Phytoseius kapuri Gupta, 1969

Phytoseius (Phytoseius) kapuri Gupta, 1969: 116.

Phytoseius kapuri Chant & McMurtry, 1994: 223.

(Figs 75–81, 120–124)

Female (n = 10). Dorsum (Figs 75). Dorsal shield smooth, 252 (250–253) long and 126 (125–127) wide, strongly sclerotised with a notch at the level of seta r3 and with five pairs of solenostomes (gd1, gd5, gd6, gd8 and gd9); 16 pairs of setae on dorsal shield and one pair of setae on the unsclerotised cuticle: j1 23 (22–24), j3 66 (63–68), j4 4 (3–5), j5 4 (4–5), j6 5 (5–6), J2 6 (6–7), J5 5 (5–6), z2 14 (13–15), z3 36 (36–37), z4 6 (6–7), z5 3 (2–4), Z4 69 (68–70), Z5 67 (65–68), s4 91 (88–93), s6 73 (70–75), r3 41 (40–42), R1 14 (13–15). All setae except j4, j5, j6, J2, J5, z2, z4 and z5 are smooth and short while j1, j3, z3, s4, s6, r3, Z4 and Z5 are long and serrated. Setae J5 and Z5 are inserted ahead of rear shield margin. Setae j3, s4, s6, Z4, and Z5 are very long.

Peritreme (Fig. 75). Extending forward up to the bases of j1.

Venter (Fig. 76). All shields smooth, sternal shield 54 (53–55) long and 72 (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; posterior margin of sternal shield indistinct. Distances between ST2–ST2 62 (61–63), ST5–ST5 57 (57–58). One pair of metapodal shields 18 (18–19) long. Ventrianal shield sole-shaped 92 (90–93) long, 49 (48– 50) wide at level of ZV2 setae and 41 (38–43) wide at level of anus; with three pairs of pre-anal setae, JV1, JV2 and ZV2, one pair of pre-anal pores near lateral margin of ventrianal shield above the line of anal opening. Membrane surrounding ventrianal shield with three pairs of setae: ZV1, ZV3 and JV5; the latter 49 (49–50) long, serrated.

Chelicera (Fig. 77). Fixed digit 26 (26–27) long, with three teeth, pilus dentilis distinctly visible; movable digit 27 (27–28) long, with two teeth.

Spermatheca (Fig. 78). Calyx 14 (13–15) long, funnel-shaped, flared at the base of vesicle followed by a tubular part flattened at atrium. The major duct arises from atrium which is narrow at the base while flared at the middle and then again become narrow gradually, minor duct not visible.

Legs (Fig. 79). Legs IV with three smooth macrosetae, bi-lobed at the tip with hyaline tips, and of the following lengths: SgeIV 22 (22–23), StiIV 27 (27–28), StIV 23 (22–24). Chaetotactic formula of genu II: 0 2/0, 2/1 2; genu III: 1 2/0, 2/0 1. Length of leg I: 283 (280–285), leg II: 234 (230–238), leg III: 225 (220–230), leg IV: 361 (358–363).

Male (n = 5). A lightly sclerotised mite with 17 pairs of dorsal setae. Idiosomal setal pattern: 12A: 5A/ JV –3,4: ZV –1,3.

Dorsum. Dorsal shield smooth, 207 (203–210) long and 112 (110–113) wide with five pairs of solenostomes (gd1, gd5, gd6, gd8 and gd9); 17 pairs of dorsal setae: j1 21 (21–22), j3 49 (48–50), j4 3 (3–4), j5 3 (3–4), j6 4 (4–5), J2 5 (5–6), J5 5 (5–6), z2 12 (11–13), z3 33 (31–35), z4 5 (5–6), z5 3 (3–4), Z4 42 (40–43), Z5 38 (38–39), s4 68 (65–70), s6 53 (53–54), r3 34 (33–35), R1 8 (7–9). All setae except j4, j5, j6, J2, J5, z2, z4 and z5 are smooth and short while j1, j3, z3, s4, s6, r3, Z4 and Z5 are long and serrated. Setae j3, s4, s6, Z4, and Z5 are very long.

Peritreme. Extending forward up to the bases of j1.

Venter (Fig. 80). Sternogenital shield smooth with five pairs of setae and two pairs of distinguishable lyrifissures. Ventrianal shield transversely striated, 91 (90–92) long, 95 (94–96) wide at the level of ZV2 setae, 50 (48–52) wide at the level of anus, with three pairs of pre-anal setae, JV1, JV2, and ZV2, and one pair of pores. Unsclerotised membrane surrounding ventrianal shield with one pair of setae, JV5, at level below anal opening.

Legs. Leg IV with three smooth macrosetae of following lengths; SgeIV 16 (16–17), StiIV 18 (18–19), StIV 20 (20–21). Chaetotactic formula of genu II & genu III are identical to the female. Length of leg I: 259 (254–263), leg II: 209 (208–210), leg III: 207 (203–210), leg IV: 309 (308–310).

Chelicera (Fig. 81). Spermatodactyl with an elongated shaft 13 (13–14) long, terminating with a foot, 9 (9–10) long with pointed bi-heeled and a toe.

Specimens examined. Four female specimens (Acar.lab/BCKV/8351–8352/2017) collected from Cassia, Cassia tora (Myrtaceae) at Debipur: 23°14’22” N, 88°15’85” E, 22 m above mean sea level, Purba Bardhaman, West Bengal on 1 September 2017. Voucher slides of these four female specimens have been deposited in the National Zoological Collection (NZC), Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata. Four female specimens (Acar.lab/BCKV/7029, 7031/2016) collected from Cluster Fig, Ficus racemosa (Moraceae) with same collection data as the above mentioned female specimen on 28 February 2016. Three female specimens (Acar.lab/BCKV/5673/2015), collected from Fig, Cluster Fig, Ficus racemosa (Moraceae) with same collection data as the above mentioned female specimen on 22 September 2015. One female specimen (Acar.lab/BCKV/8353/2017), collected from Ber, Ziziphus jujuba (Rhamnaceae) with same collection data as the above mentioned female specimen on 1 September 2017. Two male specimens (Acar.lab/BCKV/8355/2017) collected from Cassia, Cassia tora (Myrtaceae) and one male specimen (Acar.lab/BCKV/8354/2017) collected from Indian Mallow, Abutilon megapotamicum (Malvaceae) at Debipur: 23°14’22” N, 88°15’85” E, 22 m above mean sea level, Purba Bardhaman, West Bengal on 1 September 2017. Two male specimens (Acar.lab/BCKV/7031/2016) collected from Cluster Fig, Ficus racemosa (Moraceae) with same collection data as the above mentioned male specimen on 28 February 2016. Voucher slides of these two male specimens have been deposited in the National Zoological Collection (NZC), Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata with same collection data as above.

Distribution. Asia: India: Andaman Islands (Gupta, 1977a); Arunachal Pradesh (Gupta, 1987b); Assam (Gupta, 1977d); Bihar (Gupta & Nahar, 1981); Gujarat (Gupta, 1977c); Kerala (Gupta, 1980); Madhya Pradesh (Gupta, 1986); Meghalaya (Gupta, 1977d); Orissa (Gupta, 1977d); Pondicherry (Gupta, 1980); Punjab (Gupta, 1977c); Rajasthan (Gupta, 1977c); Tamil Nadu (Gupta, 1980); Uttar Pradesh (Gupta, 1982); West Bengal (Gupta, 1969, 1992).

Remarks. There is no marked difference between the dorsal setal measurements of our specimen and the original one (Table 8). The length of the ventrianal shield in our specimen (92 µm) is slightly longer than the earlier one (73 µm), apart from this other measurements agree with the available measurements of the former species.

Ecological notes. This species is recorded from the southern parts of West Bengal, in association with many economic crops and weeds of agri-horticultural importance, and was observed to feed on eriophyid mites and also Eotetranychus spp.