Amblyseius herbicolus ( Chant, 1959 )

Karmakar, Krishna, Bhowmik, Sagarika & Sherpa, Choyang, 2017, Description of five new species and re-description of two species of Amblyseius (Acari: Phytoseiidae) from West Bengal, India, Zootaxa 4311 (1), pp. 39-61 : 53-57

Amblyseius herbicolus ( Chant, 1959)

( Figs 37–43 , 60–61 )

Typhlodromus (Amblyseius) herbicolus Chant, 1959: 84 .

Amblyseius (Amblyseius) largoensis Muma, 1961: 287 .

Amblyseius deleoni Muma & Denmark, 1970 : 68.

Amblyseius giganticus Gupta, 1981: 33 .

Amblyseius herbicolus .— Daneshvar & Denmark, 1982: 5; Lo, 1986: 31; Denmark & Muma, 1989: 59; Moraes et al., 2004: 28; Chant & McMurtry, 2007: 78; Demite et al., 2017.

Amblyseius deleoni .— Schicha & Gutierrez, 1985: 178.

Amblyseius (Amblyseius) herbicolus .— Gupta, 1986: 45; 1987: 9; 2003: 18.

Female (n = 10). Dorsum ( Fig. 37 ). Dorsal shield 369 (363–375), long and 234 (225–243), wide with seven pairs of solenostomes (gd1, gd2, gd4, gd5, gd6, gd8 and gd9); 17 pairs of dorsal setae and two pairs of sublateral setae: j1 37 (35–38), j3 44 (42–48), j4 5 (5–6), j5 4 (3–5), j6 5 (5–6), J2 9 (8–10), J5 7 (7–8), z2 13 (12–14), z4 10 (10– 11), z5 5 (5–6), Z1 12 (12–13), Z4 101 (98–105), Z5 259 (255–263), s4 93 (90–95), S2 11 (9–12), S4 11 (10–12), S5 11 (9–12), r3 12 (10–14), R1 9 (9–10). All setae smooth except Z4 which is lightly serrated, j1, j3, are long and s4, Z4, and Z5 very long.

Peritreme ( Fig. 37 ). Extending forward beyond the bases j1, with two parallel rows of microtubercles.

Venter ( Fig. 38 ). All shields smooth, sternal shield 70 long and 79 wide at level setae ST2, with three pairs of setae and two pairs of lyrifissures; one pair of setae (ST4) on distinctly visible metasternal plate; posterior margin sternal shield clearly visible. Distances between ST1–ST3 70 (70–71), ST2–ST2 75 (75–76), ST3–ST3 79 (78–80), ST5–ST5 72 (71–73). Two pairs of metapodal shields, primary shield 22 (21–23) long, secondary shield 15 (13– 16) long. Ventrianal shield 112 (108–118) long, 54 (53–55) wide at level of ZV2 setae and 72 (69–75) wide at level of anus; with three pairs of pre-anal setae, JV1, JV2, ZV2 and one pair of large elliptical pre-anal pores. Membrane surrounding ventrianal shield with four pairs of setae ZVl, ZV3, JV4 and JV5 the latter 64 (60–68) long and smooth.

Chelicera ( Figs 39 , 60 ). Fixed digit 35 long, with 12 teeth and conspicuous pilus dentilis; movable digit 35 (34–36) long, with four re-curved teeth.

Spermatheca ( Figs 40 , 61 ). Calyx organ-pipe like 29 (28–30) long, flaring at vesicle and tapering gradually towards atrium. Atrium nodular, distinct with major and minor duct.

Legs ( Fig. 41 ). Legs IV with three smooth macrosetae with pointed tips and of the following lengths: genu 115 (112–118), tibia 88 (86–90), basitarsus 75 (73–76). Chaetotactic formula of genu II: 2 2/1, 2/0 1; genu III: 1 2/1, 2/ 1 0. Length of leg I 422 (418–425), leg II 343 (335–350), leg III 338 (330–350), leg IV 450 (442–460).

Male (n = 10). A lightly sclerotised mite with 19 pairs of dorsal setae. Idiosomal setal pattern: 10A: 9B/JV– 3,4: ZV–1,3.

Dorsum. Dorsal shield 295 (288–302) long and 197 (188–205) wide, smooth, solenostomes not distinguishable; 17 pairs of setae on dorsal shield and two pairs of setae on unsclerotised cuticle: j1 34 (33–35), j3 42 (40–43), j4 5 (3–6), j5 6 (4–8), j6 6 (4–8), J2 10 (9–12), J5 8 (7–9), z2 12 (10–14), z4 10 (10–11), z5 5 (5–6), Z4 87 (85–88), Z5 224 (223–225), s4 84 (80–88), S2 10 (10–11), S4 10 (10–11), S5 10 (10–11), r3 13 (11–15), R1 10 (8–11). All setae smooth and setae j1, j3, are long and setae s4, Z4, and Z5 very long.

Peritreme. Extending beyond level of j1.

Venter ( Fig. 42 ). The sternogenital shield has few lateral lines, ventrianal shields reticulated. Sternogenital shield with five pairs of setae and three pairs of distinguishable lyrifissures. Ventrianal shield 122 (120–123) long, 124 (123–125) wide at the level of JV2 setae and 62 (60–63) wide at the level of anus, with three pairs of pre-anal setae, JV1, JV2, and ZV2, one pairs of poroids and two pairs of distinguishable lyrifissures. Unsclerotised membrane surrounding ventrianal shield with one pair of setae, JV5 30 (28–35) at level of anal opening.

Legs. Leg IV with three smooth macrosetae, pointed at the tip, of the following lengths; genu 87 (85–88), tibia 72 (70–73), basitarsus 61 (58–63). Chaetotactic formula of genu II and genu III are identical to the female. Length of leg I: 352 (340–363), leg II: 254 (260–278), leg III: 268 (260–275), leg IV: 359 (355–363).

Chelicera ( Fig. 43 ). Spermatodactyl with an elongated shaft 18 long, terminating with a wide toe, 10 long.

Specimens examined. 23 females (Acar.lab/BCKV/5760–5785/2015), collected from Tea, Camellia sinensis (Theaceae) , at Sinha Tea estate: 26° 42' 57" N, 88° 25' 24" E, 122 m above mean sea level, Darjeeling, West Bengal, on 11 September 2015. 26 female specimen (Acar.lab/BCKV/6010–6022/2015) and 14 females(Acar.lab/ BCKV/8140–8153/2016) collected from Citrus , Citrus reticulata (Rutaceae) , at Kalimpong: 27°4'25.17"N, 88°28'37.92"E, 1165.25 m above mean sea level, West Bengal, on 30 October 2015 and 20 October 2016, respectively; 6 female specimen (Acar.lab/BCKV/6023–6028/2015) and 13 females (Acar.lab/BCKV/8119–8131/ 2016), collected from Ginger, Zingiber officinale (Zingiberaceae) , at Kalimpong: 27°4'25.17"N, 88°28'37.92"E, 1265 m above mean sea level, West Bengal, on 7 November 2015 and 29 October 2016, respectively; 16 female specimen (Acar.lab/BCKV/6029–6044/2015) and 8 females (Acar.lab/BCKV/8132–8139/2016)(Registration number 5440/17 deposited in the NZC, Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata), collected from Tea, Camellia sinensis (Theaceae) , at Samsing Tea estate: 26°98΄61̎ N, 88°81΄19̎ E, 700 m above mean sea level, Kalimpong West Bengal, on 29 October 2015 and 29 October 2016 respectively; 8 females (Acar.lab/BCKV/6045–6052/ 2015), collected from Tea, Camellia sinensis (Theaceae) , at Peshok Tea estate: 27°4' 9" N, 88°23' 51" E, 1700 m above mean sea level, Darjeeling, West Bengal, on 7 November 2015; 8 females (Acar.lab/BCKV/6053–6060/ 2015), collected from Tea, Camellia sinensis (Theaceae) , at Kumai Tea Estate, Kalimpong: 26°99΄51̎ N, 88°82΄87̎ E, 900 m above mean sea level West Bengal, on 28 October 2015; 4 males (Acar.lab/BCKV/6029, 6035, 6037, 6040/2015), collected from Tea, Camellia sinensis (Theaceae) , at Samsing Tea estate: 26°98΄61̎ N, 88°81΄19̎ E, 700 m above mean sea level, Kalimpong, West Bengal, on 29 October 2015; 4 males (Acar.lab/ BCKV/5767/2015), collected from Tea, Camellia sinensis (Theaceae) , at Sinha Tea estate: 26° 42' 57" N, 88° 25' 24" E, 122 m above mean sea level Darjeeling, West Bengal, on 29 October 2015.

Distribution. Africa: South Africa ( Ueckermann & Loots, 1988), Kenya ( Moraes et al., 1989b), Benin ( Zannou et al., 2007), Senegal ( Kade et al., 2011). Asia: India ( Gupta, 1989), Arunachal Pradesh ( Gupta, 1986), West Bengal ( Gupta, 1992, Karmakar & Gupta, 2011 & Present study), Tripura ( Gupta, 1986), Kerala ( Haneef & Sadanandan, 2013), China, Fujian ( Lin et al., 2000), Malaysia ( Ehara, 2002), Philippines ( Moraes et al., 1989a), Singapore ( Corpuz-Raros, 1995), Iran ( Daneshvar & Denmark, 1982). Australia: Queensland ( Waite & Gerson, 1994). Europe: Turkey ( Akyazi et al., 2016), Portugal ( Chant, 1959), Spain ( Miñarro et al., 2002). North America: USA ( Chant, 1959), Hawaii ( Tenorio et al., 1985), Honduras ( Denmark et al., 1999), Costa Rica ( Denmark et al., 1999). South America: Argentina ( Furtado et al., 2007) , Brazil ( Moraes et al., 1990), Bahia ( Nuvoloni et al., 2015), Minas Gerais ( Pallini Filho et al., 1992), Paraná ( Santana & Flechtmann, 1998), Rio Grande Do Norte (Lawson- Balagbo et al., 2008), Rio Grande Do Sul ( Ferla & Moraes, 2002), Roraima ( Gondim Jr. et al., 2012), São Paulo ( Gondim Jr. & Moraes, 2001), Amapá ( Mineiro et al., 2009), Colombia ( Moraes & Mesa, 1988), Dominican Republic ( Ferragut et al., 2011), West Indies ( Chant, 1959), El Salvador ( Denmark et al., 1999).

Remarks. Amblyseius herbicolus is the most abundant phytoseiid mite species in the Darjeeling District of West Bengal, comprising approximately 80% of the total phytoseiid population. It is associated with major economically important crops like tea, citrus and ginger during the post rainy season in the months of September to November. This species was observed to predate upon spider mites and hence, may be exploited as potential biocontrol agents for management of spider mites of citrus and tea crops. Amblyseius herbicolus (Chant) is closely related with A. largoensis (Muma) and A. conulus (present study) by their vase-shaped ventrianal shield but the former species is distinguished from the latter species with its typical fundibuliform or organ-pipe like long calyx of spermatheca while A. largoensis having long tubular calyx and A. conulus having conical or funnel-shaped calyx.

Figures

FIGURES 37 – 43. Amblyseius herbicolus (Chant, 1959) (female). 37. Dorsal view of idiosoma; 38. Ventral view of idiosoma; 39. Chelicera; 40. Spermatheca; 41. Genu, tibia and basitarsus IV; 42. Ventral view of idiosoma (male); 43. Spermatodactyl.

FIGURES 44 – 61. Amblyseius spp., chelicera, spermatheca and spermatodactyl. 44 – 46. A. dahliae sp. nov.; 47 – 49. A. bengalensis sp. nov.; 50 – 51. A. brachycalyx sp. nov.; 52 – 54. A. conulus sp. nov.; 55 – 56. A. parbatabasii sp. nov.; 57 – 59. A. largoensis (Muma, 1955); 60 – 61. A. herbicolus (Chant, 1959).