Amblyseius bengalensis, Karmakar & Bhowmik & Sherpa, 2017

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 : 42-44

Amblyseius bengalensis sp. nov.

( Figs 6–10 , 47–49 )

Female (n = 10): Dorsal shield smooth with light marks of sigilla mostly on prodorsal and lateral sides of podosomal area, with idiosomal setal pattern 10A: 9B/JV–3: ZV. Setae j4, j5, j6, J2, J5, z2, z4, z5, Z1, S2, S4, S5, r3 and R1 are short and smooth and the setae j1, j3, s4, Z4 and Z5 are relatively long and smooth except Z4 which is lightly serrated, spermatheca sclerotised with long tubular calyx flaring at the base, atrium distinct with major duct and distinct minor duct. Posterior margin of sternal shield is lightly concave. Movable digit of chelicerae with five backwardly-directed teeth. Ventrianal shield is wide and pentagonal.

Dorsum ( Fig. 6 ). Dorsal shield 327 (318–338) long and 203 (200–205) wide, smooth, with seven pairs of solenostomes (gd1, gd2, gd4, gd5, gd6, gd8 and gd9); 17 pairs of setae on the dorsal shield and two pairs of setae on the unsclerotised cuticle: j1 30 (25–35), j3 45 (43–48), j4 3 (2–4), j5 2 (2–3), j6 4 (3–5), J2 4 (3–5), J5 6 (5–7), z2 5 (5–6), z4 5 (4–7), z5 2 (2–3), Z1 5 (4–6), Z4 107 (105–110), Z5 250 (235–265), s4 77 (75–81), S2 5 (5–6), S4 5 (5–6), S5 5 (5–6), r3 11 (10–12), R1 6 (5–7). All setae smooth and setae j1, j3, are long and setae s4, Z4, and Z5 very long.

Peritreme ( Fig. 6 ). Extending forward beyond bases of j1, microtubercles densely spaced and irregularly arranged at anterior end of peritreme.

Venter ( Fig. 7 ). All shields smooth. Sternal shield with 59 long and 77 wide at level of setae ST1–ST3 and ST3–ST3 respectively, with three pairs of setae and two pairs of lyrifissures; one pair of setae (ST4) on distinct metasternal plate; posterior margin of sternal shield concave and clearly outlined in all specimens. Distances between ST1–ST3 59 (58–60), ST2–ST2 68 (67–70), ST3–ST3 77 (75–78) ST5–ST5 69 (68–70). Two pairs of metapodal shields, primary shield 16 (15–17) long and secondary shield 10 (10–11) long. Ventrianal shield 107 (105–110) long, 83 (80–85) wide at level of ZV2 setae and 70 (65–75) wide at level of anus; with three pairs of preanal setae, JV1, JV2 and 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 68 (62–72) long, smooth.

Chelicera ( Figs 8 , 47–48 ). Fixed digit 31 (30–32) long, with 14 teeth; movable digit 32 (32–33), with five backwardly-directed teeth.

Spermatheca ( Figs 9 , 49 ). Calyx tubular, elongated, 14 (14–15) long, flaring at base of calyx, atrium thick with minor duct and major duct long and distinct.

Legs ( Fig. 10 ). Legs IV with three smooth distally pointed macrosetae, of the following lengths: genu 108 (103–114), tibia 69 (63–75), basitarsus 59 (55–63). Chaetotactic formula of genu II: 1 2/1, 2/0 1; genu III: 1 2/0, 2/ 1 1. Length of leg I: 360 (345–375), leg II: 265 (255–275), leg III: 257 (250–263), leg IV: 367 (358–375).

Type specimens. Holotype: female (Acarol.lab/BCKV/8014/2016) (Registration number 4393/17 deposited in the NZC, Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata), collected from Tagar, Tabernamontana coronarea ( Apocynaceae ), at Mondouri: 22° 56' 32"N, 88° 30' 51"E, 9 m above mean sea level, Nadia, West Bengal on 29 August 2016; 7 paratype females (Acarol.lab/BCKV/8007–8013/2016) with same collection data as holotype; 1 paratype female (Acarol.lab/BCKV/8021/2016) (Registration number 4394/17 deposited in the NZC, Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata). from Mango, Mangifera indica (Anacardiacae) with same locality as holotype on 7 September 2016. 1 paratype female (Acarol.lab/BCKV/8022/2016) from Star fruit, Averrhoa carambola (Oxalidaceae) with same locality as holotype on 7 September 2016.

Etymology. The specific name bengalensis refers to West Bengal, India, the type locality of this species.

Distribution. Asia: India, West Bengal (present study).

Remarks. The dorsal shield of A. bengalensis is smooth with seven pairs of solenostomes and four pairs of lateral lyrifissures. It is close to A. aerialis ( Muma, 1955) and A. kulini (Gupta, 1978) . The dorsal shield setae j1 30, j3 45, s4 77, Z4 107 and Z5 250 of A. bengalensis are shorter than the setae j1 34–36, j3 51–55, s4 120–125, Z4 150–170 and Z5 290–330 of A. aerialis , and also varies in the shape of the ventrianal shield which is pentagonal and laterally concave in latter species and pentagonal and straight laterally in the former species. The number of teeth on the movable digit of the former species is five while it is four in the latter species. Amblyseius bengalensis also differs from A. kulini by the shape of the ventrianal shield which is pentagonal and straight laterally in the former species while it is concave laterally in latter species. The length of the macrosetae on genu of leg IV 108 of the former species is much longer than macrosetae on genu of leg IV 80 in the latter species; also the length of dorsal shield setae Z4 107 and Z5 250 of the former species differs from the Z4 84 and Z5 200 of the latter species.

Figures

FIGURES 6 – 10. Amblyseius bengalensis (female). 6. Dorsal view of idiosoma; 7. Ventral view of idiosoma; 8. Chelicera; 9. Spermatheca; 10. Genu, tibia and basitarsus IV.

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).