Phytoseius meyerae Gupta, 1977

K, Ismail Döker, KhaustovK, Vladimir A. & JoharchiK, Omid, 2022, First report of plant inhabiting predatory mites (Acari: Phytoseiidae) in Maldives, Acarologia 62 (4), pp. 865-878 : 874-876

Phytoseius meyerae Gupta

Phytoseius meyerae Gupta, 1977: 7 .

( Figures 7–8)

Material examined — Ten females collected from Maafushi Island, Maldives, 3°56′40.5″ N 73°29′35.2″ E, Terminalia catappa L. ( Combretaceae ) in 25 December 2021.

Measurements — Female (n = 5)– Dorsum ( Figures 7a, 8a). Dorsal setal pattern 12A:3A

(r3 on shield). Dorsal shield sclerotized and sculptured, with two pairs of visible solenostomes (anterolaterad z5 = gd5) and posteromesad s6 = gd6), nine pairs of visible poroids (id1, id2, id5, id6, idm2, idm4, idx, idl1, and is1). Length of dorsal shield 281 (274–287), width at level of s4 149 (145–151). Dorsal setae thick, and distinctly serrated except j4, j5, j6, z4 and z5 smooth. Measurements of setae as follows: j1 22 (21–22), j3 22 (20–24), j4 8 (7–8), j5 7 (6–8), j6 8

(7–9), J5 9 (8–10), z2 14 (12–15), z3 27 (26–28), z4 11 (11–12), z5 9 (8–9), Z4 47 (44–48),

Z5 54 (51–57), s4 63 (59–68), s6 64 (58–68) and r3 32 (31–33). Peritreme long, extending to level of setae j1. Venter ( Figures 7b, 8b). Sternal shield smooth, lightly sclerotized, with three pairs of setae (st1, st2 and st3) and two pairs of poroids iv (1 and iv2); distance between st1-

st3 56 (54–57), st2- st2 55 (52–58); metasternal shields not visible, metasternal setae st4 and pair of poroids (iv3) on soft integument; genital shield smooth, width at level st of 5 66 (62–68). Ventrianal shield smooth, elongated, with three pairs of pre-anal setae JV (1, JV2 and ZV2), one pair of paraanal (Pa) and one postanal seta (Pst), preanal pores gv3 visible in some specimens. Length of ventrianal shield 94 (87–97), width at level of setae ZV2 48 (44–50), width at level of anus 48 (46–51). Setae ZV1, ZV3, JV5 and five pairs of poroids on integument surrounding ventrianal shield. Setae JV5 thick, and strongly serrated, 41 (38–43) in length.

Chelicera ( Figures 7c, 8c). Fixed digit 21 (20–22) long with four teeth and pilus dentilis; movable digit 22 (21–22) long with one tooth.

Spermatheca ( Figures 7d, 8d). Calyx short, v-shaped 10 (10–11) in length, atrium large, bulbous. Major duct broad, minor duct not visible.

Legs ( Figures 7e, 8e). Length of legs (excluding pretarsus): leg I 260 (252–268); leg II 220 (215–225); leg III 224 (218–228); leg IV 388 (376–397). Chaetotaxy as follows: Leg I; coxa 0

0/1 0/1 0, trochanter 1 0/1 0/2 1, femur 2 3/1 2/2 2, genu 2 2/1 2/1 2, tibia 2 2/1 2/1 2. Leg II;

coxa 0 0/1 0/1 0, trochanter 1 0/1 0/2 1, femur 2 3/1 2/1 1, genu 2 2/0 2/0 1, tibia 1 2/1 1/1 1.

Leg III; coxa 0 0/1 0/1 0, trochanter 1 1/1 0/2 0, femur 1 2/1 1/0 1, genu 1 2/0 2/0 1, tibia 1 1/1

2/1 1. Leg IV; coxa 0 0/1 0/0 0, trochanter 1 1/1 0/2 0, femur 1 2/1 1/0 1, genu 1 2/0 2/1 1, tibia

1 1/0 2/1 1. Leg IV with four macrosetae; SgeIV, StiIV and StIV with membranous large knobs

9 (9–10), 35 (32–39) and 21 (20–22) in length, respectively, and that on telotarsus thicker than other setae on the same segment with blunt tip, 19 (18–19) in length.

World Distribution — India ( Gupta 1977) and Maldives (this study).

Remarks — Phytoseius meyerae was described by Gupta (1977) from Tura, Meghalaya, India. Morphological characters and measurements of the Maldivian material are almost identical to that of the original description and the redescriptions ( Gupta 1985, 1986, 2003). However, seta s 4 in the Maldivian material is slightly longer compared to those of the original and the redescriptions [(63 (59–68) vs 44–45]. We consider this difference as a flaw of the descriptions by Gupta (1985, 1986, 2003), as the seta s4 almost reaching the base of setae s 6 in Indian material, similar to the Maldivian material.

In addition, measurements of seta Z5 appear to be longer [54 (51–57)] in Maldivian material when compared to that provided in the original description (37). However, measurements of this seta fall into range provided in the subsequent redescriptions by the same author ( Gupta 1985, 1986, 2003). This species appears to be close to the several other Phytoseius such as P. coheni Swirski & Shechter, 1961 , P. brevicrinis Swirski & Shechter, 1961 , P. taiyushani Swirski & Shechter, 1961 and P. rimandoi Corpuz, 1966 , all has priority over P. meyerae . However, it can be separated from the aforementioned species by the combination of following characters, lengths of dorsal setae and macrosetae on genu IV, the length and the shape of ventral seta JV5, the shape of distal macroseta on telotarsus IV.