Neoseiulus imbricatus (Corpuz & Rimando, 1966)

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 : 420-423

Neoseiulus imbricatus (Corpuz & Rimando, 1966)

Amblyseius imbricatus Corpuz & Rimando, 1966: 127 .

Amblyseius (Neoseiulus) imbricatus Gupta 1986: 114 .

( Figs 34–40 , 98–99 )

Female (n = 10). Dorsum ( Fig. 34 ). Dorsal shield 373 (370–375) long and 182 (179–185) wide, imbricated throughout the entire dorsum, with five pairs of solenostomes (gd1, gd2, gd4, gd8 and gd9); 17 pairs of setae on the dorsal shield and two pairs of setae on the unsclerotised cuticle: j1 30 (28–32), j3 46 (43–48), j4 28 (27–29), j5 32 (30–33), j6 42 (41–43), J2 47 (47–48), J5 12 (11–13), z2 40 (38–41), z4 47 (43–50), z5 29 (28–30), Z1 49 (47–50), Z4 64 (63–65), Z5 74 (73–75), s4 55 (52–58), S2 56 (55–57), S4 56 (55–57), S5 47 (44–50), r3 47 (45–48), R1 47 (47–48). All the setae smooth and medium in length while setae Z4 and Z5 are longer than the other dorsal setae.

Peritreme (Fig. 196). Extending forward up to bases of j1.

Venter ( Fig. 35 ). All shields smooth except ventrianal shield which is slightly reticulated. Sternal shield 68 (65–70) long and 68 (65–70) 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 distinctly visible metasternal plates, with a pair of conspicuous lyrifissures; posterior margin of sternal shield concave and conspicuous in all the specimens, with posterior lateral lobe from where the ST3 arises. Distances between ST2–ST2 61 (60–62), ST5–ST5 64 (63–65). Two pairs of metapodal shields, primary shield 24 (21–26) long and secondary shield 11 (10–12) long. Ventrianal shield 131 (129–133) long, 98 (95–100) wide at level of ZV2 setae and 80 (78–81) wide at level of anus; with three pairs of pre-anal setae, JV1, JV2 and ZV2, and one pair of large pre-anal pores. Membrane surrounding ventrianal shield with four pairs of setae: ZVl, ZV3, JV4 and JV5; the latter 57 (56–58) long and smooth.

Chelicera ( Fig. 36 ). Fixed digit 31 (31–32) long, with 11 teeth and conspicuous pilus dentilis, movable digit 33 (33–34), with two teeth.

Spermatheca ( Fig. 37 ). Calyx disc-shaped, 7 (6–8) long. Atrium adjacent to the vesicle with distinct major and minor ducts.

Legs ( Fig. 38 ). Legs IV with three smooth pointed macrosetae of the following lengths: SgeIV 33 (31–35), StiIV 41 (40–42), StIV 77 (75–78) long. Chaetotactic formula of genu II: 2 2/0, 2/0 1; genu III: 1 2/1, 2/0 1. Length of leg I: 351 (343–358), leg II: 281 (278–283), leg III: 278 (275–280), leg IV: 393 (390–395).

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 284 (278–290) long and 173 (165–180) wide; with 19 pairs of setae on dorsal shield: j1 24 (23–25), j3 34 (31–37), j4 22 (19–24), j5 25 (21–28), j6 33 (30–36), J2 36 (33–38), J5 10 (10–11), z2 32 (29–35), z4 34 (31–37), z5 22 (21–23), Z1 38 (35–40), Z4 51 (48–53), Z5 52 (48–55), s4 41 (40–42), S2 43 (40–45), S4 42 (41–43), S5 37 (37–38), r3 35 (35–36), R1 35 (32–38). All the setae smooth and medium in length while setae Z4 and Z5 are longer than the other dorsal setae, Z5 longest.

Peritreme. Extending forward up to the bases of j1.

Venter ( Fig. 39 ). Sternogenital shield with a few lateral lines, ventrianal shields strongly reticulated. Sternogenital shield with five pairs of setae and two pairs of distinguishable lyrifissures. Ventrianal shield 106 (103–108) long, 119 (115–123) wide at the level of JV2 setae and 69 (68–70) wide at the level of anus, with four pairs of pre-anal setae, JV1, JV2, JV4 and ZV2, and one pair of poroids. Unsclerotised membrane surrounding ventrianal shield with one pair of setae, JV5 36 (34–38) at level of anal opening.

Legs. Legs IV with three smooth pointed macrosetae of the following lengths: SgeIV 23 (23–24), StiIV 29 (27–30), StIV 57 (54–60) long. Chaetotactic formula of genu II and genu III are identical to the female. Length of leg I: 290 (285–295), leg II: 233 (220–245), leg III: 229 (220–238), leg IV: 307 (300–313).

Chelicera ( Fig. 40 ). Spermatodactyl with an elongated shaft 20 (20–21) long, terminating with a foot 15 (15– 16) long, with a downward toe.

Specimens examined. 16 female specimens (Acarol.lab/BCKV/7089–7093, 8343–8344, 8347/2016), collected from Rice, Oryza sativa (Poaceae) , at Jaguli: 22° 56’ 46” N, 88° 32’ 23” E, 9 m above mean sea level, Nadia, West Bengal on 26 September 2016. Voucher slides of two female specimens (Acar.lab/BCKV/7089/2016) have been deposited in the National Zoological Collection (NZC), Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata with same collection data as above. One female specimen (Acar.lab/BCKV/8343/2016) with same collection data as the above-mentioned female specimen on 8 September 2016. Three female specimens (Acar.lab/BCKV/8348–8350/2016), collected from Custard apple, Annona reticulata (Annonaceae) at Mondouri: 22° 56’ 32”N, 88° 30’ 51”E, 9 m above mean sea level, Nadia, West Bengal on 21 June 2016. Three male specimens (Acarol.lab/BCKV/8346/2016), collected from Rice, Oryza sativa (Poaceae) , at Jaguli: 22° 56’ 46” N, 88° 32’ 23” E, 9 m above mean sea level, Nadia, West Bengal on 26 September 2016. Voucher slides of these three male specimens have been deposited in the National Zoological Collection (NZC), Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata. Six male specimens (Acarol.lab/BCKV/7089–7093, 8347/2016) with same collection data as the above-mentioned male specimen.

Distribution. Asia: Azerbaijan ( Abbasova, 1972); China: Hainan ( Wu & Ou, 2002); Jiangxi ( Zhu & Chen, 1983); ( Wu et al., 1991); Wuling Mountain Region ( Wu & Lan, 1992); India: Karnataka (Gupta, 1986); Philippines (Corpuz & Rimando, 1966; Schicha & Corpuz-Raros, 1992); Saudi Arabia ( Alatawi et al., 2017); Thailand ( Ehara & Bhandhufalck, 1977).

Remarks. Measurements of female specimens observed during this study are compared with the measurements of the original description as well as with the specimens earlier reported from India ( Table 6). Measurements agree well with the previous measurements, except the number of teeth in movable digit which differs from the original.

Ecologial notes. This mite species is found to be distributed throughout West Bengal. It is mainly associated with the foliage of rice crop, and found to feed on spider mite species, Oligonychus oryzae , O. indicus and Schizotetranychus andropogoni infesting rice leaves.

Figures

FIGURES 34–40. Neoseiulus imbricatus. 34. Female, dorsal idiosoma; 35. Female, ventral idiosoma; 36. Female, chelicera; 37. Female, spermatheca; 38. Female, genu, tibia and basitarsus IV; 39. Male, ventral idiosoma; 40. 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.