Amblyseius lanceae Kar & Karmakar 2022, sp. nov.

Amblyseius lanceae sp. nov.

(Figs. 1–5; 50–52)

Following the classificatory scheme of Chant & McMurtry (2004) the new species belongs to americanus species group and duncansoni species subgroup by having female idiosomal setal pattern 10A:9B/JV-3: ZV; setae S2 and Z1 short, seta z4 longer than seta z2, 2/3 as long as distance between its base; spermatheca with bell shaped calyx.

Diagnosis. The new species is distinguished by dorsal shield smooth with seven pairs of solenostomes, female idiosomal setal pattern: 10A: 9B/JV–3: ZV. Seta z2 shorter than seta z4, z4 reached near the base of s4; peritreme extends up to seta j1; seta Z1 short; sternal shield with three pairs of setae, posterior margin of sternal shield wavy; fixed digit of chelicera with eight teeth and movable digit with three backwardly directed teeth; spermatheca bell shaped; all macrosetae on leg IV are pointed with longest one on genu.

Description. Female (n = 10). Dorsum (Fig. 1). Dorsal shield 345 (340–348) long and 202 (200–205) wide, smooth, with marks of sigilla mostly on prodorsal area, prodorsum wide, with seven pairs of solenostomes (gd1, gd2, gd4, gd5, gd6, gd8 and gd9); visible poroids are shown in the illustration 18 pairs of setae on dorsal shield and two pair of setae on unsclerotised cuticle: j1 20 (19–22), j3 32 (30–33), j4 8 (7–10), j5 4 (4–6), j6 6 (5–8), J2 10 (8–10), J5 6 (6–8), z2 14 (12–15), z4 26 (24–29), z5 4 (4–6), Z1 10 (8–10), Z4 35 (34–37), Z5 55 (53–56), s4 41 (40–43), S2 15 (14–17), S4 12 (10–13), S5 8 (8–10), r3 18 (16–19), R1 6 (5–8). All setae smooth, setae j1, j3, s4, and Z4 long while seta Z5 longest, and all other setae medium to minute.

Peritreme (Fig. 1). Extending up to the bases of j1.

Venter (Fig. 2). The sternal shield nearly square shaped, posterior margin of sternal shield wavy, lateral margins of both sides are indented inwardly with a distinct groove at the middle of anterior margin. Sternal shield 62 (60–63) long, and 68 (67–70) wide at the 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 unsclerotised membrane 18 (16–19) long. Distances between st2 - st2 and st5-st5 64 (63–66) and 58 (56–60) respectively. Two pairs of metapodal shields present; primary metapodal shield 22 (20–23) long, 4 (4–6) wide, and secondary metapodal shield 13 (11–13). Genital shield smooth, broad at the base and narrow at genital opening with irregular circular flap touches posterior margin of sternal shield. Ventrianal shield smooth, pentagonal 95 (93–96) long, 54 ( 53–56) wide at level of ZV2 and 52 (50–53) wide at anus level with three pairs of pre-anal setae, JV1 22 (20–23), JV2 19 (18–20), ZV2 18 (17–19) and one pair of pre-anal pores (gv3) 35 (33–36) apart just below JV2. Membrane surrounding ventrianal shield with four pairs of setae ZV1 15 (15–18), ZV3 15 (13–16), JV4 18 (18–20) and JV5 34 (33– 35); JV5 long and smooth.

Chelicera (Fig. 3). Fixed digit 25 ( 23–26) long with eight teeth and a distinct pilus dentilis, and movable digit 26 ( 24–27) long with three backwardly directed teeth.

Spermatheca (Fig. 4). Calyx 12 (11–14) long, proximal part of spermatheca spear shaped with conspicuous atrium followed by constricted neck, divergent arms of calyx forming bell shaped distally, major duct flattened, clearly visible while minor duct conspicuous.

Leg (Fig. 5). Length of leg I 305 (302–307), leg II 225 (222–228), leg III 238 (235–240) and leg IV 350 ( 348– 354). Chaetotactic formula of Sge II 1 2/1 1/1 1 and Sge III 1 2/1 1/1 1. Leg II and III with pointed macrosetae, SgeII 27 ( 25–28), SgeIII 28 (26–28), StiIII 22 (20–25) long. The genu, tibia and tarsus of leg IV with pointed macrosetae of following lengths: SgeIV 38 (36–40), StiIV 33 (32–34) and StaIV 62 (60–63).

Type specimens. Holotype: female (Acarol.lab/ BCKV/8667 /2021) collected from unidentified climber, at Plant Conservatory, Bulbul: 27°21’36”N, 88°37’40”E, 1975 m AMSL, East Sikkim, Sikkim on 29 th March, 2021; deposited in the NZC, Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata, 9 paratype females (Acarol.lab/ BCKV/8668–8673 /2021) with same collection data as holotype deposited in the Acarological laboratory, Department of Entomology, BCKV, Mohanpur, Nadia, West Bengal, India.

Etymology. The specific name ‘lanceae’ refers to the spear shaped atrium of spermatheca of the new species.

Remarks. The new species is different from all the 10 species under the species subgroup duncansoni (Chant & McMurtry, 2004) by having unique type of spermatheca, calyx wider at proximal part and atrium spear shaped. This new species is close to Amblyseius similoides Buchelos and Pritchard, 1960; A. arbuti De Leon, 1961; A. nayaritensis De Leon, 1961; A. sinuatus De Leon, 1961 by having similar type of dorsal setal pattern and spermatheca. However, it also widely differs from all these close species by shape of ventrianal shield, numbers of denticles in the chelicera, length of macrosetae of leg IV (not mentioned in description), all those have been presented in the Table 1.