New genera, a new species, and a key to the genera of Ashieldophyinae (Acari, Eriophyoidea) from India

Samiran Chakrabarti; Ramkrishna Pandit; Surajit Sur

doi:10.3897/zookeys.843.29078

Abstract

Two new genera, Brevishieldophyes Chakrabarti & Pandit, gen. n. and Mesoshieldophyes Chakrabarti & Pandit, gen. n., and a new species Mesoshieldophyes varecae Chakrabarti & Pandit, sp. n. are described. These mites are leaf vagrants. The morphological characters of the afore-mentioned genera and those of Ashieldophyes Mohanasundaram are compared. A key for separating the genera within the subfamily Ashieldophyinae is provided. The diagnostic characters of the subfamily Ashieldophyinae are also revised.

Keywords

Ashieldophyes, Brevishieldophyes gen. n., comparison, descriptions, Mesoshieldophyes gen. n., Mesoshieldophyes varecae sp. n., Brevishieldophyes glochidionae comb. n.

Introduction

Ashieldophyes pennadamensis Mohanasundaram, 1984, infesting Casearia tomentosa Roxb. (Salicaceae) from near the Pennadam Sugar Factory, Arcot district, Tamil Nadu, south India, was the type species for the genus Ashieldophyes Mohanasundaram within the new family Ashieldophyidae Mohanasundaram. Later, the family Ashieldophyidae was made one of the subfamilies (Ashieldophyinae) of the Eriophyidae Nalepa (1898) because a small prodorsal shield was actually observed on the propodosoma of the mite (Amrine and Stasny 1994; Amrine 1996; Amrine et al. 2003). A second species, Ashieldophyes glochidionae Chakrabarti & Pandit, 2009, infesting Glochidion multiloculare (Rottler ex Willd.) Voigt (Phyllanthaceae) from Lataguri Forest, Jalpaiguri, West Bengal, was described in this taxon.

During periodical samplings for exploration of eriophyoid mite diversity in West Bengal & Assam, further samples of eriophyoids infesting Casearia vareca Roxb. and C. glomerata Roxb. were collected. Examination of those specimens allowed establishing two new genera, Mesoshieldophyes Chakrabarti & Pandit, gen. n. for accommodating Mesoshieldophyes varecae Chakrabarti & Pandit, sp. n. and Brevishieldophyes Chakrabarti & Pandit, gen. n. for reassigning A. glochidionae in the Ashieldophyinae.

Materials and methods

Eriophyoid mites were collected and studied as described by Chakrabarti et al. (2017). The terminology and classification given by Lindquist (1996) and Amrine et al. (2003), respectively are followed here. The specimens were examined with a phase contrast Leica DM3000 microscope and photographs were taken with Leica DFC295 camera. All measurements were made following Amrine and Manson (1996) and de Lillo et al. (2010), and are given in micrometres (µm). Measurements and means are rounded off to the nearest integer and refer to the length of the morphological characters unless specified otherwise. Drawings were made following de Lillo et al. (2010) and Amrine et al. (2003). In the text, measurements of the holotype are followed by the range of measurements of the paratypes plus holotype given in parentheses. All type specimens are now deposited in the collection of the Post-Graduate Department of Zoology, Vidyasagar College, Kolkata 700006, India. After publication, holotypes and paratypes will be deposited in public institutions: one slide with paratypes of each species will be deposited to the National Pusa Collection, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi; the holotype and the remaining paratypes will be deposited in the National Zoological Collection, Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata.

Taxonomy

Ashieldophyes Mohanasundaram, 1984

http://zoobank.org/9A73DBEB-3C29-44D3-89DF-B349D0C8F895

Diagnosis

Prodorsal shield small and oval shaped; scapular tubercles absent but with very short scapular setae sc, placed on lateral margins, directed laterally; pedipalp genual setae d present and simple; femoral setae bv of leg I present; genual setae l″ of leg II present; coxae with setae 1b; female genitalia located between coxae II; genital cover flap lacks ridges.

Type species

Ashieldophyes pennadamensis Mohanasundaram, 1984.

Remarks

Ashieldophyes Mohanasundaram, 1984, Brevishieldophyes Chakrabarti & Pandit, gen. n., and Mesoshieldophyes Chakrabarti & Pandit, gen. n. belong to the subfamily Ashieldophyinae of family Eriophyidae in having small or moderately developed shield, lacking opisthosomal setae d and e, coxae widely separated anteriorly, female genitalia appressed to the coxae and with a triangular cover flap. These three genera can easily be separated by the characters given in Table 1 and in the key provided below. The genus is monotypic.

Table 1.

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Data set for some morphological characters of Ashieldophyes, Brevishieldophyes, and Mesoshieldophyes.

Characters	*Ashieldophyes*	*Brevishieldophyes*	*Mesoshieldophyes*
Body	Vermiform	Fusiform	Fusiform
Pedipalp genual setae d	Present	Present	Absent
Prodorsal shield	Small, oval shaped	Small, sickle shaped	Semi-circular, comparatively larger.
Scapular tubercles	Absent	Absent	Absent
Scapular setae sc	Present (very short)	Absent	Absent
Femoral setae bv on leg I	Present	Present	Absent
Solenidion ω	Blunt	Knobbed	knobbed
genual seta l″ on Leg II	Present	Present	Absent
Dorsal and ventral semiannuli	Equal number, smooth	Equal number, smooth	Equal number, granular
Seta 1b	Present	Absent	Present

Ashieldophyes pennadamensis Mohanasundaram, 1984

http://zoobank.org/D84AC07F-CD6A-42E1-9E42-EA6782545674

Fig. 1 AD1, CG1

Ashieldophyes pennadamensis Mohanasundaram, 1984, Oriental Insects, 18: 251–252.

Diagnosis

Body vermiform; pedipalp genual seta d present; prodorsal shield small and oval; scapular tubercles absent but with very short setae sc; legs with all usual setae; solenidion ω blunt; opisthosoma with equal number of smooth dorsal and ventral semiannuli; setae 1b present.

Description

Female (n = 20). Body vermiform, brown colour in life, dorso-ventrally flattened; 250 (175–250) and 40 (39–46) wide. Gnathosoma 15 (14–15) projecting obliquely down-curved, dorsal pedipalp genual setae d 1 (1–2); chelicerae 13 (13–15). Prodorsal shield small, oval-shaped, without lobe, 9 (9–10) and 23 (22–23) wide, lacking scapular tubercles but with very short scapular setae sc, placed on lateral margin and directed laterally. Leg I from base of trochanter 20 (20–21), femur 7 (7–8), femoral setae bv 7 (7–8), genu 3 (2–3), genual setae l″ 20 (21–23), tibia 5 (3–5), tibial setae l′ 15 (12–15), tarsus 5 (3–5), tarsal setae ft′ and ft″ both 12 (10–12), solenidion ω 4 (3–4), straight and blunt; empodium em simple, 4-rayed; setae u′ 2 (2–3). Leg II from base of trochanter 18 (18–20); femur 6 (5–6), femoral setae bv 5 (5–6), genu 2 (2–3), genual setae lʺ 23 (20–23), tibia 3 (3–4), tibial setae lʹ absent, tarsus 4 (3–4), solenidion ω 8 (7–8), straight and blunt; empodium em simple, 4-rayed; tarsal setae ftʹ 8 (8–10) and ftʺ 12 (10–12), setae uʹ 2 (2–3). Coxigenital area smooth; broadly joined, sternal line absent, coxa I widely separate, setae 1b 2 (2–3) and 5 (5–6) apart, setae 1a 8 (8–9) and 7 (7–8) apart, setae 2a 13 (13–15) and 18 (18–20) apart. Opisthosoma dorsally flat, smooth, with equal number of dorsal and ventral semiannuli, 21 (20–21); setae c2 10 (7–11) on ventral semiannulus 2 (2–3), setae d and e absent, setae f 14 (12–15) on ventral semiannulus 7 (6–7) from rear margin; setae h1 absent, setae h2 12 (12–14). Genital cover flap 10 (9–11) and 16 (17–18) wide, triangular and smooth; setae 3a 8 (6–8). Internal genitalia apodeme short, spermathecae rounded with short funnel-like spermathecal tubes.

Figure 1.

Female: Antero-dorsal region AD and coxigenital region CG AD1 and CG1 of Ashieldophyes pennadamensis AD2 and CG2 of Brevishieldophyes glochidionae AD3 and CG3 of Mesoshieldophyes varecae.

Specimens examined

India: Tamil Nadu: South Arcot District, near Pennadam Sugar Factory, 16.VIII.1981, 2 females from C. tomentosa, coll. M. Mohanasundaram, coll. no. 427 (TNAU); West Bengal: North 24-Parganas, Madral, 12.VIII.2005, many females and nymphs from C. tomentosa, coll. R Pandit, coll. nos. 1182–1184/19/2005.

Distribution

India: Tamil Nadu & West Bengal.

Relation to the host plant

The mites inhabit the under surface of leaves as vagrants without showing symptoms of damage to the host plant.

Remarks

This species is so far known only from its type locality and here reported for the first time from West Bengal.

Brevishieldophyes Chakrabarti & Pandit, gen. n.

http://zoobank.org/16667767-867C-4329-A2F9-CF791F511F0B

Diagnosis

Body fusiform, dorso-ventrally flattened. Gnathosoma short, downwardly curved, cheliceral stylet short; prodorsal shield small and sickle-shaped; scapular tubercles and scapular setae sc lacking; pedipalp genual setae d present and simple; coxae without setae 1b; femoral setae bv of leg I present; genual setae l″ of leg II present; empodium simple; female genitalia appressed to the coxae, genital cover flap smooth, triangular, located between coxae II; apodeme normal in length.

Type species

Ashieldophyes glochidionae Chakrabarti & Pandit, 2009.

The genus is monotypic.

Etymology

Brevi derived from the adjective Latin word brevis meaning short (in relation to prodorsal shield) and ophyes derived from eriophyes meaning erion = wool + phyes = a grower/maker.

Gender

Masculine.

Brevishieldophyes glochidionae (Chakrabarti & Pandit, 2009), comb. n.

http://zoobank.org/33D1FFB7-997E-495E-AD21-EF1EDB27CB2B

Fig. 1AD2, CG2

Ashieldophyes glochidionae Chakrabarti & Pandit, 2009, International Journal of Acarology, 15:163–164.

Diagnosis

Body fusiform; pedipalp genual seta d present; prodorsal shield small and sickle shaped; scapular setae sc absent; legs with all usual setae; solenidion ω knobbed; opisthosoma with equal number of smooth dorsal and ventral semiannuli; setae 1b absent.

Specimens examined

India: West Bengal: Jalpaiguri, Lataguri forest, 15.X.2004, many females and nymphs from G. multiloculare, coll. R Pandit. coll. nos. 1275–1279/45/2004. Type material of A. glochidionae Meghalaya: Burnihat, 18.X.1985, many females and nymphs, from C. glomerata, coll. B Das, coll. nos. 967–971/61/1985.

Distribution

India: West Bengal & Meghalaya.

Relation to the host plant

The mites inhabit the under surface of leaves as vagrants without showing symptoms of damage to the host plant.

Remarks

The original report of B. glochidionae from G. multiloculare needs further confirmation because this mite species and other two Ashieldophyinae have been collected subsequently from plants of the genus Casearia (Salicaceae).

Mesoshieldophyes Chakrabarti & Pandit, gen. n.

http://zoobank.org/7227C05D-E910-44EE-AC65-49CACF572032

Diagnosis

Body fusiform, dorso-ventrally flattened. Gnathosoma short, obliquely down-curved, cheliceral stylet short; pedipalp genual setae d absent; prodorsal shield semi-circular without any lobe, lacking scapular tubercles and scapular setae sc; femoral setae bv of leg I and genual setae l″ of leg II absent; coxae with setae 1b; dorsal and ventral semiannuli with granules; female genitalia appressed to the coxae; genital cover flap triangular and smooth; empodium simple; apodeme short in length.

Type species

Mesoshieldophyes varecae Chakrabarti & Pandit, sp. n.

This genus is monotypic.

Etymology

The genus name Mesoshieldophyes is derived from meso = middle, referring to the medium size of prodorsal shield and phyes derived from eriophyes meaning erion = wool + phyes, a grower/maker.

Gender

Masculine.

Remarks

The size of the prodorsal shield in this genus is larger than that in the other two genera of this subfamily.

Mesoshieldophyes varecae Chakrabarti & Pandit, sp. n.

http://zoobank.org/E19A73E2-8A4C-4ABD-8C2F-4FC2DDFBC135

Figs 1AD3, CG3, 2, 3

Diagnosis

Body fusiform; pedipalp genual seta d absent; prodorsal shield semi-circular; scapular setae sc absent; femoral setae bv on leg I absent; genual setae lʺ on leg II absent; solenidion ω knobbed; opisthosoma with equal number of granulated dorsal and ventral semiannuli; setae 1b present.

Description

Female (n=12). Body fusiform, yellow colour in life, dorso-ventrally flattened; 140 (120–145) and 50 (45–50) wide. Gnathosoma 15 (14–15) projecting obliquely down-wards, dorsal pedipalp genual setae d absent, setae ep 1 (1–2); chelicerae 13 (13–15). Prodorsal shield semicircular, without lobe, 14 (18–20) and 43 (40–43) wide with granules, lacking scapular tubercles and setae sc. Leg I from base of trochanter 20 (20–21), femur 7 (7–8), femoral setae bv absent, genu 3 (2–3), genual setae l″ 20 (21–23), tibia 4 (3–4), tibial setae l′ 10 (10–12), tarsus 5 (3–5), tarsal setae ft′ and ft″ both 12 (10–12), solenidion ω 4 (3–4), straight and knobbed; empodium em 4 (4–5), simple, 4-rayed; setae u′ 2 (2–3). Leg II from base of trochanter 18 (18–20); femur 6 (5–6), femoral setae bv 5 (5–6), genu 2 (2–3), genual setae l″ absent, tibia 3 (3–4), tibial setae l′ absent, tarsus 4 (3–4), tarsal setae ft′ 8 (8–10), ft″ 12 (10–12); solenidion ω 8 (7–8), straight and knobbed; empodium em 4 (4–5), simple, 4-rayed; setae u′ 2 (2–3). Coxigenital area smooth; sternal line absent, coxae widely separated, setae 1b 2 (2–3) and 5 (5–6) apart, setae 1a 8 (8–9) and 7 (7–8) apart, setae 2a 13 (13–15) and 18 (18–20) apart. Opisthosoma dorsally flat, with equal number of dorsal and ventral semiannuli, 21 (20–21), both dorsal and ventral semiannuli ornamented with fine granules; setae c2 10 (7–11) on ventral semiannulus 2 (2–3), setae d and e absent, setae f 14 (12–15) on ventral semiannulus 7 (6–7) from rear margin; setae h1 absent, setae h2 12 (12–14). Genital cover flap 6 (5–6) and 16 (17–18) wide, triangular and smooth; setae 3a 7 (6–7). Internal genitalia apodeme short, spermathecae globose with short, funnel-like spermathecal tubes.

Figure 2.

Mesoshieldophyes varecae, Female. Abbreviations CG coxigenital region D dorsal view of body; em empodium IG Internal genitalia LO Dorsal and ventral annuli.

Figure 3.

Mesoshieldophyes varecae, Female A prodorsal shield with dorsal annuli B genital cover flap C entire dorsal body D posterior part of opisthosoma with setae f and h2.

Male. Not observed.

Type host plant

Casearia vareca Roxb. (Salicaceae).

Relation to the host plant

The mites inhabit the under surface of leaves as vagrants without showing symptoms of damage to the host plant.

Type locality

India: West Bengal: Darjeeling, Bengdubi Forest (26°42′30.1″N, 88°25′36.7″E), 163 m above sea level, 03.II.2015, coll. S Chakrabarti, R Pandit, S Sarkar.

Type material

Holotype: female marked on slide (no. 1294/N11/2015); paratypes: 2 females on slide bearing holotype and 36 females, larvae and nymphs on 10 slides (nos. 1295–1304/N11/2015).

Etymology

The species name varecae is from the specific designation of the host plant in the genitive case.

Key to the genera of subfamily Ashieldophyinae

1	Body vermiform, scapular setae sc present; femoral setae bv on leg I and genual setae l” on leg II present, on Salicaceae	Ashieldophyes Mohanasundaram, 1984
–	Body fusiform, scapular setae sc lacking	2
2	Prodorsal shield small, sickle shaped; coxal setae 1b lacking; femoral setae bv on leg I and genual setae lʺ on leg II present, on Salicaceae & Phyllanthaceae	Brevishieldophyes Chakrabarti & Pandit, gen. n.
–	Prodorsal shield moderate, semicircular; coxal setae 1b present; femoral setae bv of leg I and genual setae l″ of leg II lacking, on Salicaceae	Mesoshieldophyes Chakrabarti & Pandit, gen. n.

Subfamily Ashieldophyinae Mohanasundaram (1984)

Diagnosis. Prodorsal shield poorly developed to moderately developed, lacking scapular tubercles, scapular setae sc absent but if present very short; sternal line absent; coxae widely separated anteriorly; legs with all segments, setae bv on leg I and genual setae lʺ on leg II may or may not be present; opisthosoma lacking setae d and e but c2 and f present; genitalia appressed to the coxae, genital cover flap triangular; genital apodeme curved and abbreviated and spermathecae globose with short spermathecal tubes.

Acknowledgements

Authors extend their thanks to Prof AP Das, Department of Botany, University of North Bengal for identification of the host plant, Casearia vareca. Thanks to the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Government of India, New Delhi [Grant no. 22018/05/2010-CS (Tax)] and to the University Grants Commission, New Delhi (Grant no. PSW-111/12-13 ERO) for partially financing the work. Authors (SC and SS) gives thanks to the Principal, Vidyasagar College, Kolkata and RP to the Principal, Mahadevananda Mahavidyalaya, Barrackpore for logistical support. The authors gratefully acknowledge the suggestions made by the reviewers, particularly Prof JW Amrine Jr for improving the earlier versions of this manuscript.

References

Amrine Jr JW (1996) Key to the World Genera of the Eriophyoidea (Acari: Prostigmata). Indira Publishing House, West Bloomfield, 186 pp.

Amrine Jr JW, Manson DCM (1996) Preparation, mounting and descriptive study of Eriophyoid mites. In: Lindquist EE, Sabelis MW, Bruin J (Eds) Eriophyoid mites. Their Biology, Natural Enemies and Control. World Crop Pests, 6, Elsevier Science Publishers, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 383–396. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1572-4379(96)80023-6

Amrine Jr JW, Stasny TA (1994) Catalog of Eriophyoidea (Acarina: Prostigmata) of the world. Indira Publishing House, West Bloomfield, 798 pp.

Amrine Jr JW, Stasny TA, Flechtmann CHW (2003) Revised key to the world genera of the Eriophyoidea (Acari: Prostigmata). Indira Publishing House, West Bloomfield, 244 pp.

Chakrabarti S, Pandit RK (2009) Two new genera and four new species of eriophyoid mites (Acari: Eriophyoidea) from sub-Himalayan West Bengal, India. International Journal of Acarology 35(2): 161–168. https://doi.org/10.1080/01647950902984544

Chakrabarti S, Sur S, Roy S, Sarkar S (2017) Two new genera and two new species of eriophyoid mites (Acari: Eriophyoidea) from North Bengal, India. Zootaxa 4236(1): 172–182. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4236.1.10

de Lillo E, Craemer C, Amrine Jr JW, Nuzzaci G (2010) Recommended procedures and techniques for morphological studies of Eriophyoidea (Acari: Prostigmata). Experimental and Applied Acarology 51(1–3): 283–307. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10493-009-9311-x

Lindquist EE (1996) External anatomy and notation of structures. In: Lindquist EE, Sabelis MW, Bruin J (Eds) Eriophyoid Mites – Their Biology, Natural Enemies and Control. World Crop Pests, 6. Elsevier Science Publishers, Amsterdam, 3–31. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1572-4379(96)80023-6

Mohanasundaram M (1984) New eriophyid mites from India (Acarina: Eriophyoidea). Oriental Insects 18(1): 251–283. https://doi.org/10.1080/00305316.1984.10432206

Nalepa A (1898) Zur Kenntniss der Gattung Trimerus Nal. Zoologische Jahrbuecher 11(5): 405–411. [pl. 24]

Supplementary materials

Supplementary material 1

COL

Samiran Chakrabarti, Ramkrishna Pandit, Surajit Sur

Data type: image

This dataset is made available under the Open Database License (http://opendatacommons.org/licenses/odbl/1.0/). The Open Database License (ODbL) is a license agreement intended to allow users to freely share, modify, and use this Dataset while maintaining this same freedom for others, provided that the original source and author(s) are credited.

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Supplementary material 2

Morphological images 1

Samiran Chakrabarti, Ramkrishna Pandit, Surajit Sur

Data type: image

This dataset is made available under the Open Database License (http://opendatacommons.org/licenses/odbl/1.0/). The Open Database License (ODbL) is a license agreement intended to allow users to freely share, modify, and use this Dataset while maintaining this same freedom for others, provided that the original source and author(s) are credited.

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Supplementary material 3

Morphological images 2

Samiran Chakrabarti, Ramkrishna Pandit, Surajit Sur

Data type: image

This dataset is made available under the Open Database License (http://opendatacommons.org/licenses/odbl/1.0/). The Open Database License (ODbL) is a license agreement intended to allow users to freely share, modify, and use this Dataset while maintaining this same freedom for others, provided that the original source and author(s) are credited.

Download file (5.21 MB)