Revision of the oribatid mite genus Mucrobates Balogh & Mahunka, 1979 (Acari, Oribatida, Scheloribatidae)

Abstract

The oribatid mite genus Mucrobates (Oribatida, Scheloribatidae) is revised, based on type species (Mucrobates fissuratus) and one new species (Mucrobates cayoaguaensis sp. nov.) which is described from leaf litter in Panama. The new species differs from the type species by the smaller body size, the presence of triangular carina at the lateral margin of the coxisternum, and the absence of pedotectum II. New diagnosis for Mucrobates is proposed and the correctness and value of some morphological generic traits (e.g. number of ventral lyrifissures; structure of pedotectum II; leg tibia thorn-like process) are discussed, resulting in the following proposals: status of Mucrobates is supported, it differs mostly from the related genera in Oripodoidea by having strong anterodorsal thorn-like process on leg tibiae III and IV. The species Mucrobates microsetosus Ermilov & Kalúz, 2012 is removed from Mucrobates and included in the subgenus Scheloribates (Hemileius).