Carabodes dubius Kulijev

Mahunka, S., 1987, A survey of the family Carabodidae C. L. Koch, 1836 (Acari: Oribatida), II, Acta Zoologica Hungarica 33, pp. 399-434 : 400-401

Carabodes dubius Kulijev , 1968

Prodorsum: Rostral setae arising on tubercles, longer than lamellar ones, nearly smooth, the latter well ciliate (Figs 2-3). Lamellar surface and the anterior part of prodorsum foveolate, median part also with some ribs (Fig. 1). Sensillus short, its head clavate, with some spines.

Notogaster: Surface with a characteristic polygonal reticulation consisting of irregular tubercles (Fig. 8). Setae c2 finely roughened, setae Im and the other setae spinose and spiculate (Fig. 5).

Ventral side (Fig. 4): Epimeral surface alveolate, all setae minute. Genital and anal plates foveolate, ventral plate alveolate. Genital, aggenital and anal setae single, ad1 and ad2 resembling notogastral setae, ad3 thin and setiform. Lyrifissures iad originating far anteriorly from anal aperture.

Legs: Setae u on all tarsi dilated basally, with a long and narrowed end. Genu of leg II as shown in Fig. 6.

Measurements: Length: 517 µm, width: 300 µm.

Examined material: Soviet Union, Georgian SSR, Rica-see . Moos from the rock wall of a canyon. 9. VI. 1976, leg. Gy. Topál.

Remarks: This species and some similar ones belong to the dubius species-group, which is characterized by the very short clavate sensillus, the very long interlamellar setae originating on the lamellar surface and by one pair (c2) of notogastral setae directed forward. These species* are the following:

Carabodes intermedius Willmann, 1951

dubius Kulijev , 1968

scopulae Kulijev, 1968

* The relationship of C. breviclava Aoki , 1970 is uncertain. It may also belong to this group.

Key to species

1 (2) Nine pairs of normal notogastral setae phylliform, their entire surface finely ciliate .......... dubius Kulijev , 1968

2 (1) Nine pairs of normal notogastral setae fusiform or asymmetrically clavate, their distal end with some spines.

3 (4) Notogastral setae fusiform and smooth. Peduncle of sensillus long .......... intermedius Willmann, 1951

4 (3) Notogastral setae dilate distally, with long spines .......... scopulae Kulijev, 1968