Lasioseius punjabensis Bhattacharyya & Sanyal

De Moraes, Gilberto J., Abo-Shnaf, Reham I. A., Pérez-Madruga, Yanebis, Sánchez, Leocadia, Karmakar, Krishna & Ho, Chyi-Chen, 2015, The Lasioseius phytoseioides species group (Acari: Blattisociidae): new characterisation, description of a new species, complementary notes on seven described species and a taxonomic key for the group, Zootaxa 3980 (1), pp. 1-41 : 26-27

Lasioseius punjabensis Bhattacharyya & Sanyal

( Figs 64–65 )

Lasioseius punjabensis Bhattacharyya & Sanyal, 2002: 53 .

Lasioseius (Cuspiacus) punjabensis .— Christian & Karg, 2006: 226.

Specimens examined. holotype female from soil and litter, at Seesh Mahal, Patiala, Punjab, India, collected January 5, 1996 (by A.K. Bhattacharyya, according to information of the original description).

Adult female. Dorsum of idiosoma ( Fig. 64 ): dorsal shield 470 [395–423] long and 220 wide; podonotal region seemingly lightly reticulate, with 12 pairs of setae (j2–j6, z2, z4, z5, s4, s5, r2, r3); opisthonotal region distinctly reticulate, with ten pairs of setae (J2, J4, J5, Z1, Z3–Z5, S3–S5). Most dorsal shield setae relatively short, not reaching base of subsequent setae; Z and S setae progressively longer towards posterior end of opisthonotal region; except for j4–J5 and z5, relatively robust. Lateral cuticle with three pairs of setae (r5, R1, R5). Setal lengths: j2 24, j3 28, j4 24, j5 31, j6 26, J2 20, J4 22, J5 18, z2 36, z4 36, z5 36, Z1 42, Z3 66, Z4 66, Z5 84, s4 46, s5 54, S3 48, S4 56, S5 64, r2 22, r3 54, r5 14, R1 25, R5 (not measured).

Venter of idiosoma ( Fig. 65 ): sternal and genital regions not distinct because of the poor condition of the holotype. Ventrianal shield broad, 190 long and 200 wide at widest level, reticulate, bearing six pairs of opisthogastric setae (JV1–JV4, ZV2, ZV3) in addition to the circum-anal setae; anal opening small, ca. 28 long including frame. Unsclerotised cuticle around ventrianal shield apparently with one pair of opisthogastric setae (JV5). [Posterior portion of endopodal shield v-shaped between coxae III–IV]. Length of ventral setae: JV1 16, JV2 24, JV3 23, JV4 30, JV5 54, ZV2 24, ZV3 24, para-anal 22 and post-anal 38.

Peritrematic plate and peritreme: peritreme extending forward to region between j2 setae.

Spermatheca: could not be distinguished.

Legs: leg IV with distinct macrosetae on genu (ad2) 48, basitarsus (pd3) 66, and telotarsus (pd2) 90.

Remarks. In the original description, the author mentioned the presence of a short seta on the unsclerotised membrane at the level between S4 and S5, which could be not seen in our examination of the holotype. Because of the poor condition of the holotype, it was not possible to determine the shape of the spermatheca or the presence of exopodal plates. The presence of macrosetae on leg IV, determined in our examination of the type specimen, differs from what was stated in the original description of this species. In the original description of L. punjabensis , the authors mentioned the setae along lateral margin of opisthonotal region of the dorsal shield to be serrate, showing the serration in their illustration. The serration is probably not very distinct, as it could not be noticed in our examination of the holotype. Lasioseius malacca seems very similar to L. punjabensis , except for the fact that JV5 was not illustrated in the original description of L. malacca . However, we consider that to be probably an oversight of the authors, given the stability of this seta in the Blattisociidae . Given the previous remarks, it was not possible in this work to differentiate between this species and L. malacca , whose holotype could not be examined in this work. These are not synonymised because the shape of the spermatheca of L. malacca is unknown.

Figures

FIGURES 64 – 65. Lasioseius punjabensis. Holotype female: 64. Dorsal shield; 65. Genital and ventrianal shields.