Amblyseius conulus, 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 : 46-48

Amblyseius conulus sp. nov.

( Figs 16–22 , 52–54 )

Female (n = 10). Dorsal shield smooth with light marks of sigilla on the 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 while the setae j1, j3, s4, Z4 and Z5 are relatively long and smooth except Z4 which is lightly serrated, spermatheca with conical flaring at the base tapering towards the atrium. Posterior margin of sternal shield is wavy and lightly concave with lateral curved extension. Movable digit of chelicera with four backwardly-directed teeth. Ventrianal shield vase-shaped with tubercles at lateral margins at anus level.

Dorsum ( Fig. 16 ). Dorsal shield 317 (315–320) long and 205 (201–210) 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 34 (33–35), j3 40 (38–42), j4 8 (7–9), j5 5 (5–6), j6 7 (7–8), J2 11 (9–12), J5 8 (7– 9), z2 13 (12–14), z4 9 (9–10), z5 6 (5–7), Z1 10 (10–11), Z4 74 (73–75), Z5 235 (228–243), s4 76 (75–78), S2 11 (11–12), S4 11 (10–12), S5 7 (6–9), r3 10 (10–11), R1 9 (9–10). All setae smooth and setae j1, j3, are long and setae s4, Z4, and Z5 very long.

Peritreme ( Fig. 16 ). Extending forward beyond bases of j1, with two parallel rows of microtubercles.

Venter ( Fig. 17 ). All shields smooth. Sternal shield with 56 long and 73 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 metasternal plate; posterior margin of sternal shield slightly concave and clearly outlined in all specimens. Distances between ST1–ST3 56 (55–58), ST2–ST2 65 (64–66), ST3–ST3 73 (70–75), ST5–ST5 62 (60–64). Two pairs of metapodal shields, primary shield 18 (16–20) long and secondary shield 11 (10–13) long. Ventrianal shield 96 (95–98) long, 43 (43–44) wide at level of ZV2 setae and 56 (55–58) wide at level of anus; with three pairs of pre-anal 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 46 (45–48) long, smooth.

Chelicera ( Figs 18 , 52 ). Fixed digit 29 (27–30) long, with 12 teeth; movable digit 31 (29–32), with four backwardly-directed teeth.

Spermatheca ( Figs 19 , 53 ). Calyx conical, 20 long, 4 times as wide at base of calyx than at base of atrium, basally-flared calyx gradually tapering towards rounded atrium, minor duct and major duct distinct.

Legs ( Fig. 20 ). Legs IV with three smooth distally pointed macrosetae of the following lengths: genu 106 (105–108), tibia 73 (70–75), basitarsus 56 (55–58). Chaetotactic formula of genu II: 2 2/0, 2/1 0; genu III: 1 2/0, 2/ 1 1. Length of leg I: 354 (340–368), leg II: 278 (275–280), leg III: 280 (275–285), leg IV: 372 (363–380).

Male (n = 7). A lightly sclerotised mite with 19 pairs of dorsal setae. Idiosomal setal pattern: 10A: 9B/JV–3,4: ZV–1,3.

Dorsum. Dorsal shield 244 (243–245) long and 173 (170–175) wide, smooth; 17 pairs of setae on dorsal shield and two pairs of setae on unsclerotised cuticle: j1 25 (24–27), j3 37 (37–38), j4 6 (4–7), j5 4 (4–5), j6 5 (5–6), J2 7 (6–8), J5 5 (4–6), z2 10 (10–11), z4 8 (8–9), z5 5 (4–6), Z1 7 (6–8), Z4 58 (57–60), Z5 185 (180–190), s4 62 (60– 63), S2 7 (7–8), S4 6 (6–7), S5 6 (6–7), r3 10 (8–11), R1 7 (6–8). All setae smooth, j1, j3, are long and s4, Z4, and Z5 very long.

Peritreme. Extending beyond level of j1.

Venter ( Fig. 21 ). Sternogenital shield with few lateral lines and ventrianal shields reticulated. Sternogenital shield with five pairs of setae and two pairs of distinguishable lyrifissures. Ventrianal shield 107 (103–110) long, 102 (100–103) wide at level of ZV2 setae, 54 (50–58) wide at the level of anus; with three pairs of pre-anal setae, JV1, JV2 and ZV2, one pair of pores and two pairs of distinguishable lyrifissures. Unsclerotised membrane surrounding ventrianal shield with one pair of setae, JV5 at level of anal opening.

Legs. Leg IV with three smooth macrosetae of following lengths; genu 60 (58–63), tibia 57 (53–60), basitarsus 52 (50–53). Chaetotactic formula of genu II: 1 2/1, 2/0 1; genu III: 1 2/1, 2/0 1. Length of leg I: 321 (318–325), leg II: 232 (225–238), leg III: 245 (240–250), leg IV: 327 (325–328).

Chelicera ( Figs 22 , 54 ). Spermatodactyl with an elongated shaft 16 long terminating with a wide toe, 9 (8–10) long.

Type specimens. Holotype: Female (Acarol.lab/BCKV/8044/2016) (Registration number 4397/17 deposited in the NZC, Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata), collected from Betel nut, Piper betle . ( Piperaceae ), at Rahimpur: 26°35' N, 89°01' E, 80 m above mean sea level, Jalpaiguri, West Bengal on 16 November 2016; 7 paratype females (Acarol.lab/BCKV/8028–8030/2016) with same collection data as holotype; 5 paratype females (Acarol.lab/ BCKV/8041, 8046–8048/2016) (Registration number 4398/17 deposited in the NZC, Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata), from Guava, Psidium guajava , ( Myrtaceae ) at same locality as holotype on 2 December 2016. 4 paratype male (Acarol.lab/BCKV/8027/2016), with same collection data as holotype; 1 paratype male (Acarol.lab/BCKV/ 8069/2016), collected from Rose, Rosa chinensis (Rosaceae) , at same locality as holotype on 1 December 2016. 2 paratype males (Acarol.lab/BCKV/8043/2016) collected from Guava, Psidium guajava , ( Myrtaceae ) at same locality as holotype on 6 December 2016.

Etymology. The specific name conulus refers to the conical or funnel-shaped spermatheca of this new species.

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

Remarks. The dorsal shield of A. conulus is smooth with seven pairs of solenostomes and four pairs of lateral lyrifissures. It is close to A. herbicolus ( Chant, 1959) and A. eharai Amitai & Swirski, 1981 . The former species differs from the A. herbicolus by the shape of calyx of spermatheca which is four times as wide at the base than at base of atriun in the former species, while it is fundibuliform and narrow at base of atrium in latter species. The former species differs from the latter species by the shape of ventrianal shield, posterior lateral margin of genital shield and posterior margin of sternal shield, and also the dorsal shield setae s4 76 and Z5 235 are shorter in the former species than the setae s4 92–100 and Z5 250–270 of the latter species. Amblyseius conulus is also close to A. eharai but differs from the former species by the posterior margin of sternal shield which is slightly concave in the former species while it is with posterior loop like projection in the latter species.

Figures

FIGURES 16 – 22. Amblyseius conulus (female). 16. Dorsal view of idiosoma; 17. Ventral view of idiosoma; 18. Chelicera; 19. Spermatheca; 20. Genu, tibia and basitarsus IV; 21. Ventral view of idiosoma (male); 22. 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).