Neoseiulus longispinosus ( Evans, 1952 )

Bhowmik, Sagarika & Karmakar, Krishna, 2021, Five new species and re-description of eight species belonging to the family Phytoseiidae (Acari: Mesostigmata) from West Bengal, India, Zootaxa 4975 (3), pp. 401-450 : 416-420

Neoseiulus longispinosus ( Evans, 1952)

Typhlodromus longispinosus Evans, 1952: 413 .

Amblyseius longispinosus Prasad 1974: 167 .

Amblyseius (Neoseiulus) longispinosus Gupta 1986: 116 .

( Figs 27–33 , 93–97 )

Female (n = 10). Dorsum ( Fig. 27 ). Dorsal shield 321 (315–327) long and 171 (168–173) wide, smooth with four pairs of solenostomes (gd1, gd5, gd8 and gd9); 17 pairs of setae on the dorsal shield and two pairs of setae on the unsclerotised cuticle: j1 23 (21–25), j3 64 (63–65), j4 61 (60–62), j5 73 (70–75), j6 78 (75–80), J2 79 (76–81), J5 9 (8–10), z2 74 (70–78), z4 79 (76–82), z5 38 (35–40), Z1 77 (75–78), Z4 73 (72–74), Z5 81 (78–83), s4 87 (83–90), S2 77 (73–80), S4 62 (59–65), S5 18 (17–19), r3 60 (60–61), R1 66 (64–67). All the dorsal shield setae smooth and long except j1, J5 and S5 which are shorter than others.

Peritreme ( Fig. 27 ). Extending up to the bases of seta j1.

Venter ( Fig. 28 ). Sternal shield reticulated, 59 (58–60) long and 70 (68–72) wide at level of setae ST1–T3 and ST3–ST3 respectively, with three pairs of setae and two pairs of lyrifissures; one pair of setae (ST4) on distinctly visible metasternal plates, with a pair of conspicuous lyrifissures; posterior margin of sternal shield concave and conspicuous in all the specimens. Distances between ST2–ST2 62 (61–63), ST5–ST5 61 (58–63). Two pairs of metapodal shields, primary shield 29 (29–30) long and secondary shield 16 (15–17) long. Genital shield with lateral lines, ventrianal shield striated anteriorly and reticulated in the posterior region, 120 (119–121) long, 93 (90–95) wide at level of ZV2 setae and 72 (69–75) wide at level of anus; with three pairs of pre-anal setae, JV1, JV2 and ZV2, and one pair of elliptical pre-anal pores. Membrane surrounding ventrianal shield with four pairs of setae: ZVl, ZV3, JV4 and JV5; the latter 67 (63–70) long and smooth.

Chelicera ( Fig. 29 ). Fixed digit 25 (25–26) long, with seven teeth, pilus dentilis conspicuous; movable digit 26 (26–27), with three backwardly-directed teeth.

Spermatheca ( Fig. 30 ). Calyx cigar-shaped, 20 (19–21) long, atrium funnel-shaped with distinct major duct and indistinct minor duct.

Legs ( Fig. 31 ). Legs IV with one smooth pointed macrosetae on basitarsus, StVI 77 (76–78) long. Chaetotactic formula of genu II: 2 2/0, 2/0 1; genu III: 1 2/1, 2/0 1. Length of leg I: 338 (335–340), leg II: 258 (250–265), leg III: 253 (240–265), leg IV: 349 (343–355).

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 252 (248–255) long and 166 (162–170) wide, smooth; with 19 pairs of setae on dorsal shield: j1 20 (20–21), j3 46 (45–47), j4 46 (44–48), j5 56 (55–57), j6 63 (60–66), J2 58 (57–59), J5 7 (7–8), z2 56 (55–57), z4 60 (59–61), z5 30 (29–31), Z1 58 (55–60), Z4 57 (56–58), Z5 60 (57–63), s4 67 (64–70), S2 53 (50–56), S4 39 (36–41), S5 15 (15–16), r3 39 (37–40), R1 43 (40–45). All dorsal shield setae smooth and long except j1, J5 and S5 which are shorter than others.

Peritreme. Extending up to the bases of seta j1.

Venter ( Fig.32 ). Sternogenital shield and ventrianal shield lightly reticulated. Sternogenital shield with five pairs of setae and three pairs of distinguishable lyrifissures. Ventrianal shield 112 (110–113) long, 129 (127–130) wide at the level of JV2 setae and 62 (60–64) wide at the level of anus, with three pairs of pre-anal setae, JV1, JV2, and ZV2, and one pair of poroids. Unsclerotised membrane surrounding ventrianal shield with one pair of setae, JV5 29 (27–35) at level of anal opening.

Legs. Legs IV with one smooth pointed macrosetae on basitarsus, StIV 59 (58–60) long. Chaetotactic formula of genu II and genu III are identical to the female. Length of leg I: 265 (260–270), leg II: 215 (210–220), leg III: 208 (203–213), leg IV: 282 (278–285).

Chelicera ( Fig. 33 ). Spermatodactyl with a strong shaft 12 (12–13) long, terminating in an elongated foot, 21 (20–22) long, with upward toe.

Specimens examined. Three female specimens (Acar.lab/BCKV/8301–8302, 8305/2018) collected from Okra, Abelmoschus esculentus (Malvaceae) , at Kalyani: 22° 97’ 51” N, 88° 43’ 45” E, 8.75 m above mean sea level, Nadia, West Bengal on 2 July 2018. Voucher slides of these three female specimens have been deposited in the National Zoological Collection (NZC), Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata. Three female specimens (Acar.lab/ BCKV/8303–8304/2018) with same collection data as the above-mentioned female specimen were collected on 9 July 2018. Two female specimens (Acar.lab/BCKV/8297, 8306/2018) collected from Pointed gourd, Trichosanthes dioica (Cucurbitaceae) with same collection data as the above-mentioned female specimen on 31 July 2018. One female specimen (Acar.lab/BCKV/8298/2016), collected from Rice, Oryza sativa (Poaceae) at Jaguli: 22° 56’ 47” N, 88° 32’ 5” E, 9 m above mean sea level, Nadia, West Bengal on 18 October 2016. One female specimen (Acar. lab/BCKV/8334/2016) and one female specimen (Acar.lab/BCKV/8339/2016) collected from Rice, Oryza sativa (Poaceae) at Jaguli: 22° 56’ 47” N, 88° 32’ 5” E, 9 m above mean sea level, Nadia, West Bengal on 1 December 2016 and 25 November 2016 respectively. Five female specimens (Acar.lab/BCKV/8335–8338/2017) collected from French bean, Phaseolus vulgaris (Fabaceae) , at Kalyani: 22° 97’ 51” N, 88° 43’ 45” E, 8.75 m above mean sea level, Nadia, West Bengal on 23 May 2017. Two female specimens (Acar.lab/BCKV/8342/2016) collected from Rice, Oryza sativa (Poaceae) at Jaguli: 22° 56’ 47” N, 88° 32’ 5” E, 9 m above mean sea level, Nadia, West Bengal on 1 December 2016. One male specimen (Acar.lab/BCKV/8341/2017) collected from French bean, Phaseolus vulgaris (Fabaceae) , at Kalyani: 22° 58’ 59” N, 88° 28’ 58” E, 8.75 m above mean sea level, Nadia, West Bengal on 23 May 2017. Voucher slide of these male specimen have been deposited in the National Zoological Collection (NZC), Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata. Four male specimens (Acar.lab/BCKV/8297, 8300, 8306/2018) collected from pointed gourd, Trichosanthes dioica (Cucurbitaceae) with same collection data as the above-mentioned female specimen on 31 July 2018.

Distribution. North America: Cuba ( Hastie et al., 2010); Hawaii ( Tenorio et al., 1985); Guadeloupe ( Kreiter et al., 2013); ( Moraes et al., 2000). Africa: Egypt ( Zaher, 1986). Asia: Japan ( Ehara, 1959); China: Fujian ( Lin et al., 2000); Hainan ( Chen et al., 1980); Yunnan ( Xin et al., 1981). India: Andaman Islands ( Gupta, 1977a); Andhra Pradesh ( Gupta, 1987b); Bihar ( Gupta & Nahar, 1981); Himachal Pradesh ( Thakur & Dinabandhoo, 2005; Thakur et al., 2010); Kerala ( Haneef & Sadanandan, 2013); Orissa ( Gupta, 1978b); Pondicherry ( Gupta, 1978a); Tamil Nadu ( Evans, 1953; Gupta, 1978a); Uttar Pradesh ( Gupta, 1982); West Bengal ( Gupta, 1992; Karmakar & Gupta, 2011). South Korea ( Lee & Ryu, 1989).

Remarks. The comparison between our specimens and the one previously reported from India ( Table 5) shows no difference in the setal measurements except the setae s4 which is longer in our specimens than the original one but similar to the species reported from India. The number of teeth on the fixed digit is greater in the present species than the other specimens. A more detailed illustrations and descriptions of both male and female specimens have been provided in present study.

Ecological notes. This species is found to be associated with many important agri- horticultural crops infested with spider mites. It prefers to feed on eggs of spider mites especially those having thin egg chorion, and can be used as a successful biological control agent against spider mites.

Figures

FIGURES 27–33. Neoseiulus longispinosus. 27. Female, dorsal idiosoma; 28. Female, ventral idiosoma; 29. Female, chelicera; 30. Female, spermatheca; 31. Female, genu, tibia and basitarsus IV; 32. Male, ventral idiosoma (male); 33. Male, chelicera.

FIGURES 93–105. 93. Neoseiulus longispinosus, female, dorsal shield; 94. Neoseiulus longispinosus, female, ventral idiosoma; 95. Neoseiulus longispinosus, female, spermatheca; 96. Neoseiulus longispinosus, male, spermatodactyl; 97. Neoseiulus longispinosus, female, chelicera; 98. Neoseiulus imbricatus, female, dorsal idiosoma; 99. Neoseiulus imbricatus, female, leg IV. 100. Neoseiulus barkeri, female, dorsal idiosoma; 101. Neoseiulus barkeri, female, ventral idiosoma; 102. Neoseiulus barkeri, male, sternigenital plate; 103. Neoseiulus barkeri, male, ventrianal shield; 104. Neoseiulus barkeri, female, spermatheca; 105. Neoseiulus barkeri, male, spermatodactyl.