Neocypholaelaps

Key to world species of Neocypholaelaps

The following key is provided to help in the separation of the world species of Neocypholaelaps . Unless otherwise specified, the characteristics refer to adult females. It was constructed taking into account the original descriptions of the species; also of great importance in this process were additional information in Evans (1963a), Baker & Delfinado-Baker (1985) and Halliday (1997). Neocypholaelaps ewae Haitlinger, 1987 was not included in this key because the reduced number of dorsal shield setae (19 pairs) and the fact that almost all of those are smooth (j1 is barbed) and pointed indicate that this species might belong to Hattena Domrow (see Halliday, 1997). The fact that the type specimens of that species, including adults of both sexes (as well as immatures), were found on the insect carrier also suggests that it belongs to Hattena, given that males of Neocypholaelaps are rarely found on phoretic carriers, as summarised by Halliday (1997). Neocypholaelaps lindquisti Prasad, 1968 was also not included in the key, because it was transferred to Afrocypholaelaps Elsen by Haitlinger (1987). Neocypholaelaps hongkongensis Mo, 1969 is included provisionally in the key, as there is a chance that it actually belongs to Afrocypholaelaps . The species known in the latter genus are characterised by the mostly smooth dorsal shield; the smooth, pointed and nearly uniform dorsal shield setae; the reduced or absent tarsal claws; and the reduced number of setae on genu and tibia III (Elsen, 1972b; Halliday, 1997). Nothing was mentioned in the description of A. hongkongensis about the presence or absence of leg tarsal claws or leg chaetotaxy, but it was reported that its dorsal shield is smooth and that most of its setae are smooth, pointed and nearly uniform.

1. Seven pairs of dorsal shield setae inserted in tubercles ........................ Neocypholaelaps rotundus (Womersley, 1956)

- No dorsal shield setae inserted in tubercles .................................................................................................................. 2

2. Dorsal shield with 28 pairs of setae; with two Z setae, instead of the usual three.......................................................... ...................................................................................................................... Neocypholaelaps xylocopae Elsen, 1972a

- Dorsal shield with more than 28 pairs of setae ............................................................................................................. 3

3. Dorsal shield with 30 pairs of setae; with three J setae, instead of the usual two .......................................................... ......................................................................................................... Neocypholaelaps novaehollandiae Evans, 1963 a

- Dorsal shield with 29 pairs of setae .............................................................................................................................. 4

4. Posterior margin of dorsal shield truncate .................................................. Neocypholaelaps hongkongenis Mo, 1969

- Posterior margin of dorsal shield rounded ................................................................................................................... 5

5. Peritreme short, reaching only level of coxa II (between setae s2 and s3)..................................................................... ........................................................................................................... Neocypholaelaps breviperitremata Elsen, 1972a

- Peritreme long, reaching level of coxa I (between setae j1 and j2) ............................................................................. 6

6. Seta Jv4 about as long as seta Jv5 ................................................................................................................................ 7

- Seta Jv4 at most about 0.7 times as long as seta Jv5 .................................................................................................. 14

7. Seta Jv4 stout ............................................................................................................................................................... 8

- Seta Jv4 setiform........................................................................................................................................................ 11

8. Most dorsal shield setae stout and barbed ................................................................................................................... 9

- Except for seta j1 (and j2 for Neocypholaelaps phooni Baker & Delfinado-Baker), dorsal shield setae setiform and smooth......................................................................................................................................................................... 10

9. Setae j2 – J2 and z2 – Z1, s1 and s2 slender and smooth; ornamentation of dorsal shield composed of simple lines .. ........................................................................................................................... Neocypholaelaps cocos Evans, 1963 a

- All dorsal shield setae stout and barbed; ornamentation of dorsal shield composed of punctate lines.......................... .................................................................................................................... Neocypholaelaps stridulans (Evans, 1955)

10. Seta j2 stout; 2 posterior-most opisthogastric setae [AD setae of Baker & Delfinado-Baker (1985), probably Jv4 and Jv5] stouter......................................................................... Neocypholaelaps phooni Baker & Delfinado-Baker, 1985

- Seta j2 setiform; 2 posterior-most opisthogastric setae [AD setae of Baker & Delfinado-Baker (1985), probably Jv4 and Jv5] narrower............................................ Neocypholaelaps malayensis Delfinado-Baker, Baker & Phoon, 1989

11. Seta Jv5 stout; several dorsal shield setae barbed.......................................... Neocypholaelaps crocisae Elsen, 1972 a

- Seta Jv5 setiform; at most 2 dorsal shield setae (j1 and Z5) barbed.......................................................................... 12

12. Dorsal setae considerably longer (Z5 about 40 in length) ........................ Neocypholaelaps ampullula (Berlese, 1910)

- Dorsal setae short (Z5 about 24 in length)................................................................................................................. 13

13. Setae J2 distinctly shorter than distances between their bases ...................... Neocypholaelaps pradhani Gupta, 1969

- Setae J2 at least as long as distance between their bases.................................. Neocypholaelaps indica Evans, 1963 a

14. Dorsal shield with at most 9 pairs of barbed setae .................................................................................................... 15

- Dorsal shield with at least 24 pairs of barbed setae................................................................................................... 16

15. Posterior seta of coxa II barbed ............................................................................ Neocypholaelaps nova Elsen, 1972a

- Posterior seta of coxa II smooth ...................................................................... Neocypholaelaps leopoldi Elsen, 1972a

16. Setae j4, J2 and z6 stout............................................................................................................................................. 17

- Setae j4, J2 and z6 setiform ....................................................................................................................................... 18

17. Setae j6 and z5 stout ......................................................................................... Neocypholaelaps favus Ishikawa, 1968

- Setae j6 and z5 setiform ............................................................................................ Neocypholaelaps geonomae n. sp.

18. Seta z6 twice as long as j5, j6 and z5 ................................ Neocypholaelaps apicola Delfinado-Baker & Baker, 1983

- Seta z6 as long as j5, j6 and z5 ................................................................................................................................... 19

19. Setae j4, j5 and j6 smooth ............................................................................ Neocypholaelaps varipilosa Elsen, 1972a

- All dorsal setae barbed...................................................................................... Neocypholaelaps capitis Elsen, 1972 a