Two new species of oribatid mites of Leptotocepheus (Acari, Oribatida, Otocepheidae) from Malawi

Abstract

Two new species of oribatid mites of the genus Leptotocepheus (Oribatida, Otocepheidae) are described from Malawi. Leptotocepheus malawiensis sp. nov. differs from the related species L. macromucronatus by the well developed, spindle-form bothridial seta with distinctly elongate, pointed tip distally (versus slightly developed, fusiform, without elongate, pointed tip distally). Leptotocepheus zombaensis sp. nov. differs from the related species L. trimucronatus by the comparatively short notogastral setae la, h3, p1 and p3, longest notogastral setae h1 and h2 (versus all notogastral setae slightly differs in length) and long interlamellar seta (versus medium-sized).