Stanisław Seniczak, Anna Seniczak, Bogusław Chachaj
Annales Zoologici 63 (1), 29-43, (1 March 2013) https://doi.org/10.3161/000345413X666084
KEYWORDS: oribatid mites, Scheloribates holsaticus, S. initialis, S. pallidulus, juvenile stages, ontogeny
The morphology of juvenile stages and ontogeny of Scheloribates holsaticus (Weigmann, 1969), S. initialis (Berlese, 1908), and S. pallidulus (C. L. Koch, 1841) were investigated. The juveniles of these species have excentrosclerites at similar gastronotal setae (c2, la, lp, and h1 in larva, and C2, la, lp, h-series, and P1 in nymphs), and solenidion ω;1 on tarsus I strongly curved outwards, which are typical of Scheloribatidae, but they differ by body size and the shape of most gastronotal setae. The successive juvenile stages of S. holsaticus are the largest, while those of S. pallidulus are the smallest. The former species has most gastronotal setae barbed, while S. initialis and S. pallidulus have them smooth. The latter species has these setae thinner and more curved than other species, and pliable in distal parts. The adult of all these species have notogastral sacculi, but S. holsaticus has 13 pairs of notogastral setae, including pairs C2 and d-series, while other species have 10 pairs of setae, including pair C2.