Amblyseius sparsus Kolodochka 1990

Amblyseius sparsus Kolodochka, 1990 (fig. 13). Amblyseius sparsus Kolodochka, 1990 b: 162; 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, 1) 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, 2) 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, 3). The posterior end of the peritremal shield is narrow, straight or slightly curved, beak-shaped at the end (fig. 13, 4). There are 6 teeth on Df and 2 on Dm (fig. 13, 5). 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, 6). Leg IV with 3 long thick macrochaetes (fig. 13, 7), 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.