Transeius fragilis
Creators: name: Kolodochka, L. A.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2023
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Arachnida
Mesostigmata
Phytoseiidae
Transeius
Transeius fragilis

description: Transeius fragilis (Kolodochka & Bondarenko, 1993) (fig. 2)   
 Amblyseius fragilis Kolodochka & Bondarenko, 1993: 34.   
 Typhlodromips fragilis: Moraes et al., 2004: 213; Chant & McMurtry, 2004: 187; 2007: 71; Kreiter et al., 2020: 212.   
 Material. Type. Holotype ♀, Ukraine, Kherson Region, the Black Sea Biosphere Reserve, Solenoozerny site, steppe near cordon, Taraxacum sp., 14.06.1992, specimen #5379 /L219, 46°27'33.0" N 32°07'10.0" E (Bondarenko); paratypes: 2 ♀, Yagorlytsky Kut site, fescue-wormwood steppe, halimion medow, Frankenia hirsuta, 28.05.1991, specimens #5275, 46°29'25.0" N 31°41'25.0" E; 1 ♀, idem., steppe near the cordon, Cirsium sp., 28.05.1991, specimens #5280; 3 ♀, idem., same date, specimens #5281 (Kolodochka) (SIZK).   
 Non-type. Kherson Region, Arabat Spit, near Volok, steppe area, Echium sp., 06.06.1979, specimen #3467, 45°31'14.0" N 35°14'13.0", 1 ♀ (Kolodochka) (SIZK).   
 R e d e s c r i p t i o n. F e m a l e. Dorsal shield (fig. 2, 1) weakly sclerotized, smooth, elongated–ovate, with almost parallel lateral margins, 7 pairs of solenostomes (it, iv, id, isc, il, is, ic). Dorsal setae sharp, smooth, short or moderately long, except for somewhat elongate AM1 and AL3, as well elongated and serrate PM3 and PM4. Seta AM1 reach but do not extend beyond theca of seta AL1. Seta AL1 longer than seta AL3. Seta PL1 twice as long as PL2 and 2.5 times longer than PL3. Seta PM3 shorter than PM4. Peritreme almost reaching the theca of seta AD1. Ventrianal shield (fig. 2, 2) pentagonal, wider than genital one, with small lateral emarginations, bearing three pairs of preanal setae, no anal pores. Posterior metapodal shield elongated oval, approximately as long as narrow anterior one (fig. 2, 3). Posterior part of peritremal shield slightly curved, beak-shaped at end, with pore (fig. 2, 4). Chelicera on Df with 4 teeth (3 distal and 1 basal), on Dm with 1 (fig. 2, 5). Spermatheca with elongated thick-walled funnel; the atrium is massive and immersed in the base of the funnel (fig. 2, 6). Leg IV with 3 sharp macrosetae: the longest on basitarsus (fig. 2, 7). Genua of III and II legs also with one short sharp macroseta.   
Measurements: Lds 390, Wds 215; Lvas 130, Wvas max 97; Ltar IV 134; setae length: AD1 26; AD2 9; AD3 9; AD4 12; PD2 9; PD4 10; AM1 34; AM2 6; AL1 23; AL3 18; AL4 49, PL1 36; PL2 22; PL3 14; PM1 15; PM3 56; РМ4 85; AS 22; PS 17; PV 65. MCh IV: ge 56, ti 44, ta 82; MCh III: ge 32; MCh II: ge 22.  
Male unknown.  
 Diagnosis. Very similar to T. herbarius Wainstein, from which it is easily distinguished by the shape of a larger and elongated spermatheca; the number of teeth on the chelicera digits (in T. fragilis 4 teeth on Df, and 1 on Dm, but in T. herbarius 6 and 2, respectively); the presence of a basal tooth on Df (the basal tooth is absent in T. herbarius); noticeably more long PL2, PM4, and PV (22, 85, and 65 versus 14, 70, and 47 in T. herbarius, respectively).   
D i s t r i b u t i o n, h a b i t a t, o c c u r r e n c e. Europe (Slovenia, Ukraine). In Ukraine it is known only from steppe biotopes, herbs; rare.  
Note. Description, illustrations, and measurements are based on the holotype.
description: Published as part of Kolodochka, L. A., 2023, The Predatory Mites (Phytoseiidae, Parasitiformes) In The Fauna Of Ukraine: A Review With A Key To Species And New Combinations In The Genus Transeius, pp. 191-214 in Zoodiversity 57 (3) on pages 195-197, DOI: 10.15407/zoo2023.03.191, http://zenodo.org/record/8109138