Morphology of juvenile stages of Hermanniella dolosa (Acari, Oribatida, Hermanniellidae)

Abstract

The morphology of juvenile stages of the oribatid mite Hermanniella dolosa (Oribatida, Hermanniellidae) is described and illustrated. Juvenile stages of Hermanniella dolosa are very similar in structure to those of the only other known juvenile stages of this family (Sacculobates horologiorum, Ampullobates nigriclavatus), showing only fine differences in setation and setal structure. These differences include the absence of seta h3 in the larva, the absence of one seta a from all leg tarsi and pair (p) from tarsi II–IV. Also, Hermanniella dolosa has two characters noted for the first time in nymphs of Hermanniellidae: 1) sensilli well developed, with well developed clubs (sensilli weakly developed in nymphs of other studied species), 2) deutonymphs with 2 pairs of vestigial alveoli (complete paraproctal atrichosy in other studied species).