Phenopelopidae

Phenopelopidae
Temporal range: Palaeogene–present
Nesopelops sp.
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Oribatida
Superfamily: Phenopelopoidea
Family: Phenopelopidae
Petrunkevitch, 1955

Phenopelopidae is a family of oribatid mites in the order Sarcoptiformes. As of 2018, there were 4 genera and 106 species known in this family.

Description

Adult mites of this family are 400-900 μm long and usually dark brown to almost black in colour, but light brown individuals also occur. They can be distinguished from other oribatid families by: flat and blade-like lamellae (ridges of cuticle between the dorsal trichobothria); elongate pelopsiform or normally developed chelicerae with small chelae; notogaster with a broad anterior tectum, overhanging insertions of interlamellar setae and bothridia; with movable pteromorphs and well- or poorly-circumscribed lenticulus; porose areas small or rarely with saccules, all closely associated with some of the notogastral setae; with eight or 10 pairs of notogastral setae; and custodium broad.

The juvenile stages (larvae and nymphs) differ from adults in being smaller, soft-bodied, light brown and having plicate (folded or crumpled) cuticle. However, juveniles have only been studied for a few species of Phenopelopidae.

These mites are covered in numerous setae, which vary among species and among life stages within species. A typical feature of Phenopelopidae is the presence of long, thick setae on some leg segments. Juveniles of some species have long marginal setae, possibly as protection against small predators.

Ecology

Phenopelopidae have been collected from leaf litter underneath trees, moss, a forest meadow, at the edge of a bog, grass and woodland. They appear to be fungal feeders, but at least one species can feed on living plant material.

Genera

Below is a list of the genera in this family, along with their authorities, years of publication and distributions.

References

  1. ↑ "Phenopelopidae Family Information". BugGuide.net. Retrieved 2018-02-21.
  2. ↑ "Phenopelopidae Report". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 2018-02-21.
  3. ↑ "Phenopelopidae Overview". Encyclopedia of Life. Retrieved 2018-02-21.
  4. ↑ "Browse Phenopelopidae". Catalogue of Life. Retrieved 2018-02-21.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 Bayartogtokh, Badamdorj; Ermilov, Sergey G.; Shtanchaeva, Umukusum Ya.; Subías, Luis S. (2018-01-31). "Ontogeny of morphological traits in Eupelops variatus (Mihelčič, 1957), with remarks on juveniles of Phenopelopidae (Acari: Oribatida)". Systematic and Applied Acarology. 23 (1): 161. doi:10.11158/saa.23.1.13. ISSN 1362-1971. S2CID 90915373.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Seniczak, Anna; Seniczak, Stanisław; Kaczmarek, Sławomir; Kowalski, Jarosław (2014-11-17). "Ontogeny of morphological traits in Phenopelopidae (Acari: Oribatida)". International Journal of Acarology. 40 (8): 611–637. doi:10.1080/01647954.2014.975744. ISSN 0164-7954. S2CID 83857359.
  7. ↑ Seniczak, Anna; Seniczak, Stanisław; Kaczmarek, Sławomir (2015-01-02). "Morphology, distribution and ecology of Eupelops curtipilus and Eupelops plicatus (Acari, Oribatida, Phenopelopidae)". International Journal of Acarology. 41 (1): 77–95. doi:10.1080/01647954.2014.986523. ISSN 0164-7954. S2CID 85095772.
  8. 1 2 "Australian Faunal Directory". biodiversity.org.au. Retrieved 2022-10-24.

Further reading

  • Breene, R.G.; Dean, D. Allen; Edwards, G.B.; Hebert, Blain; Levi, Herbert W.; Manning, Gail (2003). Common Names of Arachnids. Vol. Fifth Edition. American Tarantula Society. ISBN 1-929427-11-5.
  • Capinera, John L., ed. (2008). Encyclopedia of Entomology. Springer. ISBN 978-1402062421.
  • Jackman, John A. (2002). A Field Guide to Spiders and Scorpions of Texas. Gulf Publishing.
  • Krantz, G.W.; Walter, D.E., eds. (2009). A Manual of Acarology. Vol. 3rd Edition. Texas Tech University Press. ISBN 9780896726208.