Zootaxa

Luis S. Subias (1948–2024): papers in remembrance and celebration of his contributions to acarology (Title page)

TOBIAS PFINGSTL, ELIZABETH HUGO-COETZEE, ZHI-QIANG ZHANG — Mon, 23 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +1300

Luis S. Subias (1948–2024): papers in remembrance and celebration of his contributions to acarology (Table of contents)

TOBIAS PFINGSTL, ELIZABETH HUGO-COETZEE, ZHI-QIANG ZHANG — Mon, 23 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +1300

Dr. Luis Santos Subías Esteban (25.04.1948–5.05.2024)—Obituary

U.YA. SHTANCHAEVA, A. ARILLO, R.A. NORTON — Mon, 23 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +1300

**Taxonomic contribution to knowledge of the oribatid mite genus Tritegeus (Acari, Oribatida, Cepheusidae)**

SERGEY G. ERMILOV — Mon, 23 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +1300

A supplementary description of the type species of the genus Sphodrocepheus (Oribatida, Cepheusidae) —S. tridactylus—is presented, based on adults collected from the U.S.A. The taxonomic status of Sphodrocepheus is discussed, resulting in the following new taxonomic proposal: Tritegeus Berlese, 1913 (=Sphodrocepheus Woolley & Higgins, 1963 syn. nov.). A new species of Tritegeus—T. luissantossubiasi sp. nov.—is described, based on adults from India. A supplementary description of Tritegeus mitratus is presented, based on adults collected from Japan. The new generic diagnosis and an identification key to the known 11 species of Tritegeus are provided.

Araguazetes luisi gen. nov., sp. nov. (Acari, Oribatida, Haplozetidae) from Henri Pittier National Park, Venezuela

SERGEY G. ERMILOV, VALERIE M. BEHAN-PELLETIER — Mon, 23 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +1300

A new oribatid mite genus, Araguazetes gen. nov. (Oribatida, Haplozetidae), with type species Araguazetes luisi sp. nov., is proposed and described from Henri Pittier National Park, Venezuela. Based on an analysis of adults of genera of Haplozetidae, the new genus is closely related to Haplozetes and Mancoribates, from which it is most easily distinguished by the broad, nearly rounded notogaster, the adjacent dorsal position of the rostral setae, the arch-like translamella, and the absence of the interlamellar setae and their alveoli. Relationships between Araguazetes and selected other genera within Haplozetidae are discussed.

Coastal mites (Oribatida, Ameronothridae) found far from the coast in moss growing on the Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris, France, fifty years after their first discovery in this historic site

SATOSHI SHIMANO, SHIMPEI F. HIRUTA, DANIEL ISAAC SÁNCHEZ-CHÁVEZ, TOBIAS PFINGSTL — Mon, 23 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +1300

A species of oribatid mite, Ameronothrus maculatus (Michael, 1882), was collected from moss growing on the building of the Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris. This species of Ameronothridae is usually found in coastal Holarctic environments. The specimens were studied by Scanning Electron Microscope and could be clearly assigned to this taxon. This population was first discovered by F. Grandjean approximately 50 years ago, and the present record demonstrates that it has persisted despite its habitat being a tourist destination visited by over 14 million people annually. The record of this species far upstream and on anthropogenic structures is rare but not out of the ordinary in Northern Europe where its distribution can reach far beyond the edges of the estuaries. For further confirmation, we obtained DNA sequences for the COI gene (1554 bp, LC848687), and they were almost identical to those of an earlier found and sequenced specimen of A. maculatus from Germany, differing by only a single base. As supplemental information on A. maculatus from Paris, the region includes whole nucleic ribosomal RNA genes (18S, 5.8S, and 28S, LC848688), partial elongation factor 1 alpha (LC848689), and the complete nucleotide sequence of mitochondrion were also determined.

**New species of Peloribates (Acari, Oribatida, Haplozetidae) from a cave in the Dominican Republic**

UMUKUSUM YA. SHTANCHAEVA, SERGEY G. ERMILOV — Mon, 23 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +1300

Two new species of Peloribates (Oribatida, Haplozetidae)—P. (Peloribates) cavaticus sp. nov. and P. (Peloribatodes) luissubiasi sp. nov.—are described, based on adults collected from semidecayed leaves in the San Gabriel Limestone Cave, Dominican Republic. Peloribates (Peloribates) cavaticus sp. nov. differs from its related species P. (P.) perreti by a larger body size, the absence of the prolamella, and similar lengths of the anogenital setae. Peloribates (Peloribatodes) luissubiasi sp. nov. differs from all species of the subgenus by the presence of a pointed rostrum, and thin, roughened notogastral setae. An identification key to the known representatives of Peloribates from the Neotropical region is provided.

**Taxonomic contribution to the knowledge of the genus Indoribates and Lauritzenia (Acari, Oribatida, Haplozetidae), with description of a new species from China**

SHU-JING XU, CHENG-LIN LIU, JUN CHEN — Mon, 23 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +1300

Oribatid species from China of the genus Indoribates and Lauritzenia are studied, with description of a new species Indoribates (Indoribates) subiasi sp. nov. based on adult materials collected from China. Indoribates (I.) japonicus (Aoki, 1988), I. (Haplozetes) vindobonensis curtipilis (Kunst, 1977), and Lauritzenia (Incabates) nuda (Hammer, 1961), are recorded in China for the first time. A new combination is proposed: Lauritzenia (Incabates) nobilis (Golosova, 1984) comb. nov. (from the genus Cosmobates Balogh, 1959). Two new synonyms are proposed: Indoribates (Haplozetes) vindobonensis curtipilis (= Haplozetes ulykpani Bayartogtokh & Aoki, 1998 syn. nov.) and Indoribates (Indoribates) Jacot, 1929 (= Indoribates (Bihaplozetes) Subías, 2020 syn. nov.). A key to the known species of Indoribates and Lauritzenia from China is also provided.

**New species of Scapheremaeus (Acari: Oribatida: Cymbaeremaeidae) from an epiphytic environment in Morelos, Mexico**

JOSÉ G. PALACIOS-VARGAS, KEVIN A. JAIMES MURILLO, MARGARITA OJEDA — Mon, 23 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +1300

Scapheremaeus subiasi sp. nov. from El Zapote, Morelos is described and illustrated. It is morphologically similar to other Mexican species living in moss and lichens, i.e. S. magdalenae and S. hectorperezius, in sharing the presence of a humeral process, body ornamentation, number of notogastral setae (10) and being monodactylous. Main differences include body size, well developed lamellar tubercles and general appearance of the posterior end of notogaster. In addition, an identification key for all known Mexican species in the genus is given.

Checklist of oribatid mites (Acari: Oribatida) from peatlands in the United States with notes on oribatid mites from a bog in Minnesota

CARLOS BARRETO, ZOË LINDO — Mon, 23 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +1300

Peatlands are important ecosystems for carbon storage worldwide and often contain unique species. Oribatid mites are the dominant soil arthropods in terrestrial systems like peatlands, where they show high diversity, yet are under-sampled. To create a checklist of oribatid mite species from peatlands in the U.S., we collected a total of 53 peat-soil samples between 2015 and 2020 from a peatland located at the Marcell Experimental Forest in Minnesota, U.S. that yielded an assemblage of 27 families, 43 genera and 49 species; species richness estimates range between 56–102 species. We compiled a final checklist with data from previous studies of American peatlands available online up until July 2024 that revealed an additional 107 species for a total of 156 species distributed in 83 genera and 27 families known from peatlands in the U.S. From our samples, Punctoribates palustris is present in the most states (N=6), and is known to be associated with Sphagnum mosses in North America. Other common peatland species such as Eniochthonius mahunkai, Mainothrus badius and Limnozetes lustrum were also abundant at our site. However, we also found species typical of drier environments (e.g., dry forests, dry montane regions, canopy habitats) such as Eueremaeus nr. proximus, Scapheremaeus palustris, and Cepheus corae. Thus, our results reinforce the idea that peatlands may have a specific subset of species that are common to these ecosystems, but that in general many different species can be occasionally found in peatlands.

Neoribates (Neoribates) subiasi sp. nov. (Acari, Oribatida, Parakalummidae) from Changbai Mountain, China

BIXIAO YU, XUE PAN, DONG LIU — Mon, 23 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +1300

A new species of oribatid mites of the subgenus Neoribates (Neoribates) (Oribatida, Parakalummidae) is described from the litter of Changbai Mountain in northeastern China. Neoribates (Neoribates) subiasi sp. nov. differs from its congeners by the combination of the morphological traits, e.g. smooth body surface, short bothridial setae with oval-shaped head, rostrum narrowly rounded in dorsal view, 11 pairs of notogastral setae, five pairs of genital setae, and setae ad₃ inserted laterally and distanced from anal aperture. A key to all known species of Neoribates in China is provided.

**Two new species of the genus Allosuctobelba (Acari, Oribatida, Suctobelbidae) from China**

LI-HAO ZHENG, HONG-BIN DUAN, JUN CHEN — Mon, 23 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +1300

Two new species of the genus Allosuctobelba, A. (Allosuctobelba) polita sp. nov. and A. (A.) subiasi sp. nov., are proposed and described based on adult material collected from central China.

**Evaluation of morphological traits in Trhypochthoniidae with focus on Allonothrus, and morphology-molecule conflict in classification and phylogeny of Nothrina (Acari: Oribatida)**

ROY A. NORTON, SERGEY G. ERMILOV — Mon, 23 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +1300

The oribatid mite family Trhypochthoniidae exhibit the greatest collective ecological valence among the families of the middle-derivative infraorder Nothrina. Our objectives were: to examine poorly-known aspects of their morphology, with a focus on Allonothrus and a redescription of adult A. tuxtlasensis; to compare ontogenetic development of leg setation among the genera; and to test congruence between molecular and morphological inferences about relationships within Trhypochthoniidae and among Nothrina in general. New data on leg setal ontogeny are presented for Allonothrus giganticus, Archegozetes longisetosus and Trhypochthonius sp., and aspects of leg setation in the seven genera are compared. Collectively their setation is unique among Nothrina, particularly due to losses of certain fundamental tarsal setae. In a broad analysis of oribatid mite tibiae I and II, we propose that ancestral seta cʺ is usually present on I and often present also on II, but in most instances it has been given the notation lʺ or vʺ by analogy. An unusual diversity of subcapitular structure in Trhypochthoniidae gives insight into evolutionary transitions and terminological problems.

Overall, there is little congruence between morphology-based phylogenetic trees (or classifications) and published molecular trees, with the following conclusions being most salient. Most molecular studies do not support a monophyletic Malaconothroidea but neither do they present a consistent picture of relationships of the two included families. Monophyly of Trhypochthoniidae (sensu lato) was generally supported—rendering moot the separation of monogeneric families Allonothridae, Mucronothridae and Trhypochthoniellidae—but their sister-group was inconsistent. Malaconothridae, also consistently monophyletic, usually were recovered as more basal in Nothrina. Considering their unusual shared narrow ventrosejugal articulation and a significant set of uncommon regressive characters, it seems reasonable to retain the two families in Malaconothroidea, pending more compelling molecular data. The distribution of apomorphies in a set of 23 morphological characters does not support molecular trees of trhypochthoniid genera. Trhypochthoniellus and Afronothrus are the most apomorphic genera, Trhypochthonius the least.

Twenty-four molecular phylogeny studies with relevant representation are collectively inconclusive as to whether Nothrina is a paraphyletic (as usually perceived) or monophyletic group. Surprisingly, Hermanniidae were consistently recovered as relatively basal or even outside Nothrina, not as the sister-group of Brachypylina. Nanhermanniidae were consistently associated with Crotoniidae, and their unique morphology may be paedomorphic.

Allonothrus giganticus Haq, 1978 is considered a senior subjective synonym of Allonothrus pararusseolus Subías & Sarkar, 1982 from Tripura, India (new synonymy).

**Oribatid mites (Acarina, Oribatida) from French Guyana III. A new subgenus and its type species, Sternoppia (Luisternoppia) subiasi sp. nov. from family Sternoppiidae Balogh et Mahunka, 1969**

LADISLAV MIKO — Mon, 23 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +1300

The first recorded finding of a species belonging to the oribatid mite family Sternoppiidae is reported from French Guyana. Sternoppia (Luisternoppia) subgen. nov., is characterised by a developed transcostula, long notogastral setae and strongly modified epimeral setae 3a and 4a, and its type species, S. (L.) subiasi sp. nov. is described based on individuals collected from leaf litter and upper soil of the tropical rainforest in the Kaw Mountains. A subgeneric diagnosis, type species description and an identification key to the subgenera of Sternoppia are provided.

**A new species of Rostrozetes (Acari: Oribatida: Haplozetidae) from Brazil**

GRECILANE S. BOMFIM, JACQUES H.C. DELABIE, ANIBAL R. OLIVEIRA — Mon, 23 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +1300

The mite Rostrozetes achilles sp. nov. is described from adult specimens collected from nests of the ant Camponotus cingulatus (Formicidae) in dry cacao pods and the surrounding soil–litter interface in a cacao plantation of Ilhéus, state of Bahia, northeastern Brazil. This is the sixth Rostrozetes species known to have heteromorphic notogastral setae. The species name refers to the apparent use of its laminar discidium to protect its ‘heel’, the joint between tarsus and pretarsus, during leg IV flexion. Other possible functions for it are also discussed.

**A new species of the genus Paralycus Womersley, 1944 (Acari, Oribatida, Pediculochelidae) from Shikoku-island, Japan**

MASAHARU OSHIMA, SATOSHI SHIMANO — Mon, 23 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +1300

A new oribatid mite species, Paralycus subiasi sp. nov., is described based on morphological observation of the private collection of Professor Emeritus Minoru Shiba. This new species was found in moss and is characterized by four pairs of genital setae, the absence of epimeral seta 4a, and trochanteral setation 0-0-0-0. This is the third species of Paralycus from Japan. An updated identification key for the genus Paralycus is also provided.

**New findings of oribatid mites of the genus Suctobelbella (Acari: Oribatida: Suctobelbidae) from Korea**

BADAMDORJ BAYARTOGTOKH, YANG-SEOP BAE — Mon, 23 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +1300

The genus Suctobelbella is diversely represented in the northern hemisphere, but this group is insufficiently studied in Korea. Herein, we propose two new species, Suctobelbella (Flagrosuctobelba) subiasi sp. nov., Suctobelbella (Ussuribata) wiryeca sp. nov., and provide supplementary descriptions of two known species, Suctobelbella (Flagrosuctobelba) hastata Pan’kov, 1986 and Suctobelbella (Flagrosuctobelba) plumosa Chinone, 2003, which are reported from Korea for the first time. Diagnostic characterization and illustration of each species along with their habitat ecology and distributional data are given. Furthermore, a diagnostic key for the identification of adults of the known species of Suctobelbella in Korea, is provided.

**A new species of Galumnella (Acari, Oribatida, Galumnellidae) from Vietnam**

VASILIY B. KOLESNIKOV, VLADISLAV D. LEONOV — Mon, 23 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +1300

The article describes a new species, Galumnella subiasi sp. nov., from Vietnam, which is distinguished from others by the following combination of characteristics: the notogaster, pteromorphs, prodorsum, and ventral shield have a network pattern; there is an interlamellar ridge on the prodorsum; lamellar and sublamellar lines are parallel; rostral and lamellar setae of medium length; bothridial setae slightly expanded in the middle, unilaterally heavily spinose; notogaster with 10 pairs of short setae; the adanal setae ad₃ are located anterior to the anal aperture; postanal porose area absent; all leg tarsi with three claws. An identification key is provided for all Asian species of Galumnella, and it is demonstrated that Galumnella angustifrons and Galumnella nipponica are distinct species.

**A new arenicolous species of the genus Thyreophagus (Acari: Acaridae) from the Caspian sea coast: Taxonomy and ecological insights**

Mon, 23 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +1300

A new sexual species, Thyreophagus subiasi sp. nov., inhabiting wet sands of the coastal zone of the Caspian Sea (Republic of Dagestan, Russia) is described. The new species is morphologically similar to Th. athiasae from Morocco (types redescribed here as well) but differs from it by the shape of the spermatheca and setae p and q on tarsi I–II represented by small triangular rudiments. As most other species of Thyreophagus inhabit subcortical habitats or stored food, Th. subiasi exhibits unusual ecology. We suggest that its elongated and flexible body may have facilitated adaptation to life in interstitial spaces among particles in coastal sandy environments. In this habitat, Th. subiasi co-occurred with long-bodied mesostigmatic mites from the genera Protogamasellus, Gamasellodes, and Neojordensia, suggesting that these mites are part of the coastal interstitial ecosystem.

Free-living predatory cheyletid mites (Acariformes: Cheyletidae) from Cat Tien National Park, Vietnam

Mon, 23 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +1300

The free-living predatory mites of the family Cheyletidae of the Cat Tien National Park (Vietnam) are reviewed. Females of two monotypic genera, Vietocheyla subiasi gen. and sp. nov., Paracheletogenes mirabilis gen. and sp. nov., and all active stages of a new species Cheletogenes vietnamiensis sp. nov. are described. Four species, Cheletomimus (Hemicheyletia) bakeri (Ehara, 1962), Ch. (H.) gracilis Fain, Bochkov and Corpuz-Raros, 2002, Ch. (H.) chui (Tseng, 1977), and Tutacheyla robusta Corpuz-Raros, 1972 are recorded from Vietnam for the first time.

Subiasiana indica gen. nov., sp. nov., a new remarkable representative of Uropodina mites from India (Acari: Mesostigmata: Uropodidae)

JENŐ KONTSCHÁN — Mon, 23 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +1300

A new genus, Subiasiana gen. nov. (Mesostigmata: Uropodina: Uropodidae), with Subiasiana indica sp. nov. as type species, is described based on one female and four males in soil samples from India. The new genus is similar to the Neotropical genus Clausiadinychus Sellnick, 1930 (family Clausiadinychiidae Kontschán, Ermilov & Fridrich, 2023), but its gnathosomal appendages and the ventral setation are different from those of the new genus. The new genus resembles the Afrotopical genus Spinosissuropoda Hirschmann, 1979, but the new genus differs from the previously described one in the shape of idiosoma, dorsal setation, and anterior gnathosoma process.

Luis Santos Subías Gedenkschrift: postscript

ZHI-QIANG ZHANG — Mon, 23 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +1300