Andrei V. Tolstikov

Morphology of adult and juvenile instars of Galumna obvia (Acari, Oribatida, Galumnidae), with discussion of its taxonomic status

Abstract The adult instar of the oribatid mite, Galumna obvia (Berlese, 1914), is redescribed in detail, on the basis of specimens from Finland. The morphology of juvenile instars of G. obvia is described and illustrated for the first time, and compared to that of other species of the family Galumnidae. The position of the insertion of the lamellar seta in adults proved variable in studied European populations, being either on or medial to the lamellar line. Since the genera Galumna and Pergalumna are currently distinguished only by the relative positions of the seta and line, specimens of G. obvia in some populations show an intermediate situation between other studied Galumna species – with lamellar seta on or lateral of lamellar line – and Pergalumna with lamellar seta at a distinct distance medially of lamellar line. A detailed reevaluation of the two genera is needed.

New species of oribatid mites of the genera Lepidozetes and Scutozetes (Acari, Oribatida, Tegoribatidae) from Nepal

Abstract Two new species of oribatid mites, Lepidozetes acutirostrum sp. n. and Scutozetes clavatosensillus sp. n., are described from Nepal. The genera Lepidozetes and Scutozetes are recorded for the first time for the Oriental region. The identification keys to the known species of these genera are provided.

The oribatid mite genus Papillocepheus (Acari, Oribatida, Tetracondylidae), with description of a new species from southern Vietnam

Abstract The genus Papillocepheus is recorded in the Oriental region for the first time. A new species, Papillocepheus primus sp. n., is described from southern Vietnam; the description is based on specimens collected from semidecayed leaves and litter of Dong Nai Biosphere Reserve and Bu Gia Map National Park. The new generic diagnosis of Papillocepheus and an identification key to the known species of this genus are given.

The oribatid mite subgenus Galumna (Galumna) (Acari, Oribatida, Galumnidae) in the Philippines

Abstract Five species of the subgenus Galumna (Galumna) (Acari, Oribatida, Galumnidae) are registered in the Philippine oribatid mite fauna. A new species, Galumna (Galumna) makilingensis sp. n., is described; it is most similar morphologically to Galumna (Galumna) tokyoensis Aoki, 1966, but differs from the latter by the morphology of porose areas Aa and Ap, rostral setae, and length of interlamellar setae. Three species, Galumna (Galumna) crenata Deb & Raychaudhuri, 1975, Galumna (Galumna) cf. exigua Sellnick, 1925 and Galumna (Galumna) khoii Mahunka, 1989, are recorded in the Philippines for the first time. The species Galumna (Galumna) crenata is redescribed. An identification key to the Philippine species of Galumna (Galumna) is given.

Oribatid mites (Acari, Oribatida) from riverine environments of some islands in Oceania.

Abstract A checklist of identified oribatid mite taxa from riverine freshwater environments from six islands in Polynesia (New Caledonia, Tahiti, Moorea, Rurutu, Tubuai, Raiatea) is presented; 18 species, 16 genera and eight families were recorded. Trhypochthoniellus longisetus (Berlese, 1904) and Trimalaconothrus albulus Hammer, 1972 prevailed on distribution. Fortuynia smiti sp. n. (Fortuyniidae) is described from New Caledonia. The new speciesis morphologically most similar to Fortuynia marina Hammen, 1960 from New Guinea, but it differs from the latter by the longer notogastral setae dm, lm, c2, p1, epimeral setae 3b and adanal setae ad1 and the presence of prodorsal lateral ridges.

Umashtanchaeviella plethotricha, a new genus and species of the family Tetracondylidae (Acari, Oribatida)

Abstract A new genus of oribatid mites of the family Tetracondylidae, Umashtanchaeviella gen. n., with type species Umashtanchaeviella plethotricha sp. n., is proposed and described from forest litter, the Bu Gia Map National Park, southern Vietnam. The new genus is distinguishable from other otocepheoid genera by the presence of notogastral plethotrichy.1

A new aquatic species of the oribatid mite genus Mucronothrus (Acari, Oribatida, Trhypochthoniidae) from Brazil

The oribatid mite genus Mucronothrus is recorded for the first time in Brazil. A new species, Mucronothrus braziliensis sp. nov. is described from macrophytes in a cool (12.5ºC) spring on the Campo Belo River spring and Brejo da Lapa reservoir, National Park Itatiaia of Brazil, on the basis of adults and tritonymphs. This species is morphologically similar to Mucronothrus nasalis (Willmann) and Mucronothrus willmanni Norton, Behan-Pelletier & Wang; however, it differs from both by the morphology of the bothridial setae, length of notogastral setae cp and position of epimeral setae 2a. An identification key to known species of Mucronothrus is provided. http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:3132213A-19F1-42B2-B37B-2483264FAAC4

THE DIVERSITY, MITE COMMUNITIES, AND HOST SPECIFICITY OF PYGMEPHOROID MITES (ACARI: PYGMEPHOROIDEA) ASSOCIATED WITH ANTS IN WESTERN SIBERIA, RUSSIA

This work discusses the diversity of mite communities along with host and attachment site specificities of myrmecophilous pygmephoroid mites (Acari: Pygmephoroidea) associated with most abundant ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of Western Siberia. The researchers provide keys to myrmecophilous pygmephoroid mites of the families Neopygmephoridae and Scutacaridae of the Palaearctic and the keys to world species of the genera Caesarodispus Mahunka, 1977, and Unguidispus Mahunka, 1977 (Microdispidae). Petalomium aggtelekiensis Mahunka, 1977 and P. simplisetum Mahunka, 1986 are synonymized to P. chmelnickensis (Sevastianov, 1969), and P. carelitschensis (Sevastianov, 1967), respectively.

New species and records of mites of the superfamily Oripodoidea (Acari, Oribatida) from Brazil

Abstract An annotated checklist of the Brazilian Oripodoidea is provided. It includes 14 species from eight genera and three families. Four species, Protoribates paracapucinus, Peloribates perreti, Scheloribates (Bischeloribates)elegantulus and Haplozetes minutus, are recorded for the first time in Brazil; of these, the last species is recorded for the first time in the Neotropical region. Two new species of the family Haplozetidae are described and illustrated on the basis of adult specimens. Protoribates lemensis sp. nov. differs from all representatives of the triaunguis-group by the presence of prolamellar lines and notogastral setae of medium size. Haplozetes biheterodactylus sp. nov. is most similar to H. minimicoma Beck, 1964, however, it differs from the latter by the long interlamellar setae and bidactylous legs.

Two new species of Scheloribatidae (Acari, Oribatida) from Costa Rica

Abstract Two new species of oribatid mites of the family Scheloribatidae, Scheloribates costaricensis sp. nov. and Perscheloribates paraluminosus sp. nov., are described from leaf litter of secondary forest in Costa Rica. Scheloribates costaricensis sp. nov. is most similar morphologically to Scheloribates brasilosphericus Badejo, Woas & Beck, 2002, however, it differs from the latter by morphology of bothridial and adoral setae, length of prodorsal setae, body surface, structure of antero-ventral part of leg femora, and the presence of large tubercle on posterior margin of notogaster and well visible dorsal notogastral setae. Perscheloribates paraluminosus sp. nov. is most similar morphologically to Perscheloribates luminosus (Hammer, 1961), however, it differs from the latter by body length and color, structure of rostrum, length of rudimentary parts of translamellar line, and the presence of two longitudinal furrows in anogenital region.