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Sphaerolichus
SPHAEROLICHIDAE
Grandjean
Sphaerolichus
Berlese, 1904
DIAGNOSIS. Prodorsum with 2 pairs of filamentous trichobothria, 4 pairs of
setae, well developed naso (often with median eye on its underside), and usually
a pair of lateral eyes +/- a pair of posterior ‘ocular
tubercles’. Subcapitulum
with 5 pairs of setae; chelicerae chelate, with 2 pairs of setae, fixed digit
with median process, movable digit bearing two lobe-like teeth; palps with 5
free segments. Body globular, with 8 pairs of dorsal setae, c3-4, f3
absent; 5-7 pairs of genital setae; 2 pairs of genital papillae; eugenital setae
absent; 2-3 pairs of anal setae; coxal bases continuous. Coxal fields I-IV
contiguous; all pretarsi with paired claws, empodia claw-like (II-III-IV), but
absent from tarsus I; front legs used as antennae and often bizarrely modified;
tibiae I with trichobothria.
Similar taxa.
Grandjeanicus
Ecology & Distribution.
This genus is distinctive and common in many types of litter worldwide.
Australian species of Sphaerolichus are a bright pink in colour in life
and move slowly while waving the highly modified front legs. They climb readily
and may be ambush predators (Walter, unpublished), although South African
species have been reported to contain fungal material (Theron 1979).
References
Kethley JB. 1982. Endeostigmata. pp. 118-120, In: Parker SP (ed.) Synopsis
and classification of living organisms. McGraw-Hill, NY.
Kethley JB. 1990a. Acarina: Prostigmata (Actinedida). pp. 667-756, In: DL
Dindal (ed), Soil Biology Guide. John Wiley & Sons, Brisbane.
OConnor BM. 1984. 1. Speciation and evolution in Acari 1.2 Phylogenetic
relationships among higher taxa in the Acariformes, with particular reference to
the Astigmata. pp. 19-27, In: Griffiths, D.A. & Bowman, C.E. [Eds]. Acarology
6. Volume 1. Ellis Horwood Limited, Chichester.
Theron PD & Ryke PAJ. 1975. Three new species of the family Sphaerolichidae
(Acari: Endeostigmata) from South Africa. Acarologia 220-235.
Walter DE. 1988. Predation and mycophagy by endeostigmatid mites (Acariformes:
Prostigmata). Experimental & Applied Acarology 4: 159-166.