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Oehserchestes
OEHSERCHESTIDAE
Kethley, 1977 (=Hybalicidae Theron, 1974)
Oehserchestes
Jacot, 1939 (= Coccorchestes Jacot 1938 [preoccupied]; = Hybalicus
sensu Theron 1974)
Type species:
Oehserchestes (Oehserchestes) humicolus (Jacot 1939) (=Hybalicus
humicolus Jacot 1939) and Hybalicus spathatus Theron 1974)
– North America, South Africa
Oehserchestes
(Oehserchestes) dorysetatus (Theron 1974) – South Africa
Oehserchestes
(Theronicus) Kethley, 1977
Oehserchestes
(Theronicus) flabelliger (Berlese 1913) (=Hybalicus flabelliger
Berlese 1913) - Italy
Oehserchestes
(=Hybalicus) arboriger (Theron 1974) – South Africa, Hawaii, Qld
DIAGNOSIS.
Prodorsum with 1 pair of filiform trichobothria (bo) and 4 pairs of setae
(exp absent); naso well
developed and bearing setae ro; median eye absent, lateral eyes present
or absent. Subcapitulum with 5-6 pairs of setae; rutella well developed,
dentate; chelicerae chelate-dentate, each with 2 setae. Opisthosomal segment
C with 3 pairs of setae (c2 seemingly absent); segment sometimes PA absent;
setae dendritic, globose, or pilose; 3 pairs of genital papillae; 7-9 pairs
of genital setae; ovipositor, eugenital setae present. Pretarsus I without
lateral claws, empodium small, claw-like; pretarsi II-IV with unequal claws
and claw-like empodium; coxae I-IV contiguous; coxae IV apparently modified
for jumping. Gut boluses with fungal hyphae and spores. Males unknown.
REMARKS.
These mites resemble truncate, globular Terpnacarus and the dorsal setae
resemble those on some Nanorchestes. The single pair of sensilla,
paired claws on legs II-IV, and lack of a strongly sclerotised labrum serve
to separate Oehserchestes from Nanorchestes; Terpnacarus
have paired claws and an empodium on tarsus I and prodorsal seta in.
The gut contents have boluses composed primarily of fungal material. Coxae
IV are modified for jumping.
References
Kethley
JB. 1977. The status of Hybalicus Berlese, 1913 and Oehserchestes
Jacot, 1939 (Acari: Acariformes: Endeostigmata). Fieldiana Zoology 72(4)
1977: 59-64.
Kethley
JB. 1982. Endeostigmata. pp. 118-120, In: Parker SP (ed.) Synopsis and
classification of living organisms. McGraw-Hill, NY.
Kethley
JB. 1990. Acarina: Prostigmata (Actinedida). pp. 667-756, In: DL Dindal (ed),
Soil Biology Guide. John Wiley & Sons, Brisbane.
Theron
PD. 1974. Hybalicidae, a new family of endeostigmatic mites (Acari:
Trombidiformes). Acarologia 16: 397-412.