Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology 13 (2010) 121–126

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Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology

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Two new predatory mites (Acari: Bdellidae, Phytoseiidae) collected from medicinalplants in West Bengal, India

Indranil Roy, Goutam K. Saha ⁎Entomology and Wildlife Biology Research Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Calcutta, 35 Ballygunge Circular Road, Kolkata-700019, West Bengal, India

⁎ Corresponding author.E-mail address: gkszoo@gmail.com (G.K. Saha).

1226-8615/$ – see front matter © Korean Society of ApAll rights reserved.doi:10.1016/j.aspen.2009.11.008

a b s t r a c t

a r t i c l e i n f o

Article history:Received 15 September 2009Revised 18 November 2009Accepted 22 November 2009

Keywords:New speciesBdellodes augusta sp. nov.Phytoseius viscosum sp. nov.Medicinal plant

Two new species of predatory mites, one each of Bdellodes Oudemans (Fam. Bdellidae) and Phytoseius Ribaga(Fam. Phytoseiidae) recorded for the first time from two medicinal plants viz. Ambroma augusta (L.) L.f. (Fam.Sterculiaceae) and Clerodendrum viscosum Vent (Fam. Verbenaceae), respectively, are described in this paper.

© Korean Society of Applied Entomology, Taiwan Entomological Society and Malaysian Plant ProtectionSociety, 2009 Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Introduction

A systematic survey was conducted in different medicinal plantgardens situated in different parts of West Bengal, India, to explorethe predatory mites that could have potential as biological controlagents against economically injurious mites infesting medicinalplants. During this survey several new reports of predatory miteson respective habitat along with descriptions of new species of miteswere reported earlier (Roy et al., 2006, 2008a,b). The present paperdeals with the description and illustration of two new species ofpredatory mites, one each of Bdellodes Oudemans (Fam. Bdellidae)belonging to order Prostigmata and Phytoseius Ribaga (Fam.Phytoseiidae) belonging to order Mesostigmata. Both the abovegenera are recorded for the first time from two medicinal plants viz.Ambroma augusta (L.) L.f. (Fam. Sterculiaceae) and Clerodendrumviscosum Vent (Fam.Verbenaceae), respectively, from West Bengal,India. The generic names of the new species are given following Atyeo(1963a,b) for Bdellodes and Chant and McMurtry (1994) forPhytoseius.

Materials and methods

Leaves of different medicinal plants were observed minutely withmagnifying glass and infested leaves were plucked and placed inplastic sachet (b0.2 μm thickness) and labeled. The samewere brought

plied Entomology, Taiwan Entomol

to the laboratory for identification of mite species. The leaves and thepolythene bags were further examined under a stereo zoom binocular(Kyowa Gattner®) to note the presence of mites. Initially aftercounting of mites on the infested leaves, all specimens of mites werepreserved in 70% ethyl alcohol using fine sable hair brush. Specimensfor identification were made into temporary slide specimen usinglactic acid (50%) and then gently warming the slides over an electriclamp (40 W) for a few seconds until the fumes of lactic acid startemerging. Identification was followed using a light microscope(Olympus BX 41) and drawings were made using a camera lucidadrawing tube attached to the microscope. All the measurements weretaken in microns. Then permanent slides were made using Hoyer'smedium (Krantz 1978). Specimens were identified by comparisonwith published descriptions and illustrations without recourse totype specimens. Notations for the hypostomal setae followed Atyeo(1963a,b) for Bdellodes, and those of remaining setae Kethley (1990).In case of Phytoseius setal notations follow Rowell et al. (1978) fordorsal and Chant and Yoshida-Shaul (1991) for ventral idiosomalsetae. Setal notations of leg IV of Phytoseius followed Guanilo et al.(2008). Holotypes and paratypes are deposited in the Entomology andWildlife Biology Research Laboratory, Calcutta University, which indue course (after publication of this paper) will be deposited in theNational collection of Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata.

Taxonomic accounts

Bdellodes augusta sp. nov. (Figs. 1–16)

Type material. Holotype female: India, West Bengal, Dist. South 24Parganas, Rama Krishna Mission Ashrama Campus, Narendrapur, ex.

ogical Society and Malaysian Plant Protection Society, 2009 Published by Elsevier B.V.

Figs. 1–3. Bdellodes augusta sp. nov. (female). 1, Dorsal view; 2, Enlarged view of dorsal propodosomal shield; 3, Genital region.

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Ambroma augusta (L.) L.f., 11.xi.2005 (coll. Indranil Roy). Paratype 1female.

Etymology. The species is named after the name of the host plant.

Diagnosis. Distinguished by 1 seta on chelicerae; 3 palp genualsetae; internal vertical setae longer than external scapular setae;8 pairs of thick, blunt, finely branched hysterosomal setae; genitalplate with 5 pairs of genital setae and 5 pairs of aggenital setae, anusterminal, 2 pairs of pseudoanal setae.

Description. Female. Dimensions (n=2): (measurements of para-type in parentheses):

Length of idiosoma 693 (615) (without gnathosoma) and 462(396) wide; Body ovate; Dorsal propodosma—showing fine striationsthroughout as figures (Fig. 1) with two pairs of eyes measuringdiameter 25 (25); Two pairs of sensillae—internal vertical setae (vi)80 (78) long and external scapular setae (sce) 66 (50) long; externalverticals absent; internal scapular setae (sci) 82 (74) long, thick, finelybranched, distally pointed. Hysterosomal setae 8 pairs excludingpseudoanal setae (ps1, ps2): measurements of setae: internal

humeral (c1) 76 (74), external humeral (c2) 82 (80), internal dorsal(d) 66 (66), internal lumbral (e) 66 (66), internal sacral (f1) 45 (45),external sacral (f2) 45 (45), internal clunal (h1) 45 (45) and externalclunal (h2) 45 (43); each seta stout and pilose and shorter thandistances between their bases and those of setae following nextbehind. Genital plate (Fig. 3) 165 (155) long and 132 (127) wide with5 pairs of genital setae (g1, g2, g3, g4, g5) each measuring 16 (16), 5pairs of aggenital setae (ag1 ag2, ag3, ag4, ag5) each measuring 27(27); striation in genital region longitudinal. Anus terminal, 2 pairs ofpseudoanal setae (ps1, ps2) each measuring 27 (27).

Gnathosoma 267 (264) long; two pairs of short adoral setae 13long. Chelicerae (231) 198 long, longitudinally striated with 1 setameasuring 60 long, movable digit 20 long and fixed digit 13 longwith 1 apical tooth. Hypostome smooth except transversely striatedbasally, ventrally with 6 pairs of setae, 1 pair of dorsal setae (DHS);measurements of setae: vs1–33, vs2–50, vs3–33, vs4–60, vs5–50,vs6–50 and DHS 50. Pedipalp transversely striated; Palp tibio tarsus130 (66) long with a total of 13 setae and 1 solenidion (ω); distallywith 2 long setae (DES and VES) measuring 82 (80) and 75 (70)

Figs. 4–8. Bdellodes augusta sp. nov. (female). 4, Ventral view of gnathosoma; 5,Chelicera; 6, Enlarged view of chelicera; 7, Palp; 8, Enlarged view of claw of leg I.

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respectively; among other setae 2 antero-dorsal, 1 antero-ventral, 2medio-dorsal, 1 medio-ventral, 2 medio-lateral, 1 postero-dorsal, 1postero-ventral,1 postero-lateral; genu (33) 26 long with 2 dorsalsetae and 1 ventral seta; telofemur with 1 dorsal setae; femur (165)99 long with 6 dorsal and 3 ventral.

Leg I–IV measure 429 (400), 379 (356), 594 (570) and 610 (598)respectively. All the segments are transversely striated. Trichobothriaof tibia I 56 (56) long, tibia II 56 (56) long, tarsus III 59 (59) long, tibiaIV 59 (59) long and tarsus IV 66 (64) long. Chaetotaxy of legs asfigures (Figs. 9–12) and listed in Table 1. Claws hooked and welldeveloped with 6 lateral rays.

Male. Unknown.

Remarks. This new species is close to Bdellodes affinis Atyeo (Atyeo1963), Bdellodes grandiflora Gupta (Gupta 1991) and Bdellodesiraniensis Ueckermann (Ueckermann et al. 2007) in that thechelicerae bear only one seta but may be distinguished from theother species as follows: This new species has three palp genualsetae, whereas in Bdellodes affinis the number is four. It differs fromBdellodes affinis by having longitudinal striation in the chelicerae,but chaelicerae of Bdellodes affinis are smooth; internal verticals

(80) is longer than external scapulars (66) in this new species,whereas internal verticals (123) are smaller than external scapulars(134) in Bdellodes grandiflora; hysterosoma has 8 pairs setae in thisnew species whereas 15 pairs hysterosomal setae in Bdellodesgrandiflora; palp genu has 3 setae in this new species, but Bdellodesgrandiflora has 4 palp genual setae; chelicerae are longitudinallystriated in this new species whereas in Bdellodes iraniensischaelicerae are smooth; palp genu has 3 setae in this new species,but 4 setae in case of Bdellodes iraniensis. In this new species thereare five pairs of genital setae, but Bdellodes iraniensis has six pairs ofgenital setae. Finally, the new species differs from all these speciesby the size and length of the different body parts including setae.

Phytoseius viscosum sp. nov. (Figs. 17–21)

Type material. Holotype female: India, West Bengal, Howrah,Sibpur, Indian Botanic Garden, ex Clerodendrum viscosum Vent, dated10.vi.2004 (coll. Indranil Roy). Paratype 3 females.

Etymology. The species is named after the name of the host plant.Diagnosis. Characterized by having dorsal shield sculptured with

half-roundish elements, setae j1, j3, z2, z4, s4, s6, r3, Z5, Z4 thick andserrate; other setae smooth; peritreme extending forward to level ofr3;calyx funnel shaped.

Description. Female. Dimensions (n=3): (measurements of para-type in parentheses):Dorsal shield sculptured with half-roundish elements, 254 (250–250)long and 148 (148–142) wide with 15 pairs of setae; One verticalsetae (j1), most of the lateral setae (j3, z2, z4, s4, s6), sub-lateral setae(r3) and two medio-lateral (Z5, Z4) setae thick and serrate; The othersetae on dorsal shield short, simple; Peritreme extending forward tolevel of r3.

Measurements of setae: j1=13 (13–13), j4=7 (7–5), j5=7 (7–5),j6=7 (7–5), J5=7 (7–7), j3=20 (18–18), z2=13 (13–10), z3=20(20–18), z4=13 (13–11), s4=66 (64–64), s6=66 (64–64), Z5=50(47–47), z5=7 (7–6), Z4=42 (40–40), r3=29 (27–27).

Sternal shield with 3 pairs of setae; distance between ST1–ST3 42(40–45) and ST2–ST2 50 (50–48); genital shield with a pair of setae;metasternal setae on small platelets; metapodal plates not discern-ible; ventrianal shield 66 long and 33 wide with 3 pairs of preanalsetae; ZV1, ZV3 and JV5 on soft cuticle; JV5 48 (48–48), serrate;macrosetae on leg IV: genu (Sge IV) 13 (13–11), tibia (Sti IV) 29(29–27), basitarsus (St IV) 16 (16–14), all being knobbed.

Leg-chaetotactic formula:

Genu II: 1 2/1 2/0 1Genu III: 1 2/0 2/0 1Tibia II: 1 1/1 2/1 1Tibia III: 1 1/1 2/1 1

Fixed digit of chelicera with two teeth anterior to pilus dentilis andmovable digit with one tooth; calyx of spermatheca funnel shaped, 33(46–29) long with knobbed atrium.

Male. Unknown

Remarks. This new species is close to Phytoseius neoferox Ehara andBhandhufalck (Ehara and Bhandhufalck 1977) and Phytoseius neocor-niger Gupta (Gupta 1977) in that of the dorsal chaetotaxy andmacroseta on tibia IV being less than half of macroseta on basitarsusIV, but it differs as follows: setae z2 and z4 being thicker and serrate inthis new species as compared to those of Phytoseius neoferox whichare smooth and smaller; calyx of spermatheca of this new species isfunnel shaped whereas in Phytoseius neoferox the spermatheca is likethat of saccular; macrosetae of this new species are shorter (genu,tibia and basitarsus 13, 29, 16, respectively), whereas in Phytoseius

Figs. 9–12. Bdellodes augusta sp. nov. (female). 9, Leg I (trochanter, basifemur, telofemur, genu, tibia); 10, Leg I (tarsus); 11, Leg II (trochanter, basifemur, telofemur, genu, tibia); 12,Leg II (tarsus).

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neoferox they are longer (24, 51 and 28). In this new specieschaetotactic formula of genu II is 1 2/1 2/0 1, but in Phytoseiusneocorniger formula of genu II is 2 2/0 2/0 1. In this new species j3(20) is slightly longer than j1 (13), but in Phytoseius neocorniger j3 (50long) is more than 1½ times of length j1 (28 long). Finally this newspecies differs from Phytoseius (Phytoseius) neocorniger by thepresence of Sge IV.

This new species can also be distinguished from Phytoseiusstrobilanthae Chinniah and Mohanasundaram (Chinniah andMohanasundaram 2001) by having macroseta on genu IV. This newspecies also differs from Phytoseius calopogonium Moraes and Lopes(Moraes et al. 2004) and Phytoseius poripherus Guanilo and Moraes(Guanilo et al. 2008) by having longest macroseta on tibia IV.

Acknowledgments

The authors are thankful to the Ministry of Environment andForests, Government of India for financial assistance. The authors arealso thankful toDr. S. K. Gupta, Former JointDirector, Zoological Surveyof India, Kolkata andDr. Anne S. Baker, Department of Entomology, andthe Natural History Museum, London for their valuable suggestionsduring preparation of this manuscript. The authors are also grateful tothe Head, Department of Zoology, University of Calcutta for thefacilities provided. Thanks are also due to Assistant Secretary,Ramakrishna Mission Ashram, Narendrapur and the Director, IndianBotanic Garden, Sibpur, Howrah for kindly permitting the authors tocarry out the work in their respective gardens.

Figs. 13–16. Bdellodes augusta sp. nov. (female): 13, Leg III (trochanter, basifemur, telofemur, genu, tibia); 14, Leg III (tarsus); 15, Leg IV (trochanter, basifemur, telofemur, genu); 16,Leg IV (tibia, tarsus).

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References

Atyeo,W.T., 1963a. The Bdellidae (Acarina) of the Australian realm. Part I. New Zealand,Campbell Island, and the Aukland Islands. Bull. Univ. Nebraska State Museum 4,113–166.

Atyeo, W.T., 1963b. The Bdellidae (Acarina) of the Australian realm. Part II. Australiaand Tasmania. Bull. Univ. Nebraska State Museum 4, 167–210.

Chant, D.A., McMurtry, J.A., 1994. A review of the subfamilies Phytoseiinae andTyphlodrominae (Acari: Phytoseiidae). Inter. J. Acarol. 20, 223–310.

Table 1Leg chaetotaxy of Bdellodes augusta sp. nov. (female holotype).

Leg Trochanter Basifemur Telofemur Genu Tibia Tarsus

I 3d 10d,2l,3v 5d,1l,1v 7d,3v 4d,6v,1φ,1t 14d,16v,2ω,1lII 6d,1l 4d,2l,5v 5d,1l,1v 9d, 3v 6d,5v,1t 13d,13vIII 3d, 1l 8d,5v 4d,1l,2v 5d,3v 7d, 5v 13 d,11v,1tIV 4d 5d,3v 3d, 3v 5d, 3v 4d,6v,1t 6d,15v,2l,1t

d = dorsal setae, v = ventral setae, l = lateral setae, t = trichobothrium, φ =solenidion on tibia, ω = solenidion on tarsus.

Chant, D.A., Yoshida-Shaul, E., 1991. A world review of five similar species groups in thegenus Typhlodromus Scheuten: Part II. The conspicuous and cornus groups (Acarina:Phytoseiidae). Can. J. Zool. 61, 1041–1057.

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Figs. 17–21. Phytoseius viscosum sp. nov. (female): 17, Dorsal view; 18, Chelicera; 19, Ventral view; 20, Spermatheca; 21, Genu, tibia, basitarsus of leg IV.

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