Typhlodromips syzygii ( Gupta, 1975 )

Karmakar, Krishna & Bhowmik, Sagarika, 2018, Description of eight new species and re-description of four species belonging to the family Phytoseidae (Acari: Mesostigmata) from West Bengal, India, Zootaxa 4422 (1), pp. 41-77 : 47-50

Typhlodromips syzygii ( Gupta, 1975)

(Figs 15–21, 83–84)

Amblyseius syzygii GUPTA, 1975: 44.

Amblyseius (Typhlodromips) syzygii .—GUPTA, 1986: 188; 1987A: 68; 1992: 169.

Female (n = 10). Dorsum (Fig. 15). Dorsal shield 339 (333–345) long and 218 (213–223) wide, strongly reticulated, with marks of sigilla and seven pairs of solenostomes (gd1, gd2, gd4, gd5, gd6, gd8 and gd9); 17 pairs of setae on the dorsal shield and two pairs of setae on the unsclerotised cuticle: j1 14 (13–15), j3 15 (15–16), j4 9 (9–10), j5 9 (7–10), j6 10 (10–11), J2 12 (10–13), J5 8 (7–9), z2 11 (10–12), z4 11 (11–12), z5 8 (7–9), Z1 11 (9–13), Z4 25 (25–26), Z5 69 (68–70), s4 16 (15–17), S2 11 (11–12), S4 10 (9–11), S5 8 (6–9), r3 13 (11–14), R1 11 (10–12). All setae smooth and setae j1, j3, s4, Z4, are moderately long while setae Z5 are longest and lightly serrated.

Peritreme (Fig. 15). Extending forward beyond bases of j1, with four parallel rows of microtubercles.

Venter (Fig. 16). All shields smooth. Sternal shield 54 (54–55) long and 71 (68–73) wide at level of setae ST1–ST3 and ST3–ST3 respectively, with three pairs of setae and two pairs of lyrifissures; one pair of setae (ST4) on distinctly visible metasternal plates, with a pair of conspicuous lyrifissures; posterior margin of sternal shield concave and slightly wavy and clearly outlined in all specimens. Distances between ST2–ST2 60, ST5–ST5 67 (64–70). Two pairs of metapodal shields, primary shield 15 (15–16) long and secondary shield 9 (9–10) long. Ventrianal shield 112 (108–115) long, 69 (68–70) wide at level of ZV2 setae and 76 (73–78) wide at level of anus; with three pairs of pre-anal setae, JV1, JV2 and ZV2, two pairs of contiguous protruberances at inner lateral margins at the level of anus and one pair of large elliptical pre-anal pores. Membrane surrounding ventrianal shield with four pairs of setae: ZVl, ZV3, JV4 and JV5; the latter 34 (32–35) long and smooth.

Chelicera (Fig. 17, 83). Fixed digit 26 (25–27) long, with 11 teeth, pilus dentilis conspicuous; movable digit 27 (25–28), with three backwardly-directed teeth.

Spermatheca (Fig. 18, 84). Calyx short, pocular or disc-shaped, 4 (4–5) long, wide at level of vesicle, atrium kidney-shaped, major and minor duct distinct.

Legs (Fig. 19). Legs IV with three smooth pointed macrosetae of the following lengths: genu 44 (44–45), tibia 32 (31–33), basitarsus 44 (44–45). Chaetotactic formula of genu II: 1 2/1, 2/0 1; genu III: 1 2/1, 2/0 1. Length of leg I: 293 (285–300), leg II: 259 (258–260), leg III: 259 (258–260), leg IV: 328 (318–338).

Male (n = 10). A lightly sclerotised mite with 19 pairs of dorsal setae. Idiosomal setal pattern: 10A: 9B/ JV –3,4: ZV –1,3.

Dorsum. Dorsal shield 263 (255–270) long and 177 (170–183) wide, smooth, with 19 pairs of setae: j1 13 (13–14), j3 16 (15–17), j4 9 (8–10), j5 6 (5–7), j6 8 (6–9), J2 10 (8–11), J5 6 (6–7), z2 11 (10–12), z4 11 (9–12), z5 7 (6–8), Z1 11 (10–12), Z4 22 (22–23), Z5 48 (46–49), s4 17 (17–18), S2 11 (9–13), S4 9 (7–10), S5 7 (5–9), r3 13 (11–14), R1 11 (9–12). All setae smooth, except Z5 longest and lightly serrated.

Peritreme. Extending beyond level of j1.

Venter (Fig. 20). Sternogenital shield with lateral lines, ventrianal shield lightly reticulated. Sternogenital shield with five pairs of setae and two pairs of distinguishable lyrifissures. Ventrianal shield 104 (103–105) long, 101 (100–102) wide at the level of ZV2 setae, 53 (50–55) wide at the level of anus; with three pairs of pre-anal setae, JV1, JV2 and ZV2, one pair of pores. Unsclerotised membrane surrounding ventrianal shield with one pair of setae, JV5, at level with anal opening.

Legs. Leg IV with three smooth pointed macrosetae of following lengths; genu 27 (27–28), tibia 26 (25–27), basitarsus 41 (41–42). Chaetotactic formula of genu II: 1 2/1, 2/0 1; genu III: 1 2/1, 2/0 1. Length of leg I: 254 (250–258), leg II: 216 (213–218), leg III: 216 (213–218), leg IV: 284 (280–288).

Chelicera (Fig. 21). Spermatodactyl with an elongated shaft 15 (15–16) long terminating with a wide toe, 6 long.

Specimens examined. 5 females (Acarol.lab/BCKV/8191-8195/2016), collected from Custard apple, Annona reticulata (Annonaceae) , 2 females (Acarol.lab/BCKV/8196-8197/2016), collected from Summer cherry, Malpighia emarginata (Malpighiaceae) , 1 female (Acarol.lab/BCKV/8191-8195/2016), collected from Nayantara, Catharanthus roseus (Apocynaceae) , 1 female (Acarol.lab/BCKV/8199/2016), collected from Mango, Mangifera indica (Anacardiaceae) at Mondouri: 22° 56' 47" N, 88° 32' 5" E, 9 m above mean sea level, Nadia, West Bengal on 31 August 2016; 1 female, Registration number 5762/17 deposited in NZC, Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata, collected from star fruit, Averrhoa carambola (Oxalidaceae) at Mondouri: 22° 56' 47" N, 88° 32' 5" E, 9 m above mean sea level, Nadia, West Bengal on 15 September 2016; 1 female, Registration number 5763/17 deposited in NZC, Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata with same collection data as above on 15 September 2016; 2 females (Acarol.lab/BCKV/8200-8201/2016) collected from star fruit, Averrhoa carambola (Oxalidaceae) at same locality as above specimens on 15 September 2016; 2 females (Acarol.lab/BCKV/8204-8205/2016) from Lantana, Lantana camara , ( Verbenaceae ) and 2 females (Acarol.lab/BCKV/8206-8207/2016) from Banana, Musa acuminata , ( Musaceae ) at same locality as above specimens on 6 November 2016; 1 female (Acarol.lab/BCKV/8208/2016) collected from marigold, Tagetes erecta (Compositae) at same locality as above specimens on 28 July 2016; 7 females (Acarol.lab/BCKV/8209-8210/2016), collected from Nilkantha, Clitoria ternatea (Fabaceae) at Rahimpur: 26°35' N, 89°01' E, 80 m above mean sea level, Jalpaiguri, West Bengal on 1 November 2016; 4 females (Acarol.lab/BCKV/5586,5588,5590/2014), collected from Guava, Psidium guajava ( Myrtaceae ) at Mondouri: 22° 56' 47" N, 88° 32' 5" E, 9 m above mean sea level, Nadia, West Bengal on 31 January 2014; 3 females (Acarol.lab/ BCKV/5587,5589/2014), collected from Wild okra, Abelmoschus moschatus (Malvaceae) at Kalyani: 22° 97' 51" N, 88° 43' 45" E, 8.75 m above mean sea level, Nadia, West Bengal on 28 January 2014; 6 females (Acarol.lab/ BCKV/7021-7023/2015), collected from pointed gourd, Trichosanthes dioica (Cucurbitaceae) at Neemtala: 23° 48' 78" N, 88° 46' 77" E, 8 m above mean sea level, Nadia, West Bengal on 13 March 2015; 4 females (Acarol.lab/ BCKV/5795-5797/2014), collected from from Jatropha, Jatropha curcas (Euphorbiaceae) , 3 females (Acarol.lab/ BCKV/5798-5800/2014), collected from Wild okra, Abelmoschus moschatus (Malvaceae) at Kalyani: 22° 97' 51" N, 88° 43' 45" E, 8.75 m above mean sea level, Nadia, West Bengal on 6 January 2014; 6 females (Acarol.lab/ BCKV/5346,5349,5351/2013), collected from cotton, Gossypium hirsutum (Malvaceae) at Kalyani: 22° 97' 51" N, 88° 43' 45" E, 8.75 m above mean sea level, Nadia, West Bengal on 25 September 2013; 4 males (Acarol.lab/ BCKV/8212/2016), collected from Nilkantha, Clitoria ternatea (Fabaceae) at Rahimpur: 26°35' N, 89°01' E, 80 m above mean sea level, Jalpaiguri, West Bengal on 1 November 2016; 1 male, Registration number 5764/17 deposited in NZC, Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata, collected from Custard apple, Annona reticulata (Annonaceae) at Mondouri: 22° 56' 47" N, 88° 32' 5" E, 9 m above mean sea level, Nadia, West Bengal on 31 August 2016; 1 male (Acarol.lab/BCKV/8213/2016) with same collection data as above on 31 August 2016.

Distribution. Asia: China, Hainan: Wu & Ou (2002); India, Bihar: Gupta & Nahar (1981); Kerala: Haneef & Sadanandan (2013); Orissa: Gupta (1978); Tripura: Gupta (1978); Ray & Gupta (1981); Uttar Pradesh: Gupta (1981); Gupta (1982); West Bengal: Gupta (1975); Gupta (1992); Karmakar & Gupta (2011). Indonesia: Oomen (1982); Thailand: Ehara & Bhandhufalck (1977); Oliveira et al. (2012); Oceania: Papua New Guinea: McMurtry & Moraes (1985).

Remarks. This species is widely distributed throughout West Bengal in association with many economic crops and weeds of agri-horticultural importance, and was observed to feed on spider mites. Hence, this species may be mass cultured under laboratory condition for use as a bio-control agent of pest mites.