Morphological ontogeny of Pilogalumna ayildizi sp. nov. (Acari, Oribatida, Galumnidae), a new cryptic species from Turkey

Abstract

The morphological ontogeny of Pilogalumna ayildizi sp. nov. is described and illustrated. This species is similar to P. tenuiclava (Berlese, 1908) as adult, but differs from it clearly by the morphology of juvenile stages and ecology. The larva of P. ayildizi has 12 pairs of gastronotal setae, most are short and smooth except for slightly longer dp and medium-sized c-series, h1 and h2, and minute h3, and the nymphs have 15 pairs of these setae, most are short and smooth except for medium-sized and barbed c-series. The gastronotal shield of juveniles is poorly developed with setae of d-, l-series and h1 in the larva, and d-, l-, h-series and p1 in the nymphs. In the juveniles setae of c-series, p2 and p3 have basal microsclerites, and a humeral organ is present.