Amblyseius sparsus Kolodochka, 1990

Amblyseius sparsus Kolodochka, 1990 View in CoL ( fig. 13 View Fig ).

Amblyseius sparsus Kolodochka, 1990 b: 162 View in CoL ; Chant & McMurtry, 2007: 81.

M a t e r i a l. Type. Holotype}, Caucasus, Karachaevo-Circassian Republic, Teberda Nature Reserve , alpine wasteland, soil, 07.10.1983, specimen 4739 (Н-4(0-2) (Petrova-Nikitina); paratype}, Ukraine, Kherson Region, Askania-Nova Nature Reserve , soil 0–- 5 cm, 10.27.1973, specimen S–452 (1385–1389) (G. Shcherbak) ( SIZK).

R e d e s c r i p t i o n. F e m a l e. Dorsal shield ( fig. 13 View Fig , 1 View Fig ) well sclerotised, with a distinct dark marginal border, smooth, oval, without lateral notches; 7 pairs of solenostomies (it, iv, id, isc, il, is, ic). Dorsal setae AL3, PM2 and PM3 thick at the base, whip-shaped; AD1 and AM1 are of moderate length; AL1, AL2 and PD2 are short, the rest are microchaetes (5– 7 µm). All bristles are smooth, only on PM2 and PM3 1–2 serrations are difficult to distinguish. Peritremes reach the bases of AD1. The ventrian shield ( fig. 13 View Fig , 2 View Fig ) is broadly pentagonal, with shallow lateral notches, well sclerotised, transversely striated in the anterior third; anal pores are small, round, not close together. The metapodal scutes are not large, the anterior one is irregular in shape, elongated, smaller than the fusiform posterior one ( fig. 13 View Fig , 3 View Fig ). The posterior end of the peritremal shield is narrow, straight or slightly curved, beak-shaped at the end ( fig. 13 View Fig , 4 View Fig ). There are 6 teeth on Df and 2 on Dm ( fig. 13 View Fig , 5 View Fig ). The funnel of the spermatheca is well sclerotised, with thick walls, narrow, widening towards the sac, warty in the narrow part; the atrium is sessile ( fig. 13 View Fig , 6 View Fig ). Leg IV with 3 long thick macrochaetes ( fig. 13 View Fig , 7 View Fig ), leg III has 3 much shorter macrochaetes, and leg II has one small macrochaete.

Measurements: Lds 366, Wds 252; Lvas 113, Wvas 109, Lian 48; Ltar IV 154; setae length: AD1 29; AD2 5; AD3 5; AD4 6; PD2 7; PD4 12; AM1 31; AM2 5; AL1 11; AL2 13; AL3 100; ML 8; PL1 8; PL2 8; PL3 7; PM3 134; PM4 192; AS 13; PS 8; PV 98; MCh IV: ge 107, ti 95, ta 84; MCh III: ge 52, ti 31, ta 25; MCh II: ge 30.

M a l e unknown.

D i f f e r e n t i a l d i a g n o s i s. Amblyseius sparsus differs from other species inhabiting in Ukrane soil and litter (for example, Amblyseius filixis , A. kalandadzei , A. nemorivagus , A. neobernhardi , A. omaloensis ) having similar setal pattern on the dorsal shield with powerful setae PM3 and PM4 by its peculiar structure of the spermatheca.

D i s t r i b u t i o n, h a b i t a t, o c c u r r e n c e. Europe ( Ukraine), Southern Caucasus, alpine wasteland and steppe zone, in soil; rare.

Notes. Description, illustrations and morphometry are based on the holotype. This species is known only from the two type specimens.