Lasioseius annandalei Bhattacharyya & Bhattacharyya

De Moraes, Gilberto J., Abo-Shnaf, Reham I. A., Pérez-Madruga, Yanebis, Sánchez, Leocadia, Karmakar, Krishna & Ho, Chyi-Chen, 2015, The Lasioseius phytoseioides species group (Acari: Blattisociidae): new characterisation, description of a new species, complementary notes on seven described species and a taxonomic key for the group, Zootaxa 3980 (1), pp. 1-41 : 4-6

Lasioseius annandalei Bhattacharyya & Bhattacharyya

( Figs 1–5 )

Lasioseius annandalei Bhattacharyya & Bhattacharyya, 2001: 23 . Lasioseius (Lasioseius) annandalei .— Christian & Karg, 2006: 119.

Specimens examined. Holotype female from Gulmarg, Kashmir, India, in soil with moss, November 6, 1997; one paratype female, same locality and collection date, in pine leaf litter; both collected by S.K. Bhattacharyya; both deposited at Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata, India.

Adult female. Dorsum of idiosoma ( Fig. 1 ): dorsal shield reticulate, [396 long and 276 wide]; podonotal region with 12 pairs of setae (j2–j6, z2, z4, z5, s4–s6, r3); opisthonotal region with 11 pairs of setae (J2, J4, J5, Z1, Z3–Z5, S2–S5). Setae at most slightly longer than distances to subsequent setae in the series; none minute; setae j4– J5 and z5 shorter than others, subequal, dorsal shield setae; [faintly serrate] and except for j5–J5, relatively robust. Lateral cuticle with six pairs of setae (r5, R1–R5). Setal lengths: j2 34, j3 46, j4 40, j5 35, j6 45, J2 47, J4 36, J5 17, z2 44, z4 43, z5 44, Z1 55, Z3 73, Z4 71, Z5 80, s4 45, s5 (not measured), s6 46, S2 55, S3 59, S4 (not measured), S5 71, r3 57, r5 27, R1 23, R2 21, R3 17, R4 22, R5 30.

Venter of idiosoma ( Figs 2–4 ): all setae aciculate and smooth; JV5 distinctly thicker. Base of tritosternum ca. 15 long, ca. 7 wide at median level; laciniae 75 long, divided for about 67% of their total length. Presternal region transversely striate, presternal plates indistinguishable. Sternal shield reticulate in the original description, but reticulation not visible in the holotype, fused with anterior portion of endopodal shield, 90 long, 90 wide at level of st2, bearing three pairs of setae (st1–st3) and two pairs of lyrifissures; posterior margin concave. Genital shield truncate posteriorly, with sparse subparallel arched striae. Ventrianal shield broad, 162 long and 225 wide at widest level, reticulate in the original description, reticulation not visible in the holotype, bearing six pairs of opisthogastric setae (JV1–JV4, ZV2, ZV3) in addition to the circum-anal setae, two pairs of lyrifissures and a pair of pores on the margin of the shield, posterolateral to para-anal seta; anal opening small, ca. 22 long including frame. Opisthogastric cuticle with a broken line between genital and ventrianal shields and a single, elongate metapodal plate on each side. Unsclerotised cuticle around ventrianal shield with one pair of opisthogastric setae (JV5). [Posterior portion of endopodal shield shaped as a tri-radiate plate between coxae III–IV]. Length of ventral setae: st1 25, st2 30, st3 23, st4 and st5 (not measured), JV1 27, JV2 24, JV3 32, JV4 27, JV5 63, ZV2 20, ZV3 20, paraanal (not measured), post-anal 33.

Peritrematic plate and peritreme: peritrematic plate fused with dorsal shield at level of j2 and broadly fused with exopodal plate beside coxa IV; peritreme extending forward to region between j2 setae.

Spermatheca: could not be distinguished.

Gnathosoma ( Fig. 5 ): general shape of chelicera as in the new characterisation of the phytoseioides group; fixed digit [ca. 30] long, bearing ca. 11 teeth in addition to apical tooth; movable digit [ca. 44] long. Anteromedian region of epistome [convex and denticulate]. Lengths of setae on hypostome: h1 22, h2 22, h3 30 and sc (not measured).

Legs: leg IV with a macroseta on each of genu (ad2) 55, basitarsus (pd3) 73 and telotarsus (pd2) 92.

Remarks. In the original description, the authors interpreted podonotal and opisthonotal regions of the dorsal shield to have respectively 11 and 12 pairs of setae, probably by considering seta s6 to be absent and S1 present; in this publication the opposite interpretation is adopted. The authors also illustrated and mentioned in the text the presence of five setae on the ventrianal shield (in addition to circum-anals) and five pairs on the surrounding unsclerotised cuticle. In our examination of the holotype, six pairs of setae were observed on ventrianal shield (in addition to circum-anals, and including Jv4 shown off the shield in the original description) and only one pair of setae was observed on the surrounding unsclerotised cuticle (JV5). Because of the poor condition of the holotype, many details could not be seen, including the shape of the spermatheca or the presence of exopodal plates (absent according to the original description); it was also not possible to determine the number of teeth on the movable digit (four according to the original description, but probably three, based on our examination of other species of this group).

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 5. Lasioseius annandalei. Holotype female: 1. Dorsal shield; 2. Tritosternum; 3. Sternal shield; 4. Ventrianal shield; 5. Hypostome.