Alexander A. Khaustov

New and interesting oribatid mites (Acari, Oribatida) near Potchefstroom (South Africa), with description of two new species

Abstract The present study is based on oribatid mite material (Acari, Oribatida) collected near the city of Potchefstroom in South Africa. A list of identified taxa, including 44 species from 34 genera and 21 families, is presented; of these, five species (Epilohmannia dimorpha, Cultroribula bicuspidata, Suctobelbila fonticula, Protoribates paracapucinus, Galumna baloghi) and one genus (Cultroribula) are recorded in the fauna of South Africa for the first time; one species (Limnozetes palmerae) is recorded in the Ethiopian region for the first time. Two new species belonging to the genera Scheloribates and Galumna are described. Scheloribates (Scheloribates) potchefstroomensis sp. nov. is morphologically most similar to S. (S.) diversidactylus (Hammer, 1961) and Scheloribates (S.) tricarinus Coetzer, 1968, but differs by the bothridial setae with developed heads and porose body surface. Galumna (Galumna) curvifamulus sp. nov. is morphologically most similar to G. (G.) colombiana Ermilov, 2017, but differs by the posteromedial localization of setal alveoli la, tuberculate medioanterior part of prodorsum, striate pteromorphs, smooth subcapitular mentum and the positions of lyrifissures ih and ips. The systematic placement of Urubambates calcaratus Mahunka, 1984 is discussed, resulting in the following taxonomic proposal: Scheloribates calcaratus (Mahunka, 1984) comb. nov.

A new genus and two new species of Pygmephoridae (Acari: Heterostigmata) associated with Trinervitermes trinervoides (Isoptera: Termitidae) from South Africa

Abstract A new genus of pygmephorid mites, Micropygmephorus gen. nov. (Acari: Pygmephoroidea: Pygmephoridae), and two new species, M. pusillus sp. nov. and M. heterotrichus sp. nov. are described from nests of and phoretic on termites, Trinervitermes trinervoides (Sjöstedt, 1911) (Isoptera: Termitidae), from South Africa. The taxonomic position of the new genus is discussed.

Two new species of myrmecophilous scutacarid mites (Acari: Scutacaridae) from Chile

Abstract Two new species of myrmecophilous mites of the genus Scutacarus Gros, 1845 (Acari: Pygmephoroidea: Scutacaridae), S. camponoti sp. nov. and S. neotropicus sp. nov. are described from ants and their nests in Patagonia, Chile.

A new species and a new record of raphignathoid mites (Acari: Raphignathoidea: Camerobiidae, Stigmaeidae) occurring in the galleries of bark beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) from Russia

Abstract Female, larva and protonymph of a new species, Neophyllobius abiegnus sp. nov., collected in the galleries of Pityophthorus micrographus (Linnaeus) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) in European Russia are described. Protonymph of Neophyllobius sp. is recorded from Crimea in the galleries of Pityogenes bistridentatus (Eichhoff). Stigmaeus mitrofanovi Khaustov, 2014 is recorded from Western Siberia in the galleries of bark beetles Polygraphus proximus Blandford and Polygraphus subopacus Thomson for the first time from Asia.

A new species of Dolichocybe (Acari: Dolichocybidae) from Western Siberia, Russia

Abstract A new species, Dolichocybe sibiriensis sp. nov. (Acari: Dolichocybidae), collected in alcohol sediments containing bark beetle Ips typographus Linnaeus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae), collected in pheromone traps in Western Siberia, Russia, is described. A key to species of Dolichocybe Krantz, 1957 is provided.

A new species of Stigmaeus (Acari: Prostigmata: Stigmaeidae) from South Africa

Abstract A new species of the genus Stigmaeus Koch, 1836 (Acari: Stigmaeidae), S. grandis sp. nov. is described from litter under White Stinkwood (Celtis africana) in South Africa. A key to species of the genus Stigmaeus in Africa is provided.

A new species of Petalomium from Brazil with a redescription of Petalomium gottrauxi Mahunka 1977 (Acari: Heterostigmatina: Neopygmephoridae)

Abstract A new species of Petalomium Cross 1965 (Acari: Heterostigmatina: Neopygmephoridae) is described. This mite was found associated (phoresy) with workers of an ant, Neoponera verenae (Forel 1922) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), in several localities in the state of Bahia, Northeastern Brazil. This is the first record of the genus in South America. A closely related species, Petalomium gottrauxi Mahunka 1977, is redescribed based on the paratype and specimens from Crimea. New recorded morphological structures are described and discussed.

Coetzeella navalensis gen. nov., sp. nov. (Acari, Oribatida, Oppiidae) from South Africa

Abstract A new oribatid mite genus, Coetzeella gen. nov. (Oribatida, Oppiidae), with C. navalensis sp. nov. as type species, is proposed and described based on adults from termitaries of South Africa. It is distinguished from all oribatid taxa by having a deep hollow bordered by membranoid lobes on the hump-like anterior part of prodorsum.

A new species of Tarsonemus (Acari: Tarsonemidae) associated with the bark beetle, Polygraphus proximus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) from the Far East of Russia

Larvae, males and females of a new species from the minimax species-group, Tarsonemus striatus n. sp. (Acari: Tarsonemidae) are described from the galleries of, and phoretic on, the bark beetle Polygraphus proximus Blandford, 1894 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) in the Far East of Russia.

Juvenile instars of Siculobata (Paraleius) leontonycha (Acari, Oribatida, Scheloribatidae)

Abstract The morphology of juvenile instars of the oribatid mite, Siculobata (Paraleius) leontonycha (Berlese, 1910) is described and illustrated, based on material collected from the galleries of bark beetles, Ips typographus L. (Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Scolytinae) under the bark of Picea obovata in Western Siberia, Russia. Juveniles are characterized by folded gastronotum and anogenital region, well-developed, setiform, barbed prodorsal setae, clavate bothridial setae, 11 pairs of gastronotic setae in larva and 15 pairs in nymphs, all with excentrosclerites, thick or slightly broadened in median parts, erect, barbed (except setiform p1-p3 in protonymph), epimeral formulas 3-1-2-1 in protonymph, 3-1-2-2 in deutonymph and 3-1-3-2 in tritonymph, ontogeny of genital, aggenital, adanal anal setal formulas 0-1-2-3, 0-0-1-1, 0-0-3-3, 0-0-0-2, respectively. The morphological differences of ontogenetic instars for S. (Paraleius) leontonycha to known species of Scheloribatidae are given.