Paragigagnathus iraniensis, Khanjani & Karimi & Asali Fayaz & Ueckermann, 2016

Khanjani, M., Karimi, M., Asali Fayaz, B. & Ueckermann, E. A., 2016, Paragigagnathus iraniensis n. sp. (Acari: Phytoseiidae) from Western Iran, Acarologia 56 (2), pp. 195-201 : 196-198

Paragigagnathus iraniensis n. sp.

( Figure 1 )

Female ( Fig. 1 ) (n=8)

Idiosoma oval. Idiosomal setal pattern: 10A:9B/JV-3: ZV. All idiosomal and leg setae smooth except J5.

Dorsum ( Figs. 1 A-B) — Dorsal shield heavily sclerotized and reticulated, 370 (365 – 371) long, 240 (240 – 245) wide at level of setae R1 , with 17 pairs of smooth setae [ex. J5 (figs. 1, 2)] and six pairs solenostomes (gd1, gd2, gd5, gd6, gd8, gd9). Length of setae: j1 18 (17 – 19), j3 26 (24 – 26), j4 17 (16 – 18), j5 15 (15 – 16), j6 19 (18 – 20), J2 23 (23 – 24), J5 15 (15 – 16), z2 25 (24 – 26), z4 26 (25 – 27), z5 18 (18 – 19), Z1 23 (23 – 24), Z4 30 (30 – 32), Z5 41 (40 – 41), s4 34 (33 – 35), S2 39 (39 – 40), S4 40 (39 – 41), S5 41 (40 – 41), r3 24 (23 – 25), R1 20 (20 – 21).

Chelicerae ( Fig. 1C ) — Chelicera 150 (147 – 151) in length; Fixed digit with three teeth, pilus dentilis not distinct, movable digit 20 (19 – 21) long and with a tooth ( Fig. 1C ).

Tectum ( Fig. 1D ) — The anterior margin of the tectum convex and pointed antromedially and 25 (23 – 26) wide ( Fig. 1D ).

Venter ( Fig. 1E ) — Venter of idiosoma with eight pairs of opisthogastric setae. Sternal shield smooth, anterior margin convex and posterior margin indistinct with two pairs of setae sub equal in lengths [ST1 20 (19 – 21), ST2 18 (18 – 19)], two pairs of lyrifissures (iv1-2) posterior to setae ST1 and ST2, respectively. Distance between setae: ST1-1 42 (40 – 42); ST1-2 38 (38 – 39); ST2-2 47 (46 – 48). Setae ST3 set on soft integument and 20 (19 – 21) in length; forth sternal setae (ST4) 20 (20 – 22) long and set on small metasternal shields, each with one small lyrifissure (Fig. 5). Genital shield truncate and 110 (100 – 112) long, 50 (48 – 50) wide at level setae ST5, ST5 20 (19 – 21) long. Two pairs of elongate metapodal shields, primary shield almost twice as long as secondary shield [47 (46 – 48), 20 (20 – 21)]. Ventrianal shield smooth and anterior margin notched, 110 (110 – 111) long, constricted at level of setae JV2 and broadest at level of setae Pa [46 (45 – 47), 58 (58 – 60) wide, respectively]. Pre-anal region with two pairs of pre-anal setae ZV2 and JV2 and one pair of pores [distance between pores 9 (9-10)]; Anal opening surrounded with 3 setae (Pa and Pst). Opisthogastric cuticle bearing five pairs of smooth setae (ZV1, ZV3, JV1, JV4, JV5) and five pairs of lyrifissures on small platelets. Length of opisthogastric setae: ZV1 15 (14 – 15), ZV2 15 (14 – 15), ZV3 13 (12 – 13), JV1 14 (13 – 14), JV2 12 (11 – 13), JV4 10 (10 – 11), JV5 22 (21 – 23), Pa 15 (13 – 15) and Pst 15 (14 – 16) ( Fig. 1E ).

Spermatheca ( Fig. 1F ) — Calyx dish-like followed by an annulated neck 5 (5 – 6) long and 10 (10 – 11) wide at junction with vesicle; major duct thick and 25 (25 – 26) long, minor duct very fine ( Fig. 1F ).

Peritreme ( Fig. 1A ) — Stippled; extending to level of setae j1, 170 (165 – 172) long ( Fig. 1A ).

Legs II, IV ( Figs. 1 G-H) — Genu II with seven setae, 2-2/0-2/0-1 setae ( Fig. 1G ); Basitarsus IV with one robust macroseta 20 (19 – 22) long ( Fig. 1H ).

Remarks — The Iranian new species closely resembles to Paragigagnathus strunkovae from Tajikistan in having ventri-anal shield with two pairs of pre anal setae and one pair of pores, only posterior dorsal setae set on prominent tubercles, setae J5 serrated, movable digit of chelicera with one tooth, setae ST4 on metasternal shields, however, it differs from the later by:

1) Setae ST3 set on soft cuticle in P. iraniensis instead of set on metasternal shields in P. strunkovae ;

2) Spermatheca with dish shaped calyx in new species opposed to funnel shaped in P. strunkovae ;

3) Ventrianal shield with notched anterior margin in the former whereas convex in the later;

4) Measurements of dorsal setae: j3 24 – 26, s4 33 – 35, Z1 23 – 24, JV5 21 – 23 vs. j3 32, s4 28, Z1 31, JV5 16 µm.

The new species P. iraniensis n. sp. also resembles P. bidentatus from Armenia in having only posterior dorsal setae set on prominent tubercles, ventri-anal shield with two pairs of pre-anal setae and a pair of pores, calyx of spermatheca dish shaped, setae J5 serrated, setae ST3 set on soft cuticle, tarsus IV with a macroseta but it differs in that: 1) Setae ST4 on metasternal shields in new species on cuticle in other species;

2) Movable digit of chelicera with one tooth in Iranian species whereas two teeth in P. bidentatus ;

3) Ventrianal shield with notched anterior margin vs. convex in P. bidentatus ;

4) Opisthogaster with one slender platelet between setae JV 4-5 in the former oppose to four platelets in the latter;

5) Measurements: dorsal setae: J2 23 – 24, z2 24 – 26, z4 25 – 27, Z1 23 – 24, S5 40 – 41 vs. J2 33, z2 30, z4, Z1, S5 33 – 34; macroseta on tarsus IV 20 versus 14 µm;

6) Length of dorsal setae Z4 <S4 vs. Z4> S4;

7) Opistogastric setae JV1 long and reached over anterior margin of ventrianal shield in new species whereas short, not reaching over margin in P. bidentatus .

Furthermore the new species is similar to P. tamaricis in having dish-shaped calyx of spermatheca, two pairs of preanal setae, anterior margin of ventri-anal shield notched, setae ST4 on metasternal shields, the posterior border of sternal shield indistinct but it differs in:

1) Only posterior dorsal setae set on prominent tubercles in P. iraniensis n. sp. opposed to all dorsal setae set on prominent tubercles in P. tamaricis ;

2) Dorsal seta J5 serrated in the former instead of smooth in latter;

3) Tarsus IV with a macroseta in the new species opposed to absent in P. tamaricis ;

4) Measurement of dorsal setae 17 – 41 versus 13 – 33 µm. Comparisons species of the genus Paragigagnathus is given on table 1.

Male: Unknown.

Etymology — This species is named after the country of origin, Iran.

Material examined — The specimens were collected from leaves of almond trees, Prunus dulcis (Rosaceae) , infested with two spotted spider mite ( Tetranychidae ), in the Kondor village (34°43’N, 48°15’E, 2010 m a.s.l.), 20 Sept. 2015, Tuyserkan county, Hamedan province, Iran, by M. Karimi. The holotype female and five paratype slides are deposited in the Collection of the Acarology Laboratory, University of Bu-Ali Sina, Hamedan, Iran and two paratype females will be deposited in the National Collection of Arachnida, Plant Protection Research, Pretoria, South Africa.

Figures

FIGURE 1: Paragigagnathus iraniensis n. sp. (Female): A – Dorsal view of idiosoma; B – Dorsal seta J5; C – Chelicera; D – Tectum; E – Ventral view of idiosoma; F – Spermatheca; G – Genu II; H – Basitarsus IV.