Caligonella brevia sp. nov.: a new mite species in the family Caligonellidae (Trombidiformes: Prostigmata) from Karasu Valley (Türkiye), with comments on other members of two caligonellid genera Molothrognathus and Neognathus

Abstract

Adult females and males of Caligonella brevia sp. nov. (Caligonellidae) are described and illustrated from mosses in an oak forest at the Karasu Valley in Türkiye. The new species has the following distinctive combination of characters: dorsal idiosomal shield absent, two pairs of ocelli on prodorsum, ventral idiosoma with a shield-like unstriated area between coxae, one pair of pseudanal setae on anal shields, genital setae absent, genu I bearing solenidion κ, the outer solenidion on tibia I noticeably longer than inner solenidion. This paper also contains comments on some members of the genera Molothrognathus Summers & Schlinger and Neognathus Willmann. In this sense, the names of Neognathus attiahi Soliman & Gomaa, Neognathus oteifi Soliman & Gomaa, Molothrognathus platelettus Soliman & Gomaa and Molothrognathus seuzius Soliman & Gomaa are considered as nomina nuda.