Morphological ontogeny of Graptoppia granadaensis sp. nov. (Acari, Oribatida, Oppiidae), and comments on Graptoppia Balogh

Abstract

The morphological ontogeny of Graptoppia granadaensis S. et A. Seniczak sp. nov. is described and illustrated, based on the instars obtained from laboratory cultures. The adults of this species were collected from spruce litter (Picea sp.) in the Campus of University of Science in Granada, Spain. These adults are the most similar to that of G. tanaitica Karppinen et Poltavskaja, 1990, but differ from it by having fewer spines on the bothridial seta. In laboratory cultures, G. granadaensis fed on deciduous and pine litter and small parts of pine cones, overgrown by mycelium. The juveniles of this species are unpigmented, with soft body, covered with microtuberculate cerotegument. The larva has 12 pairs of gastronotal setae, including h3, the nymphs have 15 pairs; all setae are smooth and mostly short. In the juveniles, seta d coupled to proper solenidia is present on genua I–III and tibiae II–IV.