Mesoplophora (Parplophora) Berlese, 1904

Niedbała, W., 2017, Ptyctimous mites (Acari, Oribatida) of Madagascar and neighbouring islands, Acarologia 57 (1), pp. 3-205 : 19-22

Mesoplophora (Parplophora) Berlese, 1904

Three or four pairs of anal setae present Distribution. Semicosmopolitan.

Mesoplophora (Parplophora) leviseta Hammer, 1979 ( Figure 8 )

Mesoplophora leviseta Hammer 1979

Mesoplophora gibba Mahunka 1988 syn. by Niedbała 2001

Diagnosis — Measurements of holotype: prodorsum: length 176, width 130, height 78, "notogaster": length 242, height 141.

Small-sized species; colour light yellow. Prodorsum with pointed rostrum; lateral carinae absent; sensilli long, needleform, without head, tapering covered with 23 small cilia; other setae long, smooth, rostral and lamellar setae longer and thicker than interlamellar and exobothridial setae, ss> le> ro> ex> in. "Notogaster" with 8 pairs of long and rather thick, smooth setae, of nearly the same length, except setae c 3 much shorter and slightly thinner; setae c 1 and c 2 remote from anterior border, setae c 3 located very close to this border. Ventral region; 8 pairs of thin ventral setae, except one pair long and thick; 7 pairs of genital setae with formula: 5+2, all setiform and smooth; anal plates with three pairs of thin and rather long, smooth setae.

Localities in Seychelles: Mahunka 1988a, Niedbała 2001, 2010, Niedbała & Starý 2015c.

Distribution — Pantropical.

Mesoplophora (Parplophora) madegassica Mahunka, 2009 ( Figure 9 )

Diagnosis — Measurements of paratype: length of prodorsum 196 – 216, height of prodorsum 148 – 152; length of "notogaster" 270 – 286, height of "notogaster" 182 – 197. Small-sized species; colour light yellow. Prodorsum with rostral apex sharply pointed; lateral carinae absent; sensilli long, head small, lanceolate, with irregular velum and some small cilia; other setae of different lengths and sizes, rostral and lamellar setae much thicker than interlamellar and exobothridial setae, well ciliate, located near each other; interlamellar setae very thin, filiform, smooth, exobothridial setae also smooth and filiform, the latter shortest of all, but longer than the diameter of bothridium. "Notogaster" with 8 pairs of long setae, covered with small cilia or spines, nearly equal in length, except smooth setae c 3 much shorter and slightly thinner; setae c 1 and c 2 arising far from notogastral border, setae c 3 located very close to this border. Ventral region; 9 pairs of thin ventral setae of different lengths, all slightly ciliate, lateral setae longest of all; genital plates with 7 (5+2) pairs of simple setae, all setiform and smooth; anal plates with three pairs of thinner but longer setae, finely roughened .

Remark — This species is similar to Palaearctic M. (P.) pulchra Sellnick, 1928 in the shape of sensilli but is distinguishable by the location of lamellar setae near rostral setae (versus ro remote from le), longer notogastral setae setae; c 3 shorter and thinner and the presence of 9 pairs of ventral setae (versus 10 pairs).

Locality in Madagascar (northern part): Mahunka 2009b.

Distribution — Afrotropical, found only in Madagascar, endemic.

Figures

FIGURE 8: Mesoplophora (Parplophora) leviseta Hammer, 1979 (holotype): A – prodorsum, dorsal view; B – prodorsum, lateral view; C – lateral view of opisthosoma; D – ventral side of opisthosoma.

FIGURE 9: Mesoplophora (Parplophora) madegassica Mahunka, 2009 (after Mahunka 2009): A – prodorsum, dorsal view; B – lateral view of body; C – genital plates; D – ventral region.