Phytoseius aonlae, Kar & Karmakar, 2021

Kar, Anamika & Karmakar, Krishna, 2021, Description of eleven new species of phytoseiid mites (Acari: Mesostigmata) from Meghalaya state, north eastern India, Zootaxa 5068 (3), pp. 301-354 : 330-333

Phytoseius aonlae sp. nov.

( Figs 38–42 ; 88–91)

Female (n=8). Diagnosis. The species is distinguished by having the dorsum strongly reticulated forming a pattern like leopard skin, all dorsal setae serrated except the setae j4, j5, j6, J5, z2, and z4, setae s4, s6, Z4 and Z5 are long, serrated with distinct longitudinal groove covering near about 1/3 rd part of longitudinal line of setae. Ventrianal shield sole-shaped with three pairs of pre-anal setae arranged along the anterior lateral margins of ventrianal shield. Fixed digit of chelicerae with three teeth and pilus dentilis, movable digit with single tooth, leg IV with three macrosetae with bulbous tips, a hyaline cap visible covering the tip.

Dorsum ( Figs 38 ; 88). Dorsal shield 315 315 (314–316) long and 148 149 (147–150) wide, strongly reticulated like leopard skin, with five pairs of pores (gd4, gd5, gd6, gd8 and gd9); 15 pairs of setae on the dorsal shield: j1 30 (28–31), j3 35 (33–36), j4 8 (7–9), j5 8 (7–9), j6 8 (7–9), J5 6 (5–7), z2 16 (15–19), z3 35 (32–36), z4 13 (12–15), z5 8 (7–9), Z4 84 (82–85), Z5 82 (79–83), s4 136 (135–138), s6 70 (67–71), r3 48 (45–49). All setae serrated, setae j4, j5, j6, J5, z2, z4, and z5 smooth and having longitudinal groove all along the length of the setae s4, s6, Z4, and Z5.

Peritreme ( Fig. 38 ). Extended beyond the bases of j1.

Venter ( Fig. 39 ). All shields are smooth. The sternal shield square-shaped, posterior margin of sternal shield nearly straight. Sternal shield 51 (48–52) long and 69 (66–71) wide at level of setae st1-st3 and st3-st3 respectively, with three pairs of setae and two pairs of poroids; one pair of setae (st4) on unsclerotised membrane 16 (15–18) long. Distances between st2-st2 57 (55–59), st5-st5 62 (60–65). The base of the genital shield broad indented posterior lateral margin below st5. One pair of elongated, narrow inwardly curved metapodal shields present 35 (32–36) long and 3 (2–4) wide. Genital shield smooth broad at the base and narrow at genital opening with irregular circular flap. Ventrianal shield smooth, sole-shaped 103 (102–105) long, 35 (33–36) wide at level of ZV2 and 53 (51–54) wide at anus level with three pairs of pre-anal setae, JV1 12 (11–13), JV2 12 (11–13), ZV2 12 (11–13) and one pair of pre-anal pores at the level of JV2, 9 (8–10) apart. Membrane surrounding ventrianal shield with three pairs of setae ZV1 13 (11–14), ZV3 8 (9–10), and JV5 51 (50–53); the later one is long and serrated.

Chelicera ( Figs 40 ; 90). Fixed digit 19 (18–22) long with two teeth and a distinct pilus dentilis, movable digit 19 (18–22) long with single tooth.

Spermatheca ( Figs 41 ; 91). Calyx short 8 (7–9) long, cup-shaped, atrium nodular from where minor and major duct arises, major duct flattened and distinctly visible.

Legs ( Figs 42 ; 89). The genu, tibia and tarsus of leg IV with bulbous macrosetae of following lengths; genu 13 (12–15), tibia 54 (52–55) and tarsus 28 (25–29). Chaetotactic formula of genu II: 1 2/1, 2/0 1 and genu III 1 2/1, 2/0 1. Length of leg I 245 (242–245), leg II 220 (217–220), leg III 235 (235–238) and leg IV 388 (387–390).

Type specimens. Holotype: female (Acarol.lab/ BCKV/8394 /2019) collected from Aonla, ( Phyllanthus emblica ), at Dwaki: 25°13’1”N, 91°58’16”E, 520m AMSL, Dwaki, Meghalya, on 2 May 2019; deposited in the NZC, Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata. two paratype females (Acarol.lab/ BCKV/8395 /2019) collected from same host and location and five paratype females (Acarol.lab/ BCKV/8396–98 /2019) collected from same host at Keibul Lamjao National Park: 24°28’24”N, 93°49’1”E, 781m AMSL Bishnupur , Manipur, deposited in the Acarological laboratory, Department of Entomology , BCKV, Mohanpur , Nadia , West Bengal, India.

Etymology. The specific name aonlae refers to the host plant from where the species was collected.

Remarks. The new species is different from all the other species of the horridus group. Phytoseius aonlae sp. nov. is close to P. crinitus Swirski & Shechter, 1961 ; P. woodburyi De Leon, 1965 ; P. neoferox Ehara & Bhandhufalck, 1977 ; and P. litoralis Silva et al., 2013 by having similar dorsal setal pattern. However, the new species differs from its close species by the dorsal setal length; length and shape of macrosetae in leg IV; denticles in fixed digit of chelicerae; shape of ventrianal and genital shield; and shape of spermatheca. All the differences between the new species and its close species are described in Table 9.

Figures

FIGURES 38–42. Phytoseius aonlae (female). 38. Dorsal view of idiosoma; 39. Ventral view of idiosoma; 40. Chelicera; 41. Spermatheca; 42. Genu, tibia and basitarsus of leg IV.