Taxonomy of African Damaeidae (Acarina: Oribatida) I. Metabelba (Pateribelba) centurion sp. nov. from Ethiopia and redescription of Metabelba (Pateribelba) glabriseta
Abstrakt
The oribatid mite Metabelba (Pateribelba) centurion sp. nov. is described based on specimens from the mountain areas of Ethiopia. The species is characterized by a specific arrangement of strong and erect notogastral setae in close, parallel rows near the midline, by the unique presence of notogastral seta c3 in adult and by the presence of a complete set of dorsal (Da, Dp) and postbothridial (Ba, Bp) enantiophyses.
Another African species Metabelba (Pateribelba) glabriseta Mahunka, 1982 is redescribed based on the original type series, also originally described from Ethiopia. This species is characterized mainly by the presence of a complete dorsal enantiophysis (Da, Dp), by the absence of the postbothridial enantiophysis and by the presence of one pair of the posterior ventrosejugal tubercles (Vp).
Specific morphological characters are discussed and the species are compared with related taxa. [GRAPHICS]