Morphology of Juvenile Stages of <I>Epidamaeus kamaensis</I> (Sellnick, 1925) and <I>Porobelba spinosa</I> (Sellnick, 1920) (Acari: Oribatida: Damaeidae)

Abstract

Detailed morphological descriptions of juvenile stages of two oribatid species from the family Damaeidae: Epidamaeus kamaensis (Sellnick, 1925) and Porobelba spinosa (Sellnick, 1920) are presented. Juvenile stages of E. kamaensis and earlier known immatures of Epidamaeus (E. puritanicus, E. longisetus) differ by minor differences in setal structure and measurements. Juvenile stages of Epidamaeus and Damaeus differ by the following characters: shape of exuvial attachment cornicle in nymphs, correlation of the length and structure of gastronotal setae, the larval body posterior, form of sensilli, and leg setation. Juvenile stages of these two genera are identical in genital, aggenital, anal, adanal, gastronotal and epimeral setation, structure of famulus, and structure of cerotegument. Moreover, in the present paper new data about immatures of Porobelba spinosa. It is the first record of all juvenile stages of Porobelba, that is why a comparison of ontogeny development of this genus and other damaeid mites is premature.