ACARINA

We describe unusual heteromorphic deutonymph of Mycetinopus striatipedis gen. and sp. n. (Acari: Acaridae) phoretic on the handsome fungus beetle Mycetina marginalis (Coleoptera, Endomychidae) in the Eastern Palearctic. These deutonymphs have a unique combination of character states that make them very distinct in the family Acaridae: an unpaired pigmented spot
on the anterior propodosoma is present; supracoxal setae scx filiform and bifurcate; genu I with two solenidia; tibia-tarsi I–II are distinctly elongated and striated; vertical setae ve are present, and tarsal setae aa are lacking. Our work emphasizes the importance of continued exploration and documentation of the biodiversity of astigmatid mites associated with invertebrate hosts.

This study is based on oribatid mite materials collected from forest litter in Taiwan. In particular, in the course of our study, we recorded 10 species from 10 genera and eight families. Of these, two species (Scheloribates guhitanus, Setogalumna luzonica) have been recorded for the first time from Taiwan. Additionally, a supplementary description of Pergalumna kunsti is presented based on specimens from Taiwan. An identification key to the known species of Pergalumna from the Oriental region is presented.