic which distinguishes the athiasae species group of Chant & McMurtry (2005a). Setae j1 30(23– 37) [31], j3 36(32–43) [34], j4 19(16–27) [17], j5 20(16–27) [19], j6 28(22–38) [26], J2 29(22–38) [28], J5 8(6–10), z2 26(21–34) [19], z4 37(32–43) [34], z5 20(18–27) [18], Z1 28(22–38) [27], Z4 50(42–58) [44], Z5 68(61–83) [56], s4 49 (42–58) [41], S2 48 (40–53) [41], S4 37 (30–40) [33], r3 20(14–25) [19], R1 19(14–28) [16]. Setae serrate, except J5, r3 and R1 which are smooth. S5 absent.

Peritreme — Extending anterior to base of j1.

Venter — Distances between St1–St3 63(61–67) [58], St2–St2 64(58–69) [63], St5– St5 74(67–82) [75]. Ventrianal shield 108(98–120) [94] long, 60(53–69) [58] wide at level of Zv2 and 68(61–80) [63] wide at level of anus, with a pair of elliptical pores slightly posterior to Jv2. Two pairs of metapodal shields; caudoventral setae smooth and sharptipped, except Jv5 which is serrate.

Chelicera — Movable digit 33(32–35) long, with 3 to 4 teeth; fixed digit 29(28–29) long, with 6 to 10 [at least 7] teeth and a clearly discernable pilus dentilis.

Spermatheca — Calyx slender, 33(26–43); atrium indistinct.

Legs — Macrosetae blunt on genua I and II and tibiae III and IV, and knobbed on genua III and IV and tarsus IV; Sge I 17 (11–22) [17], Sge II 18 (14–21) [17], Sge III 27 (24–30) [24], Sti III 20 (18–22) [17], Sge IV 41 (37–48) [39], Sti IV 26 (22–30) [24], St IV 56 (48–64) [48]. Chaetotaxy of genu III: 1­2/1,2/0­1.

MALE — (Specimens measured — Kenya: 2)

Dorsum — Dorsal shield pattern as in female, 221(220–223) long and 141(138–145) wide. Setae j1 18(18–19), j3 25, j4 13, j5 14(13–15), j6 14(14–15), J2 15, J5 6, z2 19(18– 20), z4 26(25–28), z5 13, Z1 16(15–16), Z4 33(33–34), Z5 44(44–45), s4 36 (35–36), S2 31 (30–31), S4 19 (18–20), r3 13, R1 15. Setae serrate, except J5, r3 and R1 which are smooth.

Peritreme — Extending to level of j1.

Venter — Ventrianal shield subtriangular, with transversal striae anteriorly; 86(85–88) long, 119(118–120) wide at the anterior corners; with 3 pairs of preanal setae, 4 pairs of lyrifissures (1 anterior to Jv1 and 3 anterolateral), and a pair of elliptical pores approximately in level with Jv2.

Spermatodactyl — Shaft 15 long.

Legs — Macrosetae blunt on genua I and II and tibiae III and IV, and knobbed on genua III and IV and tarsus IV; Sge I 14; Sge II 18, Sge III 19 (19–20), Sti III 17 (16–18), Sge IV 25, Sti IV 20 and St IV 37 (35–39). Chaetotaxy of genu III same as in female.

SPECIMENS EXAMINED: Benin: Agbotagon, on Securinega virosa, 12­VIII­1991, B. Eklou; Agbotagon, on Mallotus oppositifolius, 18­XI­1991, A. Onzo. Cameroon: 12 km S Obala, Central Province, on Sida acuta, 05­II­1991, A. Onzo; 14 km SW Mvieng, Southern Province, on Urena lobata, 07­II­1991, A. Onzo; 105 km N Kribi, Littoral Province, on Solanum torvum, 08­II­1991, A. Onzo; 18 km SE Douala, on Chromolaena odorata, 08­II­1991, A. Onzo; 5 km N Muyuka, Littoral Province, on Stachytarpheta sp., 09­II­1991, A. Onzo; 5 km N Muyuka, Littoral Province, on Albizia zygia, 09­II­1991, A. Onzo. Democratic Republic of Congo (Belgian Congo): Holotype female from Stanleyville, on unknown tree, 20­IV­1955, E.W. Baker; 19 km W Kinzoavuete, Bas­ Congo, on C. odorata, 10­VII­1991, A. Onzo. Kenya: 6.5 km S Mombasa, Coastal Region, on Cocos nucifera, 28­XI­1989, J.S. Yaninek; 13 km W Kwale, on Lycopersicum esculentum, 29­XI­1989, J.S. Yaninek; 19 km N Kilifi Ferry, on unknown plant, 30­XI­ 1989, J.S. Yaninek. Nigeria: IITA Station, Ibadan, Oyo state, on unknown plant, 06­VIII­ 1986, J.S. Yaninek. Uganda: 20 km W Tororo, on Acacia sp., 1990, Mugarura.

WORLD DISTRIBUTION — Benin, Burundi, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda.