Paraphytoseius orientalis ( Narayanan, Kaur & Ghai, 1960 )

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 : 406-408

Paraphytoseius orientalis ( Narayanan, Kaur & Ghai, 1960)

Paraphytoseius orientalis Narayanan, Kaur & Ghai, 1960: 394 .

Paraphytoseius orientalis Chant & McMurtry, 2003:179 .

Paraphytoseius multidentatus Swirski and Shechter, 1961: 114 .

( Figs 8–14 , 84–86 )

Female (n = 10).

Dorsum ( Figs 8 ). Dorsal shield 282 (275–288) long and 157 (150–163) wide with a notch at the level of s4 seta, with seven pairs of solenostomes (gd1, gd2, gd4, gd5, gd6, gd8 and gd9); 13 pairs of dorsal setae and two pairs of sublateral setae: j1 37 (34–40), j3 81 (78–84), j4 3 (3–4), j5 4 (3–5), j6 6 (6–7), J5 3 (3–4), z2 8 (6–10), z4 9 (7–11), z5 4 (3–5), Z1 8 (6–9), Z4 79 (74–84), Z5 96 (90–102), s4 126 (123–128), r3 45 (43–46), R 1 26 (22–30). Setae j3, s4, Z4 and Z5 are long, serrated and set on strong tubercles; setae j1, r3, R 1 are serrated and medium in length compared to the remaining dorsal setae which are very minute and smooth.

Peritreme ( Fig. 8 ). Extending forward up to the level of the bases of j1.

Venter ( Fig. 9 ). All shields smooth, sternal shield 65 (63–66) long, 76 (74–78) 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 the metasternal plates; posterior margin of sternal shield slightly concave and wavy, clearly visible. Distances between ST2–ST2 68 (65–70), ST5–ST5 84 (80–87). One pair of metapodal shields 30 (27–31) long. Ventrianal shield vaseshaped 101 (98–103) long, 53 (53–54) wide at level of ZV2 setae and 54 (54–55) wide at level of anus; with three pairs of pre-anal setae, JV1, JV2 and ZV2 arranged along the lateral line of ventrianal shield with one pair of pre-anal pores above the line of anal opening. Membrane surrounding ventrianal shield with four pairs of setae: ZVl, ZV3, JV4 and JV5; the latter 73 (70–75) long, serrated.

Chelicera ( Fig. 10 ). Fixed digit 27 (27–28) long, with ten teeth and a distinct pilus dentilis, movable digit 25 (25–26) long, with two teeth.

Spermatheca ( Fig. 11 ). Calyx dish-shaped, atrium kidney-shaped 4 (4–5) long, adjacent to the vesicle, with distinct major duct and minor duct.

Legs ( Fig. 12 ). Legs IV with three smooth macrosetae with rounded and hyaline tips ( Fig. 11 ): SgeIV 27 (27– 28), StiIV 37 (35–38), StIV 43 (40–46). Chaetotactic formula of genu II: 2 2/0, 2/0 1; genu III: 1 2/1, 2/0 1. Length of leg I: 304 (295–312), leg II: 271 (260–282), leg III: 269 (258–280), leg IV: 440 (425–455).

Male (n = 4). A lightly sclerotised mite with 15 pairs of dorsal setae. Idiosomal setal pattern: 10A: 5D/ JV –3,4: ZV –1,3.

Dorsum. Dorsal shield 222 (215–228) long, 123 (118–128) wide with seven pairs of solenostomes (gd1, gd2, gd4, gd5, gd6, gd8 and gd9); 15 pairs of dorsal setae: j1 22 (21–23), j3 51 (48–53), j4 3 (3–4), j5 3 (3–4), j6 5 (5–6), J5 3 (2–4), z2 8 (7–9), z4 9 (9–10), z5 3 (3–4), Z1 4 (4–5), Z4 42 (40–43), Z5 51 (48–53), s4 69 (68–70), r3 26 (23–28), R1 14 (11–16). Setae j3, s4, Z4 and Z5 long, serrated, arising from strong tubercles, setae j1, r3, R1 serrated and medium in length compared to the remaining dorsal setae, which are very minute and smooth.

Peritreme. Extending forward up to the bases of j1.

Venter ( Fig. 13 ). Sternogenital shield smooth with five pairs of setae and two pairs of distinguishable lyrifissures. Ventrianal shield striated, 98 (93–103) long, 105 (100–110) wide at the level of ZV2 setae, 61 (60–62) wide at the level of anus, with three pairs of pre-anal setae, JV1, JV2, and ZV2, one pair of pores and a pair of distinguishable lyrifissures. Unsclerotised membrane surrounding ventrianal shield with one pair of setae, JV5, at level below anal opening.

Legs. Leg IV with three smooth macrosetae of following lengths; SgeIV 16 (13–19), StiIV 22 (19–24), StIV 35 (33–36). Chaetotactic formula of genu II and genu III as for female. Length of leg I: 284 (270–297), leg II: 237 (228–245), leg III: 227 (215–238), leg IV: 374 (360–388).

Chelicera ( Fig. 14 ). Spermatodactyl with an elongated shaft 14 (14–15) long, terminating with a toe 6 (5–7) long.

Specimens examined. One female specimen (Acar.lab/ BCKV /8329/2018) collected from Brinjal, Solanum melongena (Solanaceae) at Jaguli: 22° 56’ 47” N, 88° 32’ 5” E, 9 m above mean sea level, Nadia, West Bengal on 15 September 2016. Two female specimens (Acar.lab/ BCKV /8330–8331/2018) collected from Parthenium , Parthenium hysterophorus (Asteraceae) from same locality as above mention female specimen on 1 July 2018. Two female specimens (Acar.lab/ BCKV /8332–8333/2018) collected from Ornamental Hibiscus , at Mohanpur: 22° 56’ 47” N, 88° 32’ 5” E, 9 m above mean sea level, Nadia, West Bengal on 28 September 2016. Voucher slides of these two female specimens have been deposited in the National Zoological Collection (NZC), Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata with same collection data as above. Two female specimens (Acar.lab/ BCKV /5666/2015), collected from Ghetu, Clerodendrum infortunatum (Lamiaceae) , at Mohanpur: 22° 56’ 47” N, 88° 32’ 5” E, 9 m above mean sea level, Nadia, West Bengal on 21 September 2015. Three female specimens (Acar.lab/ BCKV /5607, 5674, 5818/2015), collected from Cotton, Gossypium sp. (Malvaceae) , at Kalyani: 22° 58’ 59” N, 88° 28’ 58” E, 8.75 m above mean sea level, Nadia, West Bengal on 23 September 2015. One female specimen (Acar.lab/ BCKV /5573/2018) collected from Jatropha, Jatropha carcus (Euphorbiaceae) , at Kalyani: 22° 58’ 59” N, 88° 28’ 58” E, 8.75 m above mean sea level, Nadia, West Bengal on 8 October 2015. Three male specimens (Acar.lab/ BCKV /5403, 5523, 5608/2015), collected Ghetu, Clerodendrum infortunatum (Lamiaceae) and one male specimen (Acar.lab/ BCKV /5573/2015) collected from Jatropha, Jatropha carcus (Euphorbiaceae) , at Kalyani: 22° 58’ 59” N, 88° 28’ 58” E, 8.75 m above mean sea level, Nadia, West Bengal on on 12 September 2015 and 8 October 2015 respectively. Voucher slides of these three above mentioned male specimens have been deposited in the National Zoological Collection (NZC), Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata.

Distribution. Asia: India: Kerala ( Maheswary et al., 2015); Maharashtra ( Narayanan et al., 1960). Japan ( Ohno et al., 2012). Africa: Burundi ( Moraes et al., 2007); Kenya ( El-Banhawy & Knapp 2011); ( Moraes et al., 2007); South America: Argentina ( Guanilo et al., 2008). Brazil: Alagoas ( Fiaboe et al., 2007); Bahia ( Fiaboe et al., 2007); ( Souza et al., 2015); Rio Grande Do Sul ( Furtado et al., 2006); Santa Catarina ( Furtado et al., 2006); Sergipe ( Fiaboe et al., 2007); São Paulo ( Demite et al., 2011); ( Feres et al., 2007); ( Lofego et al., 2009).

Remarks. Measurements of the present species were compared with the measurements reported from Taiwan and also with the species earlier recorded from India ( Table 2 ). The setal measurements of our species are similar to those reported previously from India but no measurements are available in the case of the original descriptions.

Ecological notes. This species is present mainly in the new alluvial zone of West Bengal, and plants having leaves with profuse hairiness like Solanum melongena , Clerodendron sp. and Ficus racemosa are preferred as a suitable habitat by this mite species. It was observed to prey on different groups of plant feeding mites like eriopyoids, spider mites, tarsonemids and false spider mites on brinjal, Clerodendron , chilli, and pointed gourd.

Figures

FIGURES 8–14. Paraphytoseius orientalis. 8. Female, dorsal idiosoma; 9. Female, ventral idiosoma; 10. Female, chelicera; 11. Female, spermatheca; 12. Female, genu, tibia and basitarsus IV; 13. Male, ventral idiosoma; 14. Male, chelicera.

FIGURES 82–92. 82. Euseius alstoniae, female, leg IV; 83. Euseius alstoniae, female, spermatheca; 84. Paraphytoseius orientalis, female, leg IV; 85. Paraphytoseius orientalis, female, chelicera; 86. Paraphytoseius orientalis, female, spermatheca. 87. Amblyseiulella heveae, female, leg IV; 88. Amblyseiulella heveae, female, chelicera; 89. Gynaeseius ricini, female, leg IV; 90. Gynaeseius ricini, female, chelicera; 91. Gynaeseius ricini, female, spermatheca; 92. Gynaeseius ricini, female, chelicera.