Asperoseius latericulus Karmakar & Bhowmik 2018, sp. nov.
Creators: name: Karmakar, Krishna
name: Bhowmik, Sagarika
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2018
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Arachnida
Mesostigmata
Phytoseiidae
Asperoseius
Asperoseius latericulus

description: Asperoseius latericulus sp. nov.
(Figs 50–54, 94–96)
Female (n = 2). Dorsum (Fig. 50). Dorsal shield 348, 344 (338–350), long and 198, 197 (193–200), wide, strongly sclerotised with tile-like plates having five pairs of solenostomes (gd1, gd2, gd5, gd6 and gd9); 17 pairs of dorsal setae: j 1 15, 14 (13–15), j 3 14, 14 (14–15), j 4 11, 11 (11–12), j 5 12, 11 (11–12), j 6 13, 13 (13–14), J 2 19, 18 (18–19), J5 8, 9 (7–10), z 2 16, 16 (16–17), z 4 17, 16 (16–17), z 5 12, 13 (11–14), Z 1 17, 17 (16–18), Z 4 17, 16 (16–17), Z 5 22, 21 (20–22), s 4 19, 19 (19–20), S 2 19, 19 (18–20), r 3 20, 20 (19–21), R 1 19, 18 (16–20). All setae smooth and setae Z5 longer than all other setae, both the setae r3 and R1 on dorsal shield.
Peritreme (Fig. 50). Extending forward to the bases of j1.
Venter (Fig. 51). All shields except ventrianal shield are smooth, sternal shield 58, 58 (57–59) long and 72, 71 (70–73) 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 the metasternal plates with a pairs of distinct pores; posterior margin of sternal shield indistinct. Distances between ST2–ST2 51, 50 (50–51), ST5–ST5 61, 60 (60–61). One pair of long inwardly curved metapodal shields, primary shield 49, 50 (49–51) long. Base of genital shield much wider than the region of genital opening. Ventrianal shield vase-shaped (Fig. 96), strongly reticulated with broad anterior part and narrow posterior region 107, 108 (106–110) long, 85, 86 (84–88) wide at level of ZV2 setae and 79, 78 (75–80) wide at level of anus; with three pairs of pre-anal setae, JV1, JV2 and ZV2, and without any visible pre-anal pores. Membrane surrounding ventrianal shield with four pairs of setae: ZVl, ZV3, JV4 and JV5; the latter 16, 16 (15–17) long, smooth, thick and with rounded tip.
Chelicera (Figs 52, 94). Fixed digit of chelicerae 20, 20 (20–21) long with three teeth clubbed at the anterior part with short pilus dentilis; movable digit 20, 20 (20–21) long, stout without teeth.
Spermatheca (Figs 53, 95). Calyx tubular, flared at vesicle and tapering gradually at atrium 11, 12 (11–13) long, atrium, major and minor duct indistinct.
Legs (Fig. 54). Legs IV without macrosetae. Chaetotactic formula of genu II: 1 2/0, 2/0 1; genu III: 1 2/0, 2/0 1. Length of leg I: 234, 226 (213–238), leg II: 185, 182 (175–188), leg III: 185, 182 (175–188), leg IV: 258, 244 (225–263).
Type specimens. Holotype: female and 1 paratype female (Acarol.lab/BCKV/8262/2017) (Registration number 4410/17 deposited in the NZC, Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata, collected from American rope, Mikania micrantha, (Asteraceae) at Kakdwip: 21° 87' 60" N, 88° 18' 53" E, 3 m above mean sea level, South 24 Parganas, West Bengal on 8 April 2017.
Etymology. The specific name latericulus refers to the unique reticulation pattern of entire dorsal shield with tile-like plates.
Remarks. There are five species in this genus reported from all over the world, with two species groups based on the insertion point of seta R1; the africanus species group with the seta inserted on the female dorsal shield, and the lagunensis species group with R1 inserted in the lateral integument of the female (Chant & McMurty, 2007). Asperoseius latericulus can be grouped in the africanus species group, though this new species has an additional seta J2 which is not found in any of the species in this genus. Also the reticulation pattern of the dorsal shield with tile-like plates covering entire dorsum which is not found in other species.
description: Published as part of 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, pp. 41-77 in Zootaxa 4422 (1) on pages 60-62, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4422.1.3, http://zenodo.org/record/1251025