Parhyposomatides (Parhyposomata)

Superorder Acariformes

   Order Sarcoptiformes

      Suborder Oribatida

          Supercohort Parhyposomatides (Parhypochthonioidea)

 

Common names: parhypochthonoid and geohypochthonoid oribatids

 

Probability of Encounter: low

 

Quarantine importance: No known quarantine importance.

 

Diagnosis.  White to tan, sack-like oribatid mites with a transverse suture between setal rows D and E and well developed opisthonotal glands.  Subcapitulum usually stenarthric and chelicerae usually visible from above; rutella well developed.  Claws of adults bi- or tridactylous; palps with 4-5 free segments.  Macropyline, 3 pairs of genital papillae.

 

Similar taxa.  The transverse suture between rows D and E should distinguish parhypochthonoids from oribatid immaturesAstigmatina do not have trichobothria and Palaesomatides do not have opisthosomal gland openings.  Some Brachypylina have large glands, but are well sclerotized as adults.

 

Ecology & Distribution.  Parhypochthonioids can be common in dry soils, but are usually missed because they resemble immature oribatids.  Species of Gehypochthonius species inhabit a number of dry soil types, including dune sand.  Parhypochthonius is found in treeholes, often in high numbers.

 

References

Colloff M & Halliday B.  1998.  Oribatid Mites.  A Catalogue of Australian Genera and Species.  Monograph on Invertebrate Taxonomy Vol. 6.  CSIRO Publications: Melbourne.

Gilyarov MS & Krivolutsky DA (eds)  1975.  Handbook for the Identification of Soil-inhabiting Mites, Sarcoptiformes.  Zoological Institute of the Academy of Sciences: Petrograd [In Russian]

Hunt G, Colloff MJ, Dallwitz M, Kelly J. & Walter DE.  1998.  An Interactive Key to the Oribatid mites of Australia.  CSIRO Publishing, Collingwood, Victoria.  (Compact Disk and User Guide).

Krantz GW.  1978.  A Manual of Acarology.  OSU Bookstores: Corvallis.

Lee DC. 1982. Sarcoptiformes (Acari) of South Australian soils. 3. Arthronotina (Cryptostigmata). Records of the South Australian Museum 18: 327-359.

Norton RN.  1990.  Oribatida.  pp. 779-803, in DL Dindal (ed) Soil Biology Guide.  John Wiley & Sons: Brisbane.