Endeostigmata

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Taxonomy

Sphaerolichidae Grandjean

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 and 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 They climb readily and may be ambush predators (Walter unpublished), although South African species have been reported to contain fungal material (Theron 1979Theron 1979:
Theron PD. 1979. The functional morphology of the gnathosoma of some liquid and solid feeders in the Trombidiformes, Cryptostigmata and Astigmata (Acarina). pp. 575–579. In: Piffl E, ed. Proceedings of the 4th International Congress of Acarology. Akadémiai Kiadó, Budapest.).

References

• Kethley 1982dKethley 1982d:
  Kethley JB. 1982d. Endeostigmata. pp. 118–120. In: Parker SP, ed. Synopsis and classification of living organisms, Vol. 2. McGraw-Hill, New York.
• Kethley 1990aKethley 1990a:
  Kethley JB. 1990a. Acarina: Prostigmata (Actinedida). pp. 667–756. In: Dindal DL, ed. Soil biology guide. John Wiley & Sons, Brisbane.
• OConnor 1984cOConnor 1984c:
  OConnor BM. 1984c. 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 DA and Bowman CE, eds. Acarology VI, Vol. I. Ellis Horwood Ltd, Chichester.
• Theron 1979Theron 1979:
  Theron PD. 1979. The functional morphology of the gnathosoma of some liquid and solid feeders in the Trombidiformes, Cryptostigmata and Astigmata (Acarina). pp. 575–579. In: Piffl E, ed. Proceedings of the 4th International Congress of Acarology. Akadémiai Kiadó, Budapest.
• Theron and Ryke 1975bTheron and Ryke 1975b:
  Theron PD, Ryke PAJ. 1975. Three new species of the family Sphaerolichidae (Acari: Endeostigmata) from South Africa. Acarologia 17: 220–235.
• Walter 1988cWalter 1988c:
  Walter DE. 1988c. Predation and mycophagy by endeostigmatid mites (Acariformes: Prostigmata). Experimental and Applied Acarology 4: 159–166.