Sigilla in four species of Paraphytoseius (Acari: Phytoseiidae): comments and voucher photos

A total of 9 pairs of sigilla on the podonotum (all in pair except single saI but counted as a pair: saI , saI, saII, saIII, saIV, saV, saVI, sp, and ss) and 7 pairs on the opisthonotum (saIX, saX, saXI, saXII, saXIII, saXIV, and sg) along with setae, solenostomes and lyrifissures in 9 females of 4 species and 3 males of 2 species of Paraphytoseius [cracentis (Corpuz and Rimando, 1966) = 3 non-paratype females; multidentatus Swirski and Shechter, 1961 = 2 paratype females; orientalis (Narayanan, Kaur and Ghai, 1960) = 2 non-type females and 1 non-type male; and santurcensis De Leon, 1965 = 2 paratype females and 2 paratype males] are compared and given in several voucher photos. These are similar in location to those described by Athias- Henriot (1975). They are very similar in all 4 species, with little difference in female and male, and thus appear to be of no taxonomic value in differentiating these species. Problems with sigilla, especially, near and posterior to j1-j1 and around the solenostome gd5, are discussed. It is established that sigilla on the opisthonotum (7 pairs: saIX, saX, saXI, saXII, saXIII, saXIV and sg) are well differentiated and clearly seen than those on the podonotum in these species and may be used for study in other species of Phytoseiidae. A hypothetical model of P. cracentis in a line drawing indicating all sigilla in relation to the dorsal setae, solenostomes, and lyrifissures is included.