Ontogenetic instars of the oribatid mite Scheloribates arsizonensis n. sp. (Acari, Oribatida, Scheloribatidae) from Ethiopia

Abstract

A new species of the genus Scheloribates (Oribatida, Scheloribatidae) — S. (Scheloribates) arsizonensis n. sp. — is described from Ethiopia, based on adult and juvenile instars, collected from litter and green moss in Arsi Mountains National Park. Adults of the new species differ from S. praestantissimus praestantissimus (Berlese, 1916) in having fusiform, distally pointed bothridial seta, the absence of prolamella, and the presence of well-developed notogastral setae p₁. The comparison of juveniles of the new species with juveniles of other Scheloribates species is presented. Juveniles of the new species can be distinguished from the other known juveniles of S. (Scheloribates) by the presence of two strong, long, longitudinal, dorsolateral folds on the gastronotum in all instars, long gastronotic seta c₃, which is distinctly longer than other gastronotic setae in nymphal instars, the presence of vestigial gastronotic seta h₃ in larva, and in the absence of aggenital setae in deutonymph.