Graminaseius (Alustoseius) altimontanus, Kolodochka, L. A., 2022

Kolodochka, L. A., 2022, The Predatory Mites (Phytoseiidae, Parasitiformes) In The Fauna Of Ukraine: A New Species And A New Subgenus Of The Genus Graminaseius, Zoodiversity 56 (6), pp. 463-472 : 470-472

Graminaseius (Alustoseius) altimontanus Kolodochka, sp. n. ( fig. 4 )

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:3A92187E-56F8-49EB-B03D-1D9C38B577C6

Material. Type. Holotype ♀: [ Ukraine, Crimean Autonomous Republic, southern slope of the Main Ridge of the Crimean Mountains, 1350 m a. s. l., env. Yalta, Krasnyy Kamen tract, on grass], specimen #2110, on Verbascum sp. , 9.06.1976, 44°30'55.0" N 34°05'47.0" E ( Kolodochka ) ( SIZK).

Description. Female (partly damaged). Dorsal shield ( fig. 4 , 1 ) moderately sclerotized, oval, with small lateral notches, smooth in anterior half, covered with reticulate sculpture in posterior half, with 4 pairs of small solenostomes (it, isc, il, ic; missing iv, id, is). Dorsal setae elongated, thin, flexible, smooth, of moderate length. Setae PM 4 are broken off. Presumably, they may be similar in size to the setae of closely related species and have serrations. Setae AM 1, AL 1, AL 3 extend beyond the thecae of subsequent setae. Seta PM 3 noticeably longer than distance to theca PL 3. The peritrema shortened and extend only beyond level of theca of seta AL 1. Seta PL 1 longer than PL 2 and PL 3. Ventrianal shield elongated, with convex lateral margins, transversely striated ( fig. 4 , 2 ); anal pores distinct, small, round, located close. Anterior metapodal shield short, narrow; the posterior metapodal shield is twice as long as the anterior one, narrow, asymmetrical ( fig. 4 , 3 ). The chelicerae are located in an inconvenient foreshortening, so only 3 distal teeth on Df could see. Spermatheca funnel with thickened walls, bell-shaped, elongated; atrium large, sessile ( fig. 4, 4 ).

Measurements: Lds 422, Wds 190; Lvas 131, Wvas 110, Lian 18; Ltar 112. Setae length: АD1 18; АD2 30, АD3 30–38, АD4 41, РD2 45; РD4 11, AM 1 39, АМ2 25; АL 1 41; АL 3 48, АL 4 57, РL1 52; РL2 47; PL 3 22, PM 1 57; РМ3 61; РМ4 (broken off); AS 36, PS 36; PV 63; MCh IV: ge 43, ti 40, ta 82.

Male is unknown.

Diagnosis. The new species similar to G. (A.) alustoni differing by the dorsal setae much longer and flexible (see fig. 3 and 4 ), setae of two pair AD4 41 µm and PM 1 57 µm long, whereas in G. (A.) alustoni dorsal setae bristle-shape; AD4 26 µm (∆ = 15 µm) and PM 1 33 µm long (∆ = 24 µm), respectively, in G. (A.) alustoni demonstrate the most contrast.

Additional differences in the length of other setae can be seen from comparing the results of their measurements for both species in the corresponding places in the text and drawings. Furthermore, some distinctive characters are in form and size of metapodal shields, namely, the posterior metapodal shield is twice as long as the anterior one, narrow, asymmetrical in the new species, whereas in G. (A.) alustoni the posterior metapodal shield 3.5 times as long as the anterior one, narrow and curved.

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. Іn Ukraine: type locality only; rare (single specimen) .

Etymology. The species name is a compound adjective derived from Latin adjectives altus (“high”) and montanus (“mountainous”).

Key to the subgenera and species of the genus Graminaseius of the Ukrainian fauna

1 Dorsalshieldwellsclerotized,withdarkmarginalborder,smooth;solenostomes7pairs(it,iv,id,isc,il,is,ic) subgenus Graminaseius (s. str.).........................................................................................................................2

— Dorsal shield moderately sclerotized, without dark marginal border, smooth in its anterior half but covered with fine reticulate sculpture in posterior half, 4 pairs of solenostomes (it, isc, il, ic; missing iv, id, is). subgenus Alustoseius subgen. n........................................................................................................3

2 Seta PL1 half as long as distance to the theca of seta PM2. ........................ G. (s. str.) graminis (Chant)

— Seta PL1 longer than distance to the theca of seta PM2. ................ G. (s. str.) lituatus (Athias-Henriot)

3 Length of seta AD3 half as long as distance from its theca to theca AM2; macroseta on basitarsus of leg IV 2.6 times longer than macroseta on genu. .......... G. (A.) alustoni (Livschitz & Kuznetzov) comb. n.

— Length of seta AD3 approximately equal to distance from its theca to theca AM2; macroseta on basitarsus of leg IV 1.9 times longer than macrosetae on genu. .......... G. (A.) altimontanus Kolodochka sp. n.

Figures

Fig. 4. Graminaseius altimontanus Kolodochka, sp. n., holotype ♀: 1 — dorsal shield; 2 — ventral body surface; 3 — metapodal plates; 4 — spermatheca; 5 — posterior part of peritremal shield; 6 — fragment of leg IV.

Fig. 1. Graminaseius graminis (Chant, 1956) ♀ (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 — chelicera with spermatodactyl; 9 — ventrianal shield.

Fig. 2. Graminaseius lituatus (Athias-Henriot) ♀ (1–7), Ơ (8–10 from Athias-Henriot, 1961): 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, 10 — chelicera with spermatodactyl.

Fig. 3. Graminaseius alustoni (Livschitz et Kuznetzov, 1972) comb. n. ♀: 1 — dorsal shield; 2 — ventral body surface; 3 — metapodal plates; 4 — chelicera; 5 — spermatheca; 6 — posterior part of peritremal shield; 7 — fragment of leg IV.