Paragigagnathus desertorum (Amitai and Swirski)

Alatawi, Fahad J., Kamran, M. & Basahih, J., 2015, First record of the genus Paragigagnathus Amitai and Grinberg, 1971 (Mesostigmata: Phytoseiidae) from Saudi Arabia with description of a new species, Journal of Natural History 50, pp. 701-709 : 706-707

Paragigagnathus desertorum (Amitai and Swirski)

Phytocerus desertorum Amitai and Swirski 1978: 123 – 127 ; Swirski and Amitai 1985: 185;

1997: 31. Amblyseius desertorum Ueckermann 1996: 28 . Paragigagnathus desertorum (Amitai and Swirski) , Chant and McMurtry 2003: 39 – 44;

Moraes et al. 2004: 159; Chant and McMurtry 2007: 33; Hajizadeh et al. 2010: 22 – 227. Female. (n = 8), the measurements of Saudi Arabian specimens in range.

Dorsal idiosoma

Dorsal shield 288 – 302 long and 204 – 212 wide at the level of setae R 1 , strongly sclerotized, ornamented and with wax plates, rugose lines/ patches; with 19 pairs of setae including setae r 3 and R 1 . All dorsal setae thick and set on prominent tubercles. Dorsal shield setal length: j 1 16 – 18, j 3 26 – 31, j 4 24 – 27, j 5 29 – 30, j 6 32 – 35, J 2 38 – 40, J 5 13 – 14, z 2 35 – 37, z 4 36 – 38, z 5 24 – 26, Z 1 36 – 39, Z 4 46 – 49, Z 5 45 – 47, s 4 39 – 42, S 2 45 – 47, S 4 45 – 48, S 5 46 – 49 and lateral setae r 3 23 – 24, R 1 18 – 19 . Peritreme extending up to setae j 1.

Ventral idiosoma

Sternal shield smooth, convex anteriorly and posteriorly, 76 – 79 long, 57 – 59 wide at the level of setae ST 2; with two pairs of setae and one pair of pores. ST 3 present on metasternal platelets, ST 4 present on soft cuticle. Genital shield truncate posteriorly, 55 – 58 wide, wider than ventrianal shield, with one pair of setae. One pair of pores present lateral to genital shield on soft cuticle. Ventrianal and genital shields with a membranous fold in between. Ventrianal shield smooth, elongate, sole shaped, with marked waist, 36 – 37 wide at preanals, 60 – 61 wide (at anal setae), 99 – 105 long. L/W ratio at narrowest point 3.43, with three pairs of preanal setae, three circumanal setae and one pair of pores. Four pairs of setae, six pairs of pores and two pairs of metapodal platelets present on the membrane surrounding the ventrianal shield. ZV 1 = ZV 3 = 11 – 12, JV 4 14 – 15, JV 5 17 – 18, primary metapodal platelet 36 – 39, secondary 16 – 18.

Spermatheca

Vesicle is saccular, calyx, dish shaped, not very thick, atrium not adjacent to the calyx, major duct long, thick, minor duct not prominent.

Chelicerae

Fixed digit with one bifid tooth and a pilis dentilis; the movable digit smooth.

Leg IV

One macroseta on basitarsus 23 – 25.

Material examined

Eight females, 130 km Al – Madinah road, Makkah, Acacia raddiana L. ( Fabaceae ), 7 Feb., 2014, coll. M. Kamran.

Distribution and hosts

Israel, ex. Acacia raddiana L. ( Fabaceae ), association with Thrips sp. ( Thripidae ) ( Amitai and Swirski 1978; Swirski and Amitai 1985, 1997); Yemen ex unidentified plants ( Ueckermann 1996). It was found on Acacia raddiana in association with Sonotetranychus sp. ( Acari : Tetranychidae ) in Saudi Arabia.