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Speleorchestes

NANORCHESTIDAE Grandjean 1937

Speleorchestes Trägärdh, 1909 (=Caenonychus Oudemans, 1902?)

Type species: Speleorchestes formicorum Trägärdh, 1909 – moss Norway; Formica rufa Sweden

Speleorchestes globulus Theron 1975 - South Africa; Speleorchestes meyerae Theron & Ryke 1969 - South Africa; Speleorchestes natalus Theron & Ryke 1969 - South Africa; Speleorchestes nylsvleyensis Olivier & Theron; Speleorchestes poduroides Hirst, 1917 – litter England; Speleorchestes potchefstroomensis Theron & Ryke 1969 - South Africa; Speleorchestes pratensis Willmann, 1939 – Germany, Czechoslovakia; Speleorchestes termitophilus Trägärdh, 1909 – termite mound South Africa; Speleorchestes ventriosus Hirst, 1921 – England

DIAGNOSIS.  Body elongate.  Prodorsum with 4 pairs of setae (le, exa, in, exp) and 2 pairs of filiform trichobothria (bo, ro), without latch-like seta; naso without setae; 1–2 pairs of lateral eyes and median eye usually present.  Labrum tubular, elongate and well sclerotised; chelicerae weakly dentate, each with 2 setae; rutella simple or highly modified; 2-3 pairs of adoral setae and 3 pairs of hypostomal setae; palps with 4-5 free segments.  Opisthosoma hypertrichous, setae often cuneate; 2-3 pairs of genital papillae.

REMARKS.  The empodial claw of nanorchestid mites has a swollen basal region densely covered in setules and a smooth distal claw, and resembles the empodial claw of Alycosmesis (Terpnacaridae).  The anterior pair of sensilla is the anteriormost prodorsal setal structure and is assumed to represent the rostral seta ro, as in Sphaerolichus (Sphaerolichidae).  Species of Speleorchestes are nearly ubiquitous in dry soils and mosses.  Caenonychus fallax Oudemans (1902) from moss in the Netherlands may be referable to Speleorchestes.  Species of Nanorchestes are diverse and abundant in beach sand, dry forest soil, grasslands, mosses, and dry and cold deserts, and are the dominant form of animal life in Antarctica.

References

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.