Morphology of juvenile instars of Gymnodamaeus adpressus and Aleurodamaeus setosus (Acari: Oribatida: Gymnodamaeoidea)

Abstract

The morphology of all juvenile instars of the oribatid mites Gymnodamaeus adpressus (Aoki and Fujikawa, 1971) and Aleurodamaeus setosus (Berlese, 1883) is described and illustrated. Juvenile instars of Gymnodamaeus adpressus differ from those of G. bicostatus by the length of exobothridial and gastronotic setae in larva; by the length of exobothridial and gastronotic setae, number of gastronotic and scalpal setae, absence of protonymphal setae of segment AD and deutonymphal setae of segment AN in nymphs. Juvenile instars of Aleurodamaeus setosus differ from those of A. africanus by the length of gastronotic setae da in larva; by the length of prodorsal setae, body size, number of genital setae in nymphs.