Chelaseius (Pontoseius) valliculosus Kolodochka, 1987

Kolodochka, L. A., 2024, Predatory Mites (Phytoseiidae, Parasitiformes) Of The Fauna Of Ukraine: Redescriptions Of The Species Of Amblyseiella And Chelaseius, With Resurrection Of The Genus Status For Amblyseiulus, Zoodiversity 58 (2), pp. 103-128 : 107-110

Chelaseius (Pontoseius) valliculosus Kolodochka, 1987 ( fig. 2 )

Chelaseius valliculosus Kolodochka, 1987: 773 ;

Chelaseius (Pontoseius) Kolodochka & Denmark in: Denmark & Kolodochka, 1990: 232.

Material. Types. Holotype ♀ (damaged): Ukraine: Autonomous Republic of Crimea, Karadag Reserve, Tumanova balka, pine forest, litter with topsoil, 08.07.1980, specimen #4737 (3775), 44°55'20.0" N 35°12'34.0" E; paratype Ơ, idem, Northern pass, litter near a huge stone, 31.07.1980, specimen #4738 (3712b) (Kolodochka) ( SIZK).

Non-types are absent.

R e d e s c r i p t i o n. F e m a l e. Dorsal shield ( fig. 2 , 1 ) well sclerotized, oval, narrowing anteriorly, lateral emarginations barely marked, margins of anterolateral part covered with reticulate sculpture in a small area; solenostomes 5 pairs (it, iv, isc, is, ic; missing id and il). Setae AL4, PM 2, and PM 3 are long and scimitar-shaped; AD1 and AM 1 are moderately long; the rest are short or microchaetae 4–7 µm long. Setae PM 3, PM 4 slightly serrate, others smooth. Perithremes long, almost converging before the theca AD1. Ventrianal shield ( fig. 2, 2 ) wide, obversely pear-shaped, with an almost straight anterior margin; anal pores clearly visible, round. The posterior metapodal shield is triangular, larger than the anterior one ( fig. 2 , 3 ). The posterior end of the peritremal shield is slightly curved ( fig. 2 , 4 ). Chelicera with blunt fingers. Almost straight Df with large pilus dentilis and two barely visible smoothed teeth, blunt Dm slightly curved, without teeth ( fig. 2 , 5 ). Spermatheca with conical funnel and well developed sessile atrium ( fig. 2 , 6 ). There are 3 macrochaetes on leg IV, the longest on the genu, and the shortest on the basitarsus ( fig. 2 , 7 ). On the genu and tibia of legs III, on the genua of legs II and I along a short macrochaete. Basitarsus of leg I with long thin straight setae ( fig. 2 , 10).

Measurements. Lds 480, Wds 280; Lvas 140, Wvas 147, Lian 50; Ltar 129; setae length: AD1 29; AD2 4; AD3 5; AD4 –?; PD 2 5,5–6; PD 4 14; AM 1 56; AM 2 5,5–6; AL1 12; AL3 9; AL4 86; PL 1 9; PL 2 10; PL 3 11; PM 1 –?; PM 3 135; PM 4 192; AS 15; PS 11;PV 102; MCh IV: ge 109, ti 88, ta 72; MCh III: ge 48, ti34; MCh II: ge39; MCh I: ge 34.

M a l e. Preanal setae 3 pairs; anal pores round, well visible ( fig. 2 , 8 ). The spermatodactyl is slightly curved, sharply narrowed in the terminal third ( fig. 2 , 9 ). Lds — 345.

D i s t r i b u t i o n, h a b i t a t, o c c u r r e n c e. Europe ( Ukraine). In Ukraine: known only from the type locality; rare .

Subtribe Proprioseiopsina Chant & McMurtry, 2005

Proprioseiopsina Chant & McMurtry, 2005: 219 .

Type genus: Proprioseiopsis Muma, 1961: 277 .

The genus Amblyseiulus Muma (1961) with the type species Typhlodromus (Amblyseius) okanagensis Chant, 1957: 293 was established for mites with an idiosomal dorsal setal pattern similar to that of the mites of the genus Amblyseius Berlese, 1914 , but with PD 2 dorsal setae missing (J2 at Rowell et al., 1978). Later, the genus Amblyseiulus Muma as a junior synonym was merged with the genus Proprioseiopsis Muma, 1961 ( Muma & Denmark, 1968) with the type species Typhlodromus terrestris Chant, 1959 , which has simultaneously “setae L5 and D5 absent” according to Chant, 1959: 103, 157, fig. 247, or PM 1 and PD 2 ( Wainstein, 1973 a), as well Z1 and J2 ( Rowell et al., 1978).

Thus, species with differ dorsal setal patterns were lumped in one genus. This circumstance introduced discrepance into the structure of the subtribe Proprioseiopsina ( Chant & McMurtry, 2005) .

At the same time, it must be taken into account that a change in the structure or elimination of any structures of the body in the process of onto- or phylogenesis is a clear result of a serious morphological restructuring of organs and its interaction with other organs. With a directed process of elimination, the seta not only disappears as a receiver of tactile stimulation, but at the same time the configuration of the impulse transmission pathways from the nerve ending to the signal processing center must be changed oratrophy or be reconfigurated. This process must be bу directed by correction of the genome or under its control. When fixing a new state of the tactile system, changes inevitably should affect at least a part of the genome. This new state must be selectioned and accepted or discards as unsuccessful. Well-known and well-grounded views on the direction of evolutionary trends in the development of the Phytoseiidae family consider hypotrichia of the chaetome of mites of the family as an irreversible directional process ( Chant, 1993). At the same time, external paired cuticular formations, their number and structure (setae of the dorsum as well setae of the ventral side but in lesser extent) under conditions of hypotrichy acquire a large taxonomic weight, as signs that, depending on their significance, can serve as markers indicating not only the differentiation of taxa species level, but also on them more higher rank. That is why combining in one generic taxon species with different setal patterns is extremely undesirable by definition and cannot be accepted. A detailed justification for this was given earlier ( Kolodochka, 1998; Kolodochka, 2006). It follows from this that when determining the taxonomic weight (significance) of a trait and its role in making a decision on the generic status of the studied taxon, it is necessary to take into account differences in the taxonomic weight of morphological characters belonging to different categories of significance. At the same time, one should be especially careful when approaching signs that experience a clear pressure of function. It is quite obvious that the topography of the chaetomic pattern is practically not under such pressure and is the most reliable feature in solving many important problems of taxonomy and building a natural system based on the relationship of taxa. When building a system based on the principle of subordination of related taxa, the combination of carriers of different patterns in one generic taxon cannot be natural and makes such an action meaningless.

The following taxonomic actions are performed here. The genus Amblyseiulus sensu Muma, 1961 is considered to be a part of the subtribe Proprioseiopsina , which does not affect the stability of the subtribe. It is resurrected in the genus rank, which eliminates the existing imbalance. The genus Amblyseiulus includes all nominal species corresponding to its generic diagnosis.

The genus Amblyseiulus is only one genus of the subtribe Proprioseiopsina is represented in the fauna of Ukraine.

Genus Amblyseiulus Muma, 1961

T y p e s p e c i e s: Typhlodromus (Amblyseiulus) okanagensis Chant, 1957: 293 .

Diagnosis. Dorsal side of idiosoma carries 18 pairs of setae (PD2 missing): AD1, AD2, AD3, AD4; PD4; AM1, AM2; AL1, AL3, AL4; PL1, PL2, PL3; PM1, PM3, PM4 — on dorsal shield; AS, PS — both on interscutal membrane; carries up to 7 pairs of solenostomes (it, iv, id, il, isc, is, ic). Seta PD2 is absent. Dorsal shield well sclerotized, smooth or reticulate in part or in whole, all setae needle-form smooth with the exception of serrate. In some species setae AL3, PM3 and PM4 longer than other dorsal setae which vary from short to miniature. Some species have dorsal setae of variable length, from short to moderately long, without contrasting differences in size. Perithremes long, with chaetoids. Sternal shield slightly wider than its own length, with notched the posterior margin. Ventrianal shield entire, with 3 pairs of preanal setae and anal pores. Sizes of gnathobase and its parts are proportional to idiosoma. Dm with 1–2 teeth, Df of various species with 2–7 large teeth. Legs II to IV with macrosites in differing degree of development.

The structure and distribution of the genus. Only 7 species of the genus Amblyseiulus have been identified in the fauna of Ukraine.

Figures

Fig. 2. Chelaseius valliculosus Kolodochka, 1987 ♀ (1–7), Ơ (8, 9): 1 — dorsal shield; 2 — ventral body surface; 3 — metapodal plates; 4 — posterior part of peritremal schield; 5 — chelicera; 6 — spermatheca; 7 — fragment of leg IV; 8 — ventrianal shield; 9 — chelicera with spermatodactyl; 10 — distitarsus of leg I.

Fig. 1. Amblyseiella antonii Kolodochka & Omeri, 2010 ♀ (1–9): 1 — dorsal shield; 2 — ventral body surface; 3 — metapodal plates; 4 — posterior part of peritremal schield; 5 — chelicera; 6 — spermatheca; 7 — genu; 8 — tibia; 9 — tarsus (fragment).

Fig. 3. Amblyseiulus bregetovae (Abbasova, 1970) ♀ (1–7): 1 — dorsal shield; 2 — ventral body surface; 3 — metapodal plates; 4 — posterior part of peritremal schield; 5 — chelicera; 6 — spermatheca; 7 — fragment of leg IV.

Fig. 4. Amblyseiulus jugortus (Athias-Henriot, 1966) (fig. 4) ♀ (1–7), Ơ (8, 9): 1 — dorsal shield; 2 — ventral body surface; 3 — metapodal plates; 4 — posterior part of peritremal schield; 5 — chelicera; 6 — spermatheca; 7 — fragment of leg IV; 8 — ventrianal shield; 9 — chelicera with spermatodactyl.

Fig. 5. Amblyseiulus mauiensis (Prasad, 1968) ♀ (1–7): 1 — dorsal shield; 2 — ventral body surface; 3 — metapodal plates; 4 — posterior part of peritremal schield; 5 — chelicera; 6 — spermatheca; 7 — fragment of leg IV.

Fig. 6. Amblyseiulus messor (Wainstein, 1960) ♀ (1–7), Ơ (8, 9): 1 — dorsal shield; 2 — ventral body surface; 3 — metapodal plates; 4 — posterior part of peritremal schield; 5 — chelicera; 6 — spermatheca; 7 — fragment of leg IV; 8 — ventrianal shield; 9 — chelicera with spermatodactyl.

Fig. 7. Amblyseiulus okanagensis (Chant, 1957) ♀ (1–7), Ơ (8, 9): 1 — dorsal shield; 2 — ventral body surface; 3 — metapodal plates; 4 — posterior part of peritremal schield; 5 — chelicera; 6 — spermatheca; 7 — fragment of leg IV; 8 — ventrianal shield; 9 — chelicera with spermatodactyl.

Fig. 8. Amblyseiulus ovicinctus (Athias-Henriot, 1961) ♀ (1–7): 1 — dorsal shield; 2 — ventral body surface; 3 — metapodal plates; 4 — posterior part of peritremal schield; 5 — chelicera; 6 — spermatheca; 7 — fragment of leg IV.

Fig. 9. Amblyseiulus sororculus (Wainstein, I960) ♀ (1–7), Ơ (8, 9): 1 — dorsal shield; 2 — ventral body surface; 3 — metapodal plates; 4 — posterior part of peritremal schield; 5 — chelicera; 6 — spermatheca; 7 — fragment of leg IV; 8 — ventrianal shield; 9 — chelicera with spermatodactyl.