New species of oribatid mites (Acari: Oribatida) of the genera Austrachipteria (Achipteriidae), Cultroribula (Astegistidae) and Microlamellarea (Lamellareidae) from New Zealand
AbstractThree new species of oribatid mites (Acari: Oribatida), Austrachipteria novazealandica sp. n. (Achipteriidae), Cultroribula otagoensis sp. n. (Astegistidae) and Microlamellarea minuta sp. n. (Lamellareidae), are described from New Zealand. The family Lamellareidae and the genus Microlamellarea are recorded for the first time in the fauna of this country. Austrachipteria novazealandica sp. n. is morphologically most similar to A. bidentata (Hammer, 1967), but differs from the latter by shorter interlamellar and bothridial setae and by posteriorly concave notogaster. Cultroribula otagoensis sp. n. is morphologically most similar to C. bicuspidata Mahunka, 1978, C. castriensis Mahunka, 1985, C. tropica Balogh, 1958 and C. zicsii Balogh & Mahunka, 1981, but differs from all listed species by lamellae being separated medially. Microlamellarea minuta sp. n. differs from two known species of the genus, M. coetzeeae Mahunka & Mahunka-Papp, 2011 and M. engelbrechti Coetzee, 1987, by the presence of minute interlamellar setae, leaf-shaped rostral setae and two pairs of anal setae. An identification key to known species of Microlamellarea is presented. Transfer of the genus Cultroribella from Astegistidae to Lamellareidae is proposed.