Based on taxonomic procedure for this particular group of mite, descriptions of the newly found mite species are discussed elaborately here to establish the new species of the genus Paratetra and relation to the host plant is also mentioned here. The etymology of the new name of the species is given following the Nomenclature Rules of International Code of Zoological Nomenclature. Paratetra subhimalyana. on Murrya koengii (Fig 1) is found new to science as this species has following unique taxonomic characteristics.
FEMALE: Body is 149.3 (147.4-149.3) long, 62.5 (61.4-62.5) wide, reddish in colour. Gnathosoma is 14.0 (13.0-14.0) long, curved down, dorsal pedipalp genual seta d is 6.5 (5.6-6.5) long, prodorsal shield is 37.3 (36.2-37.3) long , 50.4 (48.9-50.4) wide with a shield lobe; prodorsal shield design presents pattern of ridges and carinae , median line is absent, admedian lines in shield lobe take a shape of ‘Y’ and then form a pentagonal cell and after that again diverge to touch the two ends of the ‘V’ shaped ridge between the dorsal tubercles, faint impression of submedian lines are present in shield lobe but distinctly run up to base of dorsal tubercles, from submedian lines two carinae come out to meet the lateral angular point of pentagonal cell, at each lateral margin of prodorsal shield 3 closed cells are found; dorsal tubercles is 7.4 (6.5-7.4) long, 21.4 (20.3-21.4) apart and present on rear shield margin, scapular seta sc is 23.2 (23.2-24.2) and knobbed terminally. Leg I from base of trochanter is 25.6 (24.2-25.6) long; femur is 9.3 (8.9-9.3) long, with basiventral femoral seta bv having length 11.2 (10.2-11.2); genu is 4.6 (3.7-4.6);tibia is 5.6 (4.6-5.6) long, without paraxial tibial seta 1' ; tarsus is 5.6 (5.6-6.5) long; two identical tarsal setae-paraxial fastigial tarsal setae ft' and antaxial fastigial tarsal seta ft" are 18.6 917.5-18.6) long; paraxial unguinal tarsal seta u' is 3.7 (2.8-3.7) long, tarsal solenidion ω is curved knobbed and 8.4 (7.4-8.4) long, 5 rayed tarsal empodium em is 4.6 (4.6-5.1) long. Leg II from base of trochanter is 24.2 (23.2-24.2) long, femur is 9.3 (8.9-9.3) long, with basiventral femoral seta bv of 10.2 (10.2-11.2) long; genu is 4.6 (3.7-4.6) with antaxial genual seta of 4.6(4.1-4.6)long, tibia is 4.6 (3.7-4.6) long, without paraxial tibial seta 1'; tarsus is 5.6 (4.9-5.6) long, paraxial fastigial tarsal setae ft' is 18.6 (17.5-18.6), antaxial fastigial tarsal seta ft" is 5.6 (5.6-6.5), paraxial unguinal tarsal seta u' is 3.7 (2.8-3.7), tarsal solenidion ω is knobbed, curved and 11.2 (9.3-11.2) long; 5 rayed tarsal empodium em is 4.6 (3.7-4.6) long. Coxae I is 12.1 (12.1-13.0) long ,contiguous with distinct sernal line; coxal surface is smooth; 1b tubercles and seta present at anterior margin of coxa; 1a tubercles with seta present ahead of line across the 2a tubercles with seta; seta 1b is 9.3 (8.4-9.3), seta 1a is 19.6 (18.4-19.6) long; Coxa II is widely separated, smooth, at the junction between coxa and trochanter longitudinal parallel lines are seen, and is 11.2 (10.2-11.2) long, seta is 2a 23.3 (22.4-23.3) long. Opisthosoma is with 38 (37-38) smooth dorsal annuli and 64 micro-tuberculeted ventral annuli; micro tubercles are rounded and located on ventral annular lines; last 9 ventral annuli have micro striation, lateral sides of 2nd and 3rd dorsal annuli beset with teeth like micro tubercles, first 3-4 dorsal annuli are not depressed dorsally but the rest form a broad, longitudinal trough flanked by narrow ridge on either side, last 4-5 dorsal annuli form complete rings; seta c2 is 18.6 (18.6-19.6) on annulus 9 (8-9), seta d is 60.6 (59.6-60.6) long on annulus 23 (23-25); seta e is 8.4 (8.4-9.3) long on ventral annulus 38 (37-38); seta f is 15.8 (14.9-15.8) long on ventral annulus 58 (56-58); seta h1 is 1.5 (1.5-2.1) long, seta h2 is 56.0 (55.2-56.0) long. Genitalia is 9.3 (8.9-9.3) long, 10.2 (10.2-10.9) wide; epigynium is with 15 longitudinal scorings; seta 3a is9.3 (8.9-9.3) long.
Male: Not found
Holotype and Paratype record: Female (marked) on slide (no.1382/79/2019), India: West Bengal: Malda, Englishbazar, 14.x.2019. from Murrya koengii Spr. (Rutaceae )Coll. S. Sarkar. Paratypes: 9 females on slide bearing holotype and 48 females on 6 slides (nos. 1383-1388/85/2019); collection data same as in holotype.
Nature of damage: Mites are found Vagrants on tender shoots including leaves; may cause some browning of leaves. Infested leaves fall off eventually. Shoot becomes dry.
Diagnosis as a new species: So far, 6 species including 5 species from India under the genus Paratetra are known [5] (Amrine et. al., 2003). The new species resembles P. elephantae and in having 5 rayed tarsal empodium and longitudinal scrings on epigynium, but differs from P. elephantae not having median longitudinal fold on prodorsal shield. The new species also resembles P. integrifoliavagrance in absence of median lines and having similar dorsal trough on opisthosoma but differs from it by having 5 rayed tarsal empodium (in P. integrifoliavagrance it is 4 rayed) and not having any granulation on the prodorsal shield and on epigynium base. The new species shows very close resemblance with P. murrayae by sharing common host plant, 5 rayed tarsal empodium. but differs from P. murrayae by sculpture of prodorsal shield in details, by presence of longitudinal scorings on lateral sides of first 3 dorsal annuli, presence of knob like structures at the tip of scapular setae and dorsal pedipalp genual seta d. Presence of longitudinal scorings on lateral side of first 3-4 dorsal annuli, longitudinal scorings at joint between coax and femur and femur and genu and prodorsal shield pattern make the species a new.
Etymology of new name: The specific epithet ‘subhimalyana’ derived from the geographical location of the collection area of the mite. As the area Englishbazar of Malda district is situated in the Sub-Himalayan region (25° 0' 39.0276'' N and 88° 8' 27.9528'' E)