Endeostigmata

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Taxonomy

Lordalicidae Grandjean

Diagnosis

Prodorsum with 2 pairs of filamentous trichobothria (anterior pair in a communal depression) and 1 pair of setae, without naso or eyes. Subcapitulum with 4 pairs of setae, rutella absent; chelicerae with 2 pairs of setae, fixed digit truncate, with distal process, movable digit serrulate; palps with 4–5 free segments. Body globular, usually with pustulate ornamentation and bearing 9 pairs of dorsal setae, c3–4, f3 absent; 5–8 pairs of genital setae; 2–3 pairs of genital papillae; 2–3 pairs of anal setae. Coxal bases I–IV continuous; all pretarsi with paired claws and rayed empodium.

Similar taxa

Sphaerolichus

Ecology and distribution

These are distinctive mites with globular bodies and strongly ornamented cuticle and are common worldwide. Little is known about the biology of any species, although species of Hybalicus often have poorly consolidated fungal materials in their guts (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., Walter 1988cWalter 1988c:
Walter DE. 1988c. Predation and mycophagy by endeostigmatid mites (Acariformes: Prostigmata). Experimental and Applied Acarology 4: 159–166.) and an inactive prelarva with well-developed dorsal setae.

References

• Grandjean 1939Grandjean 1939:
  Grandjean F. 1939. Quelques genres d’acariens appartenant au groupe des Endeostigmata. Annales des Sciences Naturelles, Zoologie 11 (ser. 2): 1–122.
• 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.
• Livshits and Mitrofanov 1978bLivshits and Mitrofanov 1978b:
  Livshits IZ, Mitrofanov VI. 1978b. Lordalychidae. pp. 100. In: Gilyarov MS, ed. Identification key of soil-inhabiting mites, Trombidiformes. Nauka, Moscow.
• 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 and Ryke 1975aTheron and Ryke 1975a:
  Theron PD, Ryke PAJ. 1975. Five new species of the family Lordalychidae (Acari: Endeostigmata) from South Africa. Acarologia 17: 631–651.
• Walter 1988cWalter 1988c:
  Walter DE. 1988c. Predation and mycophagy by endeostigmatid mites (Acariformes: Prostigmata). Experimental and Applied Acarology 4: 159–166.