Morphological ontogeny of Psammogalumna iranica (Acari, Oribatida, Galumnidae)

Abstract

The morphology of juveniles of Psammogalumna Balogh, 1943 has not been investigated. In this paper, the morphological ontogeny of P. iranica Akrami et al., 2011 is described and illustrated. The prodorsal setae of juveniles are of medium size or long and barbed, the bothridial seta is clavate, with barbed, narow head, and most gastronotal setae are short or minute. The larva has 12 pairs of gastronotal setae, with seven pairs on gastronotal shield (d-, l-series, h1), the nymphs have 15 pairs, with 10 pairs on gastronotal shield (d-, l-, h-series, p1), and setae of c-, ad- and an-series, and p2 and p3 are inserted on microsclerites. In all juveniles, a humeral organ is present. The hypertrichy occurs in the adanal region of deutonymph and adanal and anal regions of tritonymph and adult.