Morphological ontogeny of Oribatella hungarica (Acari: Oribatida: Oribatellidae).

Abstract

The morphological ontogeny of Oribatella hungarica Balogh, 1943 is described and illustrated. The nymphs of this species are apopheredermous, i.e. they carry the exuvial scalps of previous instars away from the dorsal integument, using modified setal pair da. The larva has 12 pairs of gastronotal setae, most of them have long barbs, except for c3 with short barbs and minute h3, whereas the nymphs have 13 pairs with short barbs (dm and dp are lacking). In the tritonymph, leg seta d on all femora and genu IV, l" on femora I and II and pair l on genua and tibiae I and II, l' on femur III and genua and tibiae III and IV, and ft on tarsi II-IV are thicker than other setae on these segments. In all juveniles, a humeral organ is present. In the adult, epimeral seta 4c and leg seta l" on genua and tibiae I and II, and l' on genu III and genu and tibia IV are thickened.