Kunstidamaeus Miko

Miko, L. & Mourek, J., 2008, Taxonomy of European Damaeidae (Acari: Oribatida) I. Kunstidamaeus Miko, 2006, with comments on Damaeus sensu lato, Zootaxa 1820, pp. 1-26 : 4-6

Kunstidamaeus Miko , 2006

Diagnosis. Propodolateral apophysis P developed as tubercle or tip perpendicular to body, rarely rounded. Typical set of 2 pairs of propodosomal tubercles (Ba, La) present, all other tubercles (Da, Dp, Bp, Lp) absent. Ventral tubercle Va present, usually strong. Interlamellar seta in much shorter than sensillus (usually less than 1 /2). Spinae adnatae often strongly curved. Both tibial and genual setation 4-4-3-3 (solenidia not included), solenidia of genua I-III with companion seta d. Ventral accessory seta Ny2' absent from tarsi I-IV.

Description. Body of medium to large size (majority of species within 580-820 µm, one alpine species up to 1100 µm), colour of different shades of brown or yellow. Cuticle (observed with light microscope) smooth, rarely microtuberculate or finely dotted. Body covered by granular, columnar and partly filamentous cerotegument. Lateral part of prodorsum broadly rounded. Propodolateral apophysis P anteriorly developed as transverse tubercle or tip, perpendicular to body; rarely with blunt or rounded tip or whole apophysis almost absent (in this case thicker and darker cuticle may be recognized in the same position). Typical set of 2 pairs of prodorsal tubercles (Ba, La) always present, Da and all posterior tubercles (Bp, Lp, Dp) absent. Propodosomal tubercles E2a and E2p usually small, reduced to sclerotised ridge or absent, Va present and usually strong, well developed, Vp usually absent. Prodorsum triangular, sometimes with short costulae, interbothridial ridges or cuticular thickenings. Sensillus setiform or short and slightly clavate, interlamellar seta in much shorter than sensillus (usually less than 1/2), setiform, thin. Spinae adnatae spiniform or triangular, often very strongly curved laterad and ventrad. Notogastral setae of different length, usually setiform, with blunt or sharp tip, often finely barbed. First pair (c1) always directed almost straight forward, usually longest of all notogastral setae; size of setae often diminishing from anterior to posterior part of notogaster; h1-h3 sometimes shorter, finer and more lightly coloured, sometimes more curved than anterior setae. Adults often carrying exuvial scalps on notogaster, usually without or only with small amount of adherent dirt. Legs long, monodactylous, leg IV usually significantly longer than body. Solenidia of tibiae I-IV free, without companion seta d; tibial setation (solenidia not included) 4-4-3-3. Solenidia of genua I-III with companion seta d; genual setation (solenidia not included) 4-4-3-3. Ventral accessory seta Ny2' absent from tarsi I-IV. Famulus in immature stages typical for Damaeus sensu lato: reduced, minute, sunken in a sclerotised cup. Typical setation of legs as follows (trochanter to femur; famulus included, solenidia not included): I: 1-7-4-4-20; II: 1-6-4-4-17; III: 2-4-3-3-17; IV 1-4-3-3-14. Setation of ventral side as in other Damaeidae : g: 6, ag: 1, an: 2, ad: 3. Many species known from specific habitats (alpine, troglobiont, nidicole).

Type species. Belba lengersdorfi Willmann, 1932

Other included European species. Belba diversipilis Willmann, 1951; Belba granulata Willmann, 1951; Belba longisetosa Willmann, 1953; Belba nidicola Willmann, 1936; Damaeus nivalis Kulczynski , 1902; Damaeus tecticola Michael , 1888; Damaeus tenuipes Michael , 1885

Remarks. Species of the genus, while forming a quite uniform and well-defined taxon, can be separated into smaller groups based on the form of sensillus and development of notogastral setae. The type species and four other species have a long setiform sensillus, and form two subgroups. One includes K. lengersdorfi , K. nidicola (Willmann, 1936) and K. diversipilis (Willmann, 1951) - collectively the “lengersdorfi“ group, with medium long or short notogastral setae that are often heterotrichous (h1-h3 being smaller or finer than anterior setae). Two other species, K. tecticola and K. longisetosus (the “tecticola“ group), are characterized by long to very long notogastral setae, with each seta clearly longer than distance to the insertion of following seta. Three species belonging to “tenuipes” group - K. tenuipes (Michael, 1885), K. granulatus (Willmann, 1951) and K. nivalis (Kulczynski, 1902) - share a shortened and slightly clavate sensillus, which may or may not be covered by dense spinuli; this character is unique within Damaeus sensu lato, and rare even within the whole family. Redescriptions of the species will follow in another paper of the series.