taxonID	type	description	language	source
100287940808FFE2FF14800EDD5FFC59.taxon	type_taxon	Type species: Bulbolaelaps bossei Faraji, Zare & Rahmani, 2021, by monotypy.	en	Mašán, Peter (2025): Digamasellid mites (Acari: Mesostigmata) in association with saproxylic darkling beetles (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) and wood-decaying fungi (Polyporales) in Slovakia. Zootaxa 5627 (1): 1-58, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5627.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5627.1.1
100287940808FFE2FF14800EDD5FFC59.taxon	discussion	Taxonomic notes This originally monotypic genus was only recently established on the basis of adult stages of the type species Bulbolaelaps bossei found in association with an unidentified fungus (possibly Pleurotus sp.) in Iran. Faraji et al. (2021) described Bulbolaelaps in the Digamasellidae as a genus related to Dendrolaelaps - like taxa with the following diagnostic characters: 1) podonotal and opisthonotal shields separated in both sexes; 2) opisthonotal shield fused with opisthogastric shield in males; 3) scleronoduli present; 4) most dorsal setae barbed and apically bulbous; 5) st 3 more medially arranged than other setae; 6) palptrochanter with bulbous swollen membranous structure on venter; 7) corniculi weakly developed; 8) weakly sclerotized epistome dorsally fimbriated; 9) hypostomal setae h 1 and h 2 more or less transversely aligned; 10) deutosternal furrow narrow; 11) ventral base of female movable cheliceral digit with a paraxial spine-like projection; 12) setae ad 1 and pd 1 on legs II – IV apically narrowly lanceolate. Of the features listed, only some are diagnostic and can be used to identify the genus. For example, the peculiarities on the gnathosoma that were previously unknown in related genera of the family Digamasellidae, namely 1) a narrowed deutosternal furrow, the transverse rows of which have only one tooth each, 2) an unusual posterior position of the setae h 1, which are closer to that of h 3, so that the bases of the hypostomal setae h 1 – h 3 are similarly far apart; 3) the epistome with abundantly fimbriated distal part; 4) palptrochanter with a strongly inflated membranous structure. These and other unusual features are also found in another member of the genus described in this paper. These features also include the form of the modified dorsal setae with club-shaped tips; the morphology of the chelicera with a conspicuously curved movable digit, reduced dentition, and the pilus dentilis sitting on a special columnar base; the dorsoapical setae of tarsi II – IV with a slightly expanded and flattened subapical part; the straight anterior margin of the ventral shield in males and others. A further peculiarity of the gnathosoma in the newly described species is the bilobed form of the cornicules, which are protected by a hyaline membrane, and the shortening of the fixed cheliceral digit, which is more pronounced in males than in females. In the male of the type species of the genus, the shortening of this structure is not at all obvious, although, for example, the shape and size of the spermatodactyl are very similar in both known representatives of the genus. Certain changes in the generic diagnosis of Bulbolaelaps by Faraji et al. (2021) must also be made with respect to the number of transverse rows of denticles on the ventral hypostome and the placement of some setae on the podonotum and sternal shield in Bulbolaelaps neomidae. The dorsal setae s 1 and r 2, as well as the sternal setae st 4 are not located on the shield surface in the new species, but on the soft integument. The presence of only three pairs of sternal setae is a characteristic of the related family Halolaelapidae and has probably not yet been found in the Digamasellidae.	en	Mašán, Peter (2025): Digamasellid mites (Acari: Mesostigmata) in association with saproxylic darkling beetles (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) and wood-decaying fungi (Polyporales) in Slovakia. Zootaxa 5627 (1): 1-58, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5627.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5627.1.1
10028794080BFFE6FF148206DD0EF84D.taxon	description	(Figs 2 – 13)	en	Mašán, Peter (2025): Digamasellid mites (Acari: Mesostigmata) in association with saproxylic darkling beetles (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) and wood-decaying fungi (Polyporales) in Slovakia. Zootaxa 5627 (1): 1-58, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5627.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5627.1.1
10028794080BFFE6FF148206DD0EF84D.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis Idiosoma suboval to broadly oval, soft integument clearly striated. Dorsal setae mostly long, rod-shaped, sparsely barbed, apically claviform and relatively long; setae s 1, r 2 (in females) and j 1 and r 3 (in deutonymphs) outside podonotal shield, on soft integument. Ventral setae mostly smooth and needle-like; Jv 5, Zv 3 and pa similar to setae on dorsal surface. Shield surface mostly with reticulate to reticulate-punctate pattern in adults or strong punctation (dorsal shields) or specific longitudinal rugosity (sternal shield) in deutonymphs, genital shield smooth. Sternal shield of female subrectangular, without endopodal lateral parts; sternal setae st 1 – st 4 thin and distally attenuated, st 3 with adjacent bases and st 4 on soft integument. Ventrianal shield with four pairs of opisthogastric setae (Jv 1 – Jv 3, Zv 2), relatively narrow and slightly progressively narrowed posteriorly. Peritremes of adults short, reaching level between setae r 2 and r 3. Deutosternum with five rows of denticles, of which four anterior rows unidentate; distal margin of subtriangular epistome densely fimbriated. Movable cheliceral digit with strong terminal hook and three teeth in females and deutonymphs; fixed digit shortened, shorter than movable digit; male spermatodactyl robust, horn-like, moderately curved and shorter than movable digit. Genu IV and tibia IV without elongate dorsal setae. Male legs II spurred, as in Fig. 10 D.	en	Mašán, Peter (2025): Digamasellid mites (Acari: Mesostigmata) in association with saproxylic darkling beetles (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) and wood-decaying fungi (Polyporales) in Slovakia. Zootaxa 5627 (1): 1-58, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5627.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5627.1.1
10028794080BFFE6FF148206DD0EF84D.taxon	description	Description Female (Figs 2 A, 3 – 6, 7 B – D, 8 A, 8 C, 9 A, 9 B, 10 C, 13 B). Dorsal idiosoma (Figs 2 A, 3). Idiosoma weakly sclerotized, 725 – 980 μm long, 500 – 675 μm wide (n = 10), dorso-ventrally flattened, elongate, suboval, covered by two dorsal shields except for the narrow lateral and posterior parts. Podonotal shield (Figs 4 A, 4 C) 330 – 390 μm long, 400 – 500 μm wide, subpentagonal, not capturing insertions of all podonotal setae, with four medial scleronodules at level of s 5; anterolateral margins free of anterior parts of peritrematal shields, with anterior margin usually straight between setae z 1 and short lateral notches between z 1 and j 2; lateral margins convex and posterior margin straight or very slightly convex; faintly indicated reticulation on surface near margins and very fine punctation and rugosity on medial and posteromedial surfaces. Arrangement of 22 pairs of anterodorsal setae as follows: j 1 – j 6, z 1 – z 6, s 2 – s 6, r 4 and r 5 on podonotal shield (of which j 1, z 1, s 2, s 3, s 6, r 4 and r 5 on or near lateral margins of shield); r 3 on extreme margins of peritrematal shields; s 1 and r 2 on soft integument; all these setae rod-shaped, sparsely barbed, apically claviform and relatively long (Fig. 4 D); setae with medial placement shorter than those on lateral margins of the podonotal shield. Opisthonotal shield 390 – 450 μm long, 430 – 520 μm wide, bowl-shaped, widest at the level between R 1 and R 2, with straight anterior and convex lateral margins and well-rounded posterior margin, sometimes slightly concave between setae Z 5; the shield with faint reticulate and punctate pattern in anterior and medial parts, fine rugosity approximately between setae J 1 – J 4 and J 1 ‘ – J 4 ‘, and smooth in its posteriormost part; J 5 and Z 4 are distinctly shorter and S 5 distinctly longer than the other setae on the opisthonotum; 20 pairs of opisthonotal setae similar to those on podonotum (except for smooth, whip-like and pointed S 5), of which only R 1 is located on the soft integument outside shield. Lengths of selected dorsal setae as follows: j 1 33 – 44 μm, j 2 60 – 68 μm, j 3 65 – 82 μm, j 4 and j 5 50 – 63 μm, j 6 60 – 72 μm, z 1 44 – 55 μm, z 2 85 – 98 μm, z 5 54 – 66 μm, s 3, r 4 and r 5 85 – 110 μm, s 6 110 – 137 μm, r 3 106 – 125 μm, J 1 62 – 93 μm, J 2 – J 4 72 – 100 μm, J 5 37 – 54 μm, Z 1 and Z 2 84 – 105 μm, Z 4 38 – 58 μm, Z 5 90 – 135 μm, S 2 and S 3 92 – 110 μm, S 4 72 – 85 μm, S 5 295 – 353 μm, R 1 – R 5 86 – 115 μm. Ventral idiosoma (Figs 5, 6 A, 6 B). Tritosternum with narrow base and two barbed laciniae. Presternal plates transversely striate and separately connected to anterolateral margins of sternal shield. Sternal shield subrectangular, 142 – 166 μm long, 108 – 129 μm wide, widest at level of iv 2, with more indicated fine reticulation on medial surface than in its posterior part; lateral margins straight and without endopodal components between coxae II and III, posterior margin straight to slightly convex; surface with three pairs of setae (st 1 – st 3) and three pairs of slit-like lyrifissures (iv 1 – iv 3), of which two posterior pairs usually located on outer or inner margin of shield; setae st 4 inserted in soft integument near posterolateral corners of shield, similar in length and thickness to those on sternal shield. Poststernal area usually with two crescent-shaped sclerites. Epigynal shield elongate, 200 – 240 μm long, narrowest in anterior part at level of well-developed medial constriction between coxae IV (89 – 113 μm), widest in posterior part at level of posterolateral corners (163 – 206 μm), with smooth surface and a pair of setae on posterolateral margins; anterior hyaline part short, not reaching sternal shield, with slightly convex margin (Fig. 7 C); posterior margin usually slightly concave; genital lyrifissures (iv 5) located on soft integument near posterolateral corners of shield. Postgenital area with four very narrow and transverse sclerites. Ventrianal shield elongate, 255 – 325 μm long, 150 – 190 μm at the widest anterior part, becoming slightly narrower towards posterior margin, slightly concave anteriorly and well rounded posteriorly, with four pairs of opisthogastric setae (Jv 1 – Jv 3, Zv 2) in addition to three circumanal setae; circumanal area with weakly indicated reticulation, other parts mostly smooth or with fine transverse lines; adanal setae about 1.5 as long as somewhat thickened postanal seta (ad 69 – 82 μm, pa 44 – 58 μm); cribrum well developed, usually with four rows of denticles. Peritrematal shields narrow and reticulate; anterior ends not fused with podonotal shield, free or connected by weakly sclerotized and reticulate scutal element in region of idiosomal apex (Figs 4 A, 4 C); poststigmatic parts tapered posteriorly and fused with parapodal platelets posterior to coxae IV; peritremes thin, shortened, with anterior tips between setae r 2 and r 3 (Fig. 4 C). Endopodal platelets II – III and III – IV absent or rudimentary. Exopodal platelets between legs I – IV fused into a narrow strips, each of them free from peritrematal shield. A pair of long and narrow metapodal plates present, 75 – 98 μm long, as in Figs 5 and 6 C – E. Soft integument conspicuously and densely striate, with three pairs of setae (Jv 5, Zv 1, Zv 3) in opisthogastric region. Most ventrally located setae needle-like, thin and usually with well-attenuated apical part; Jv 5 rod-like, barbed and with well-developed claviform tip, Zv 3 and barbed postanal seta needle-like, both with small claviform tip. Lengths of sternal and opisthogastric setae as follows: st 1 35 – 46 μm, st 2 and st 3 42 – 53 μm, st 4 47 – 59 μm, st 5 39 – 49 μm, Jv 1 – Jv 3, Zv 1 and Zv 2 36 – 53 μm, Zv 3 90 – 105 μm, Jv 5 110 – 135 μm. Sperm induction structures (Fig. 7 D). Insufficiently sclerotized to be satisfactorily identified and observed in all specimens. This system probably relates to the spherical structures on the inner margins of coxae IV, as suspected in members of the related genus Insectolaelaps (Figs 21 C, 31 C). Gnathosoma (Figs 8 A, 8 C, 9 A, 9 B, 13 B). Gnathosoma relatively small compared to size of idiosoma. Corniculi weakly sclerotized, relatively small, apically forked, convergent to each other and enclosed in hyaline membranous sheath, as in male in Fig. 4 B. Deutosternal furrow conspicuously narrowed over entire length, with four rows, each bearing only one denticle; fifth row distinctly widened beyond lateral margins of deutosternal furrow, almost semicircular, multidenticulate and interrupted medially by furrow; subcapitulum with three pairs of short transverse lines between rostral setae h 3 and pc (Figs 8 A, 8 C); internal malae apically pointed, with fimbriated outer margins and protruding far beyond corniculi. Rostral setae smooth, thin and needle-like, h 1 and h 2 shorter than h 3 and pc (h 1 24 – 33 μm, h 2 18 – 23 μm, h 3 49 – 58 μm, pc 41 – 50 μm), distances between bases of h 1 – h 3 approximately equal. Epistome subtriangular, apically narrowed and pointed, with a cluster of lance-like processes in lateral and ventral subapical parts (Fig. 13 B). Middle article of chelicerae 110 – 118 μm long, with relatively short digits; movable digit 25 – 35 μm long, distinctly longer than fixed digit, with long, sharp and strongly curved terminal hook and three recurved teeth; fixed digit slightly shortened, 18 – 22 μm long, with indistinct terminal hook, very small subterminal tooth and columnar base bearing minute pilus dentilis at apex (Figs 9 A, 9 B); dorsal seta short, barely observable. Palpus with the following setation: trochanter, femur, tibia and tarsus with 2, 5, 6, 7 and 14 setae, respectively; ventral palptrochanter with cushion-shaped (or petal-like) swollen membranous projection (sometimes preventing some hypostomal structures from being recognized and observed), 45 – 55 μm long and 25 – 40 μm wide (Fig. 8 A); palptarsus with two-tined apotele. Legs (Figs 2 A, 10 C). All legs shorter than idiosoma, with well-developed praetarsus and ambulacral apparatus including pulvillus and two claws; legs I with pulvillus and claws slightly smaller than on other legs, longer or similar in length to legs IV; anterior margin of coxae II with sharp spine; legs I 515 – 575 μm, legs II 420 – 470 μm, legs III 390 – 440 μm, legs IV 515 – 570 μm long. Chaetotaxy of the legs: leg I — coxa (2), trochanter 1 - 1 / 3 - 1 (6), femur 2 - 3 / 1, 2 / 3 - 2 (13), genu 2 - 3 / 2, 2 / 1 - 2 (12), tibia 2 - 3 / 2, 2 / 1 - 2 (12); leg II — coxa (2), trochanter 1 - 0 / 3 - 1 (5), femur 2 - 3 / 1, 2 / 2 - 1 (11), genu 2 - 3 / 1, 2 / 1 - 2 (11), tibia 2 - 2 / 1, 2 / 1 - 2 (10); leg III — coxa (2), trochanter 1 - 1 / 3 - 0 (5), femur 1 - 2 / 1, 1 / 0 - 1 (6), genu 2 - 2 / 1, 2 / 1 - 1 (9), tibia 2 - 1 / 1, 2 / 1 - 1 (8); leg IV — coxa (1), trochanter 1 - 1 / 3 - 0 (5), femur 1 - 2 / 1, 1 / 0 - 1 (6), genu 1 - 2 / 1, 2 / 0 - 1 (7), tibia 1 - 1 / 1, 2 / 1 - 1 (7); tarsi II – IV with 18 setae. Leg setae smooth and mostly needle-shaped, only ventral setae of genua III – IV, tibiae II – IV and tarsi II – IV moderately thickened, spine-shaped; and apicodorsal setae (ad 1, pd 1) of tarsi II – IV thin and slightly widened at the end, each with narrow lanceolate tip; genua III and IV and femora III and IV neither with conspicuously elongated and distally attenuated macrosetae, nor with conspicuously thickened or elongated dorsal setae ad 1 and ad 2 on femora IV (Fig. 10 C). Male (Figs 2 B, 4 B, 7 A, 8 B, 9 C, 10 B, 10 D). Idiosoma 700 – 780 μm long, 490 – 540 μm wide (n = 7; Fig. 2 B). Podonotal shield 350 – 415 μm long and 440 – 540 μm wide, laterally fused with peritrematal shields located ventrally at anterolateral margins; opisthonotal shield 340 – 385 μm long and 440 – 535 μm wide, laterally and posteriorly extensively united with ventral shield. Dorsal setation and ornamentation similar to female, with the following exceptions: all dorsal setae on podonotal and opisthonotal shields (no setae on soft integument), punctation and rugosity in both shields clearly reduced and reticulation also well developed in posterior part of opisthonotal shield. Sternitogenital shield as in Fig. 7 A, 260 – 310 μm long, with well-developed endopodal corners between coxae II – III and III – IV, reticulate pattern and four pairs of sternal setae, of which st 4 apparently longest (st 1 35 – 44 μm, st 2 and st 3 36 – 46 μm, st 4 60 – 69 μm); genital setae (st 5 33 – 49 μm) on separate triangular plates adjacent to the most posterior part of sternitogenital shield. Ventral shield with straight anterior margin (without incisions) and the same number of opisthogastric setae as in female. Gnathosoma relatively shorter and wider than in female, with similar features as in female; cushion-like (or petal-like?) membranous projection on palptrochanter slightly larger than in female, 60 – 70 μm long, 37 – 50 μm wide. Length of rostral setae as follows: h 1 25 – 30 μm, h 2 16 – 21 μm, h 3 50 – 55 μm, pc 46 – 51 μm. Middle article of chelicerae apparently more robust than in female, 135 – 145 μm long, gradually widened proximally; movable digit 47 – 53 μm long, with strong terminal hook, large medial tooth and spermatodactyl; spermatodactyl relatively short, 35 – 45 μm long, directed anteriorly and not reaching terminal part of movable digit, curved and horn-shaped, apically tapered and bluntly pointed, sperm duct thin and placed close to ventral side; fixed digit conspicuously shortened, 20 – 25 μm long, with one tooth often larger than short terminal hook, and minute pilus dentilis placed on small columnar base (Fig. 9 C). Legs II spurred (Figs 2 B, 10 D): femur, genu, tibia and tarsus with anteroventral seta modified into highly sclerotized structure formed as a robust and superficially striated spur (femur), semiglobular tubercle on slightly elevated surface (genu) or small, suboval, flat and concave tubercle (tibia, tarsus); femur II with another conspicuous ventrolateral projection posteriad to ventral spur (Fig. 10 D); sexual dimorphism of dorsal setae of femur IV and genu IV not developed (Figs 10 B, 10 C). Other characteristics as in female. Deutonymph (Figs 2 C, 8 D, 9 D, 10 A, 11 – 13 A, 13 C – E). Dorsal idiosoma (Figs 11, 13 A). Idiosoma 495 – 635 μm long, 330 – 455 μm wide (n = 10), elongate, suboval, with the same number of setae as in adults, covered by two dorsal shields; in mature deutonymphs probably before molting, idiosoma conspicuously expanded laterally, subcircular, not completely covered by shields. Podonotal shield 260 – 305 μm long, 265 – 325 μm wide, subpentagonal, with indistinct or only faintly indicated medial scleronodules at level of s 5 and 20 pairs of setae (j 1 and r 3 on soft integument outside shield). Opisthonotal shield 230 – 300 μm long, 260 – 315 μm wide, with similar pattern as in female, except for presence of four pairs of marginal setae (R 2 – R 5 on soft integument adjacent to lateral margins of shield). Surface of dorsal shields well reticulated in the narrow lateromarginal parts, remaining surface densely punctate. Most dorsal setae almost rod-shaped, sparsely barbed and each with a club-shaped apex, except for simple, mostly short and always needle-shaped setae z 1, r 4, J 5, Z 4 and R 1 – R 5; setae j 1, z 6, s 2, r 2, J 5, Z 5, S 1 and S 4 varying in shape of their apical part, either needle-shaped or club-shaped; z 3 and s 1 rarely needle-shaped; S 5 elongate and whip-like, as in female. Soft integument conspicuously and densely striate. Lengths of selected dorsal setae as follows: j 1 27 – 35 μm, j 2 and j 3 32 – 42 μm, j 4 and j 5 25 – 31 μm, j 6 28 – 35 μm, z 1 16 – 21 μm, z 2 55 – 63 μm, z 5 26 – 34 μm, z 6 19 – 28 μm, s 1 25 – 30 μm, s 5 56 – 66 μm, s 6 60 – 70 μm, r 3 70 – 91 μm, J 1, J 2 and J 4 28 – 37 μm, J 3 26 – 35 μm, J 5 15 – 21 μm, Z 1 49 – 57 μm, Z 2 45 – 53 μm, Z 3 36 – 42 μm, Z 4 16 – 22 μm, Z 5 53 – 67 μm, S 1 26 – 32 μm, S 2 49 – 60 μm, S 3 42 – 50 μm, S 4 27 – 33 μm, S 5 275 – 350 μm, R 1 34 – 42 μm, R 2 and R 3 23 – 29 μm, R 4 and R 5 21 – 26 μm. Ventral idiosoma (Fig. 12). Sternal shield 230 – 270 μm long, 92 – 112 μm wide (at widest part of st 2 or iv 2), with a specific reticulate-rugose pattern of ornamentation, weakly sclerotized and transversely striate presternal plates and four pairs of setae (st 1 – st 4); sternal setae st 5 on soft integument adjacent to posterior end of shield (Figs 13 C, 13 D). Seven pairs of opisthogastric setae (Jv 1 – Jv 3, Jv 5, Zv 1 – Zv 3), all arranged on soft integument. Anal shield 90 – 120 μm long, 72 – 87 μm wide, subcircular, well rounded anteriorly, straight to slightly curved laterally, moderately convex posteriorly, with reticulate pattern predominated by concentric lines and three circumanal setae; cribrum with a row of denticles. A pair of narrow and elongate metapodal platelets, 42 – 48 μm long. Peritreme with only a few narrow fragments of peritrematal shield in anterior and submedial parts, not connected to podonotal shield, with anterior tip near seta s 1. Lengths of selected ventrally located setae as follows: st 1 and st 2 20 – 26 μm, st 3 18 – 23 μm, st 4 and st 5 12 – 18 μm, ad 26 – 34 μm, pa 16 – 20 μm, Jv 5 30 – 40 μm. Gnathosoma (Figs 8 D, 9 D, 13 E). Anterior margin of epistome subtriangular, with many fimbriae on laterodistal margins (Fig. 13 E). Deutosternum of gnathosoma (Figs 8 C, 8 D) as in adults, except for length of rostral setae (h 1 10 – 14 μm, h 2 9 – 13 μm, h 3 17 – 22 μm, pc 22 – 27 μm). Chelicera similar to female (Fig. 9 D), 85 – 95 μm long (movable digit 25 – 30 μm long, fixed digit 16 – 21 μm long). Other characteristics as in adults. Legs (Figs 2 C, 10 A). All legs shorter than idiosoma: legs I 420 – 450 μm, legs II 345 – 390 μm, legs III 335 – 395 μm, and legs IV 425 – 465 μm long. Setation as in adults, but ventral setae not as conspicuously thickened, and apicoventral setae (av 1 and pv 1) of tarsi II – IV thin, needle-like and subapically arranged (these setae are short spines in adults and are located at the very end of the tarsi). Dorsal and lateral setae of femur, genu and tibia of legs IV needle-like, as in Fig. 10 A.	en	Mašán, Peter (2025): Digamasellid mites (Acari: Mesostigmata) in association with saproxylic darkling beetles (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) and wood-decaying fungi (Polyporales) in Slovakia. Zootaxa 5627 (1): 1-58, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5627.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5627.1.1
10028794080BFFE6FF148206DD0EF84D.taxon	materials_examined	Type material Holotype female: Slovakia, Little Carpathians Mountains, Lozorno Village, Ohek Mt., beech forest, in decomposing fruiting body of Fomes fomentarius (Basidiomycota: Polyporales) growing on a trunk of Fagus sylvatica and infested by Neomida haemorrhoidalis (Fabricius) (Coleoptera, Tenebrionidae), elevation 350 m, September 10, 2024. Paratypes: six females, three males and 32 deutonymphs — with the same collection data as in the holotype, but the deutonymphs were found on beetles of N. haemorrhoidalis; one female, two males — June 19, 2024, other data as in the holotype; one female — July 22, 2024, other data as in the holotype; one male — Borská Nížina Lowland, Tomky Village, Lásek Forest, pine forest with birch admixture, in old F. fomentarius on a trunk of Betula sp., elevation 190 m, September 1, 2023; one male — Borská Nížina Lowland, Vysoká Pri Morave Village, Horný Les Forest, hard floodplain forest, in F. fomentarius on a trunk of Quercus sp., elevation 145 m, July 15, 2024; one female, 12 deutonymphs — Tríbeč Mountains, Skýcov Village, Prostredný Vrch Mt., deciduous forest, in F. fomentarius on a trunk of F. sylvatica (female), on beetles of N. haemorrhoidalis (deutonymphs), elevation 480 m, June 4, 2024. All these specimens were collected by the author and are deposited in the Institute of Zoology of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia.	en	Mašán, Peter (2025): Digamasellid mites (Acari: Mesostigmata) in association with saproxylic darkling beetles (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) and wood-decaying fungi (Polyporales) in Slovakia. Zootaxa 5627 (1): 1-58, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5627.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5627.1.1
10028794080BFFE6FF148206DD0EF84D.taxon	etymology	Etymology The specific name of this species refers to its phoretic association with the darkling beetle of the genus Neomida Latreille.	en	Mašán, Peter (2025): Digamasellid mites (Acari: Mesostigmata) in association with saproxylic darkling beetles (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) and wood-decaying fungi (Polyporales) in Slovakia. Zootaxa 5627 (1): 1-58, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5627.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5627.1.1
10028794080BFFE6FF148206DD0EF84D.taxon	biology_ecology	Ecological notes A specific phoretic host for Bulbolaelaps neomidae, the tenebrionid Neomida haemorrhoidalis, is a Euro-Siberian species that lives and reproduces in the fruiting bodies of various xylotrophic fungi, mainly Fomes fomentarius. Both this beetle and its main host, the fungus F. fomentarius, have increased their occurrence and abundance due to the considerable increase of dead wood in Slovak forests. According to some authors (Burakowski et al. 1987; Müller et al. 2005), it is a rare species that only occurs in very well-preserved or primeval deciduous forests. Larvae and adults are obligate fungivores and inhabit old fruiting bodies in the later stages of decomposition. The occurrence of Bulbolaelaps neomidae is not rare in Slovakia, and its deutonymphs are very likely to be found in suitable fruiting bodies of the tinder fungus Fomes fomentarius directly on the beetles Neomida haemorrhoidalis. The new mite has not been detected on other species of polypores or host beetles. The deutonymphs are relatively large and can easily be found, especially on relatively small and characteristically colored host beetles, even in large numbers. If no N. haemorrhoidalis beetles are present in the fruiting bodies of tinder fungi, we could not even detect the presence of B. neomidae mites in them. Beetles and their mites mainly inhabit very old sporocarps previously infested by larvae of various fungivorous insects, but also dead fruiting bodies in an advanced stage of decomposition containing detritus with a high content of dusty residues. Obtaining the adult stages of the mite was a time-consuming and laborious activity that remained unsuccessful for a long time. In contrast to the two other reported species, none of the collected adults were found on the surface of the colonized fruiting bodies, but exclusively inside them. When rearing the phoretic deutonymphs together with their beetle hosts in the laboratory, it was not possible to ensure the conditions for their molting and transformation into adults (the deutonymphs lived for several months and moved exclusively on the host beetles until their death). The adult mites are rare compared to the deutonymphs, and they were mostly obtained by individual collection from inside the sporocarps directly in the field and only to a small extent with Berlese-Tullgren funnels in the laboratory. The mites were mainly collected from the upper interior of the fruiting bodies most heavily occupied by the beetles, both from the softer fleshy tissue, directly from the galleries of active beetle larvae, but also from completely dried wood substrate ground to a fine dust. It should be noted that the interior of dead fruiting bodies can develop into a very dry and inhospitable microhabitat during the summer months due to various decomposition processes and, above all, climatic factors. When the fruiting body dried in this way is handled, the contents of the dust particles accumulated during decomposition are easily released from inside the fruiting body and disperse in the form of dust clouds that escape through the holes and cracks in the fruiting body. The formation and development of the three-dimensional, swollen membranous projections near the mouthparts, which probably prevent dust particles from penetrating the mouth opening itself and adhesion to the adjacent fine structures, can be explained precisely against the background of such a specific milieu or life substrate. Similar projections have rarely been observed in other taxa of mesostigmatic mites (e. g. Reticulolaelaps Costa; Nemati et al. 2019). Interestingly, and contrary to the above assumption, the adult specimen of the only congeneric species from Iran with identical inflated membranous projections was collected on the fruiting body of a gilled fungus (possibly a Pleurotus species), which is a fundamentally different fungal species from the perennial Fomes fomentarius. Whether this is an accidental contamination or a typical occurrence of the species in Iran must be clarified by further investigations.	en	Mašán, Peter (2025): Digamasellid mites (Acari: Mesostigmata) in association with saproxylic darkling beetles (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) and wood-decaying fungi (Polyporales) in Slovakia. Zootaxa 5627 (1): 1-58, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5627.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5627.1.1
10028794080BFFE6FF148206DD0EF84D.taxon	discussion	Taxonomic notes The new species from Slovakia is the second known representative of the genus Bulbolaelaps and is very similar to the original species from Iran. Both species can be distinguished by the characteristics listed in the identification keys below.	en	Mašán, Peter (2025): Digamasellid mites (Acari: Mesostigmata) in association with saproxylic darkling beetles (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) and wood-decaying fungi (Polyporales) in Slovakia. Zootaxa 5627 (1): 1-58, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5627.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5627.1.1
10028794080EFFE7FF1485F1D960F86A.taxon	type_taxon	Type species: Dendrolaelaps armatus Hirschmann, 1960, by original designation (only armatus group).	en	Mašán, Peter (2025): Digamasellid mites (Acari: Mesostigmata) in association with saproxylic darkling beetles (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) and wood-decaying fungi (Polyporales) in Slovakia. Zootaxa 5627 (1): 1-58, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5627.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5627.1.1
10028794080EFFE7FF1485F1D960F86A.taxon	discussion	Taxonomic notes The genus Insectolaelaps is a rather small group of digamasellid mites distributed in the Holarctic, currently comprising 15 known species from Europe (10 spp.), Asia (3 spp.) and North America (2 spp.), mainly found in saproxylic habitats, especially in subcortical spaces associated with galleries of bark- and wood-boring beetles. The phoretic activity of their deutonymphs is common in many xylophagous beetles, especially in the scolytine curculionids (Hirschmann and Wiśniewski 1982). Insectolaelaps was originally described by Shcherbak (1980) as a genus of Rhodacaridae Oudemans and later treated as a subgenus of Dendrolaelaps Halbert by Hirschmann & Wiśniewski (1982). Karg (1993) and Castilho (2012) considered Insectolaelaps as a separate genus of Dendrolaelapinae Hirschmann and Digamasellidae Evans, respectively (both as equivalent taxa), with Ipidodendrolaelaps Hirschmann & Wiśniewski as a conspecific taxon, whose species were also included in the genus by Shcherbak (1980), as species of the quadrisetus group sensu Lindquist, 1975. In my opinion, the separate position of Ipidodendrolaelaps, including the four species known from the Holarctic (Castilho 2012), is justified and should be considered a valid taxon in future taxonomic revisions. The original description of the genus by Shcherbak (1980) does not need to be fundamentally changed here, with the exception of the specific chaetotaxy of genu III. Thus, the concept of Insectolaelaps used here is mainly based on the following character states: (1) sperm induction system of females with highly modified genital structures shaped as small and paired spherical organs, usually bearing short hyaline appendages (tubuli annulati, sacculus foemineus or tubes in proximal leg segments absent); (2) female genital structures associated with coxae IV; (3) movable digit of chelicerae with at least five teeth in females; (4) genu III with only one ventral seta (pv 1 absent); (5) posterior row of denticles distinctly wider than preceding rows, all rows with many denticles; (6) legs IV spurred in males [except in Insectolaelaps zvoleniensis (Wiśniewski & Hirschmann)]; (7) all podonotal setae on shield surface in adults.	en	Mašán, Peter (2025): Digamasellid mites (Acari: Mesostigmata) in association with saproxylic darkling beetles (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) and wood-decaying fungi (Polyporales) in Slovakia. Zootaxa 5627 (1): 1-58, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5627.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5627.1.1
100287940801FFECFF14868BD947FBC9.taxon	description	(Figures 14 – 27)	en	Mašán, Peter (2025): Digamasellid mites (Acari: Mesostigmata) in association with saproxylic darkling beetles (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) and wood-decaying fungi (Polyporales) in Slovakia. Zootaxa 5627 (1): 1-58, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5627.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5627.1.1
100287940801FFECFF14868BD947FBC9.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis Idiosoma broadly oval, with mostly strong, acicular and similarly long setae; setae j 1, r 2 and r 3 on soft integument in deutonymph. Shield surface completely (dorsal and ventrianal shields, ventral shield of male) or only laterally reticulate (sternal and sternogenital shields), or punctate (anal shield) or smooth (genital shield, sternal shield of deutonymph). In females, sternal setae st 1 – st 3 somewhat thicker than others, bases of st 3 conspicuously close together; in deutonymph, st 2 and st 4 unusually placed on soft integument. Ventrianal shield with four pairs of opisthogastric setae (Jv 1 – Jv 3, Zv 2), strongly widened in anterior part, with distinct punctation near anus. Peritremes of adults short, reaching level between coxae II and III. Movable cheliceral digit with six to seven teeth in females and five to seven teeth in deutonymphs; male spermatodactyl thin, apically narrowed, moderately curved and longer than movable cheliceral digit. Genu III and tibia III with eight setae each; genu IV and tibia IV without conspicuously elongated dorsal setae. Male legs II and IV spurred, as in Figs 22 A – C, 22 E, 23; subapical spur of tarsus II well developed, with rounded apex.	en	Mašán, Peter (2025): Digamasellid mites (Acari: Mesostigmata) in association with saproxylic darkling beetles (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) and wood-decaying fungi (Polyporales) in Slovakia. Zootaxa 5627 (1): 1-58, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5627.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5627.1.1
100287940801FFECFF14868BD947FBC9.taxon	description	Description Female (Figs 14 A, 15 – 17, 18 C, 19 A, 19 B, 20 A – 20 C, 21 C, 27 A). Dorsal idiosoma (Figs 14 A, 15). Idiosoma 530 – 660 μm long, 365 – 445 μm wide (n = 5), weakly dorso-ventrally flattened, elongate, suboval to obovate, completely covered by two dorsal shields. Podonotal shield 240 – 305 μm long, 350 – 440 μm wide, semicircular, strongly convex anteriorly, moderately curved laterally and almost straight or slightly convex posteriorly, with four weakly indicated medial scleronodules at level of setae r 5, reticulate pattern on surface in anterior and lateral parts, and 22 pairs of setae (j 1 – j 6, z 1 – z 6, s 1 – s 6, r 2 – r 5). Opisthonotal shield 295 – 350 μm long, 350 – 440 μm wide, subpentagonal, widest at level between setae S 1 and S 2, with straight to slightly convex anterior margin, curved lateral margins slightly expanded ventrally, well-rounded posterior margin, reticulate surface and finely punctate medial area between setae J 4 and J 5; 20 pairs of opisthonotal setae, of which only R 1 is located on the soft integument outside the shield. Most dorsal setae relatively stout, acicular and similar in length, except for short, needle-like setae z 1 and J 5 and elongate, whip-like setae Z 5 and S 5. Lengths of selected dorsal setae: j 1 28 – 35 μm, j 2 37 – 47 μm, j 3 47 – 54 μm, j 4 35 – 42 μm, j 5 34 – 40 μm, j 6 36 – 44 μm, z 1 10 – 20 μm, z 5 34 – 44 μm, s 1 20 – 29 μm, s 5 and s 6 54 – 63 μm, r 2 26 – 34 μm, r 3 44 – 54 μm, J 1 41 – 47 μm, J 2 39 – 48 μm, J 3 35 – 43 μm, J 4 29 – 39 μm, J 5 15 – 23 μm, Z 1 57 – 63 μm, Z 2 55 – 64 μm, Z 3 39 – 46 μm, Z 4 29 – 36 μm, Z 5 125 – 175 μm, S 1 50 – 59 μm, S 2 55 – 66 μm, S 3 49 – 58 μm, S 4 46 – 52 μm, S 5 140 – 190 μm, R 1 25 – 35 μm, R 2 25 – 33 μm, R 3 27 – 38 μm, R 4 29 – 37 μm, R 5 32 – 40 μm. Ventral idiosoma (Figs 16, 17). Tritosternum normal for the genus. Presternal plates weakly sclerotized, transversely striate and separately connected to anterolateral margins of sternal shield. Sternal shield shorter than wide, 68 – 85 μm long in its better sclerotized part, 98 – 115 μm wide at the narrowest part between coxae II, with well-developed anterolateral and lateral corners, straight medial anterior and deeply concave posterior margins; lateral surface reticulate or with longitudinal lines, medial surface smooth or sometimes with very faint reticulate pattern in its anterior part; four pairs of sternal setae (st 1 – st 4) and three pairs of slit-like lyrifissures (iv 1 – iv 3), of which st 1 on weakly sclerotized anterior part of shield; sternal setae st 1 – st 3 similar in length and thickness, slightly thicker than st 4 and other ventral setae, with following distances between them: st 3 ↔ st 3 (48 – 60 μm) ≤ st 1 ↔ st 1 (55 – 69 μm) <st 2 ↔ st 2 (92 – 104 μm) <st 4 ↔ st 4 (105 – 112 μm). Epigynal shield elongate, 125 – 140 μm long, 105 – 125 μm at widest part behind genital setae (st 5) and 76 – 86 μm at narrowest part in anterior part between coxae IV, with rounded hyaline anterior margin reaching level of setae st 4, almost straight lateral and posterior margins, smooth surface, and a pair of setae on posterolateral margins; genital lyrifissures (iv 5) on soft integument near posterolateral corners of shield. Ventrianal shield (Fig. 17) longer than wide, 223 – 255 μm long and 185 – 232 μm wide, convex anteriorly and posteriorly, concave laterally, conspicuously widened in anterior part and moderately narrowed in submedial or posterior part, normally with four pairs of opisthogastric setae (Jv 1 – Jv 3, Zv 2) in addition to three circumanal setae (in one female, as in Fig. 16, Zv 3 also on ventrianal shield); almost entire surface reticulate except for punctate area in posteriormost part near anus; circumanal setae similar in length (ad 46 – 55 μm, pa 42 – 49 μm); posterior margin connected to opisthonotal shield, with cribrum having two or three transverse rows of denticles. Endopodal platelets III / IV free, small and subtriangular. Exopodal platelets fused into a narrow strips, free of peritrematal shields except for their posterior tips. Peritrematal shields narrow, free over almost entire length including poststigmatic part, connected to podonotal shield between setae r 2 and r 3; peritremes short, 115 – 135 μm long, with anterior tip between setae r 3 and r 4. Two pairs of metapodal platelets present; larger platelets narrow and long, 52 – 65 μm x 8 – 15 μm in size, more or less constricted in anterior part; smaller platelets suboval to irregularly shaped, 8 – 16 μm x 6 – 10 μm in size. Soft opisthogastric integument with three pairs of setae (Jv 5, Zv 1, Zv 3). All sternal and opisthogastric setae with attenuated apical part and following lengths: st 1 35 – 43 μm, st 2 and st 3 31 – 40 μm, st 4 33 – 43 μm, st 5 36 – 45 μm, Jv 1 30 – 39 μm, Jv 2 and Jv 3 40 – 49 μm, Jv 5 49 – 65 μm, Zv 2 and Zv 3 43 – 55 μm. Sperm induction system (Fig. 21 C). Normal for genus, with a pair of well-sclerotized spherical structures, each adjacent to inner margin of coxa IV and bearing two tubular processes; processes often variously curved, slightly thicker in the basalmost part, 45 – 62 μm long, and with short terminal parts usually insignificantly thickened and apically rounded. Gnathosoma (Figs 14 A, 18 C, 19 A, 19 B, 20 A – 20 C). Deutosternal furrow wide (Fig. 18 C), with five transverse rows of many denticles connected laterally by undulate longitudinal lines; posteriormost row widest and extending well beyond longitudinal lines; corniculi well sclerotized and spaced, horn-like, slightly divergent to each other; internal malae apically pointed, with densely fimbriated outer margins and projecting beyond corniculi. Hypostomal setae smooth and needle-like; setae h 2 shortest and h 3 longest (h 1 35 – 45 μm, h 2 9 – 15 μm, h 3 45 – 56 μm, pc 20 – 27 μm). Middle article of chelicerae relatively long and narrow, gradually widening proximally, 125 – 140 μm long (Figs 19 A, 19 B); movable digit 44 – 52 μm long, with well-developed terminal hook and usually six to seven teeth, including the largest with most proximal position; fixed digit with bidentate terminal hook, a small subterminal tooth and a laterally located row of three larger medial teeth and usually 2 – 4 minute proximal teeth; pilus dentilis short and thick; dorsal seta short, hyaline and barely observable; arthrodial membrane well developed, usually with a row of several spines near ventral base of movable digit. Anterior margin of epistome triramous; all processes similar in size, pointed and spiny in their apical part (Figs 20 A – C). Legs (Figs 14 A, 27 A). All legs shorter than idiosoma, with well-developed pretarsus and ambulacral apparatus including pulvillus and two claws; pulvillus and claws of legs I slightly smaller than those of other legs; legs I shorter or similar in length to legs IV; dorsal scutal surface of coxae I obliquely cleft, with an interspace of soft cuticle (seen in Fig. 14 A) and a row of several denticles on anterior margin; anterior margin of coxae II with a sharp spine; legs I 410 – 455 μm, legs II 340 – 385 μm, legs III 330 – 405 μm, legs IV 410 – 495 μm long. Chaetotaxy of the legs: leg I — coxa (2), trochanter 1 - 1 / 3 - 1 (6), femur 2 - 3 / 1, 2 / 3 - 2 (13), genu 2 - 3 / 2, 2 / 1 - 2 (12), tibia 2 - 3 / 2, 2 / 1 - 2 (12); leg II — coxa (2), trochanter 1 - 0 / 3 - 1 (5), femur 2 - 3 / 1, 2 / 2 - 1 (11), genu 2 - 3 / 1, 2 / 1 - 2 (11), tibia 2 - 2 / 1, 2 / 1 - 2 (10); leg III — coxa (2), trochanter 1 - 1 / 3 - 0 (5), femur 1 - 2 / 1, 1 / 0 - 1 (6), genu 2 - 2 / 1, 2 / 0 - 1 (8), tibia 2 - 1 / 1, 2 / 1 - 1 (8); leg IV — coxa (1), trochanter 1 - 1 / 3 - 0 (5), femur 1 - 2 / 1, 1 / 0 - 1 (6), genu 1 - 2 / 1, 2 / 0 - 1 (7), tibia 1 - 1 / 1, 2 / 1 - 1 (7); tarsi II – IV with 18 setae; pv 1 of genu III absent. Leg setae smooth and mostly needle-like, except for some slightly thickened dorsal setae of femora II – IV and genua III – IV, including spine-like seta pd 2 on genua III and IV (Fig. 27 A), conspicuously shortened and thickened apicoventral setae (av 1, pv 1) on tarsi II – IV, elongated and distally attenuated whip-like setae ad 2 on tarsi II – IV (these ad 2 with unusual perpendicular orientation to tarsal axis). Male (Figs 14 B, 18 E, 19 C, 19 D, 20 D – 20 F, 21 A, 21 B, 22, 23, 27 B). Idiosoma 465 – 570 μm long, 335 – 420 μm wide (n = 6; Fig. 22 D). Podonotal shield 230 – 290 μm long and 335 – 420 μm wide, laterally fused with peritrematal shield located ventrally at anterolateral margins; opisthonotal shield 245 – 295 μm long and 335 – 415 μm wide, extensively united laterally and posteriorly with ventral shield. All dorsal setae on podonotal and opisthonotal shields, including marginal setae R 2 – R 5. Sternitogenital shield as in Fig. 21 A, 210 – 235 μm long, with well-developed endopodal corners between coxae II – III and III – IV, reticulate pattern only on lateromarginal areas and four pairs of similar sternal setae (st 1 – st 4 30 – 47 μm); genital setae (st 5) on triangular plates adjacent to posteriormost part of sternitogenital shield, each plate with two or three longitudinal lines on outer surface and inner posterior margin connected to posterior margin of sternitogenital shield. Ventral shield with convex anteromedial margin, small notches behind coxae IV directed towards setae Zv 1, and same number of opisthogastric setae as in female. Peritrema as in Fig. 21 B. Gnathosoma relatively shorter and broader than in female (Fig. 18 E), with similar features as in female, except for distance between corniculi (more distant in male) and width of deutosternal furrow in its anterior part. Length of rostral setae as follows: h 1 36 – 43 μm, h 2 10 – 14 μm, h 3 45 – 50 μm, pc 19 – 27 μm. Middle article of chelicerae relatively shorter than in female and similarly thick over entire length, 103 – 112 μm long; movable digit 35 – 41 μm long, regularly curved, with well-developed terminal hook, large medial tooth and spermatodactyl; spermatodactyl thin and long (51 – 58 μm long), gradually narrowing towards apex, moderately curved, bluntly pointed, directed forward and upward, and extending far beyond terminal part of movable digit; sperm duct relatively broad, shorter than spermatodactyl (with opening in subapical part) and located approximately along the central axis of spermatodactyl; fixed digit with terminal hook, a distal tooth and small pilus dentilis placed on small projecting base (Figs 19 C, 19 D). Epistome as in Figs 20 D – F, with shorter and wider processes than in female; central process sometimes conspicuously widened, and outer margins of lateral processes sometimes completely serrate. Legs II spurred (Fig. 23 A): anteroventral seta of femur, genu, tibia and tarsus modified into a strongly sclerotized structure, formed as a robust and superficially striated spur (femur) or small and semiglobular tubercle (genu, tibia, tarsus); femur II with another ventrolateral medial projection; ventral telotarsus II with large convex protuberance in distal part, clearly more pronounced than that in proximal part (Figs 23 B – D). Proximal segments of legs IV also spurred (Figs 22 A – C): posteroventral distal margin of coxa with inconspicuous, rounded, petal-like projection (rarely formed as anteriorly directed spine), anterodistal margin of trochanter shaped into a small spine, and medial posteroventral surface of femur with conspicuous, bluntly pointed spur located on suboval or rounded base and usually directed towards distal margin of femur; sexual dimorphism of dorsal setae of femur IV and genu IV not developed (Figs 27 A, 27 B), although male dorsal setae ad 2 and pd 2 of femur with bases on a common bump-like projection (Fig. 22 E). Other characteristics as in female. Deutonymph (Figs 14 C, 18 A, 18 B, 18 D, 20 G – 20 L, 24 – 26, 27 C – 27 F). Dorsal idiosoma (Fig. 10). Idiosoma 450 – 550 μm long, 315 – 460 μm wide (n = 10), elongate, suboval, covered by two dorsal shields and with the same number of setae as in adults; in mature deutonymphs probably before molting, idiosoma conspicuously expanded laterally, subcircular, not completely covered by the shields. Podonotal shield 210 – 255 μm long, 245 – 310 μm wide, subpentagonal, with indistinct or only faintly indicated medial scleronodules between z 5 and 19 pairs of setae (lacking j 1, r 2 and r 3, located on soft integument outside shield); anterior margin straight, as if truncated, without vertical setae (j 1 rarely with asymmetrical placement on shield margin) and rarely a paravertical seta (z 1); bases of j 1 and z 1 with position on ventral side and covered by convex idiosomal vertex in freshly molted deutonymphs (Figs 26 A – C). Opisthonotal shield 195 – 250 μm long, 240 – 310 μm wide, with straight anterior and well-rounded posterior margins and with similar setation as in female, except for presence of four pairs of marginal setae (R 2 – R 5, located on the soft integument adjacent to the lateral margins of shield). Surface of both dorsal shields similarly ornamented as in female except for reticulation in areas between setae J 1 – J 3, Z 1 and Z 2, which consists mainly of dots instead of lines. Dorsal setae mostly thin and needle-like, only Z 5 and S 5 elongate and whip-like as in adults. Soft integument densely striated. Lengths of selected dorsal setae as follows: j 1 22 – 27 μm, j 2 22 – 28 μm, j 3 26 – 34 μm, j 4 – j 6 15 – 21 μm, z 1 10 – 15 μm, z 5 15 – 19 μm, s 1 13 – 18 μm, s 5 30 – 35 μm, s 6 32 – 37 μm, r 2 16 – 21 μm, r 3 34 – 40 μm, J 1 and J 2 16 – 21 μm, J 3 and J 4 13 – 17 μm, J 5 7 – 12 μm, Z 1 and Z 2 24 – 31 μm, Z 3 and Z 4 16 – 21 μm, Z 5 180 – 225 μm, S 1 28 – 35 μm, S 2 29 – 37 μm, S 3 23 – 28 μm, S 4 20 – 26 μm, S 5 170 – 200 μm, R 1 17 – 23 μm, R 2 – R 5 13 – 20 μm. Ventral idiosoma (Fig. 25). Sternal shield 190 – 220 μm long, 75 – 95 μm wide (at widest part of iv 2), with weakly sclerotized anteriormost part with st 1 and obliquely striated presternal plates, with smooth and unevenly sclerotized surface and only two pairs of setae on lateral margins (st 1, st 3); sternal setae st 2, st 4 and st 5 on soft integument adjacent to lateral and posterior margins of shield (Fig. 26 D); rarely st 2 asymmetrically on sternal margin or st 3 asymmetrically on soft integument. Seven pairs of opisthogastric setae (Jv 1 – Jv 3, Jv 5, Zv 1 – Zv 3), all arranged on the soft integument. Anal shield 65 – 95 μm long, 110 – 125 μm wide, semicircular, straight anteromedially, well curved laterally, strongly convex posteriorly and usually punctate on almost entire surface except anteromedial part; cribrum with a row of denticles (Figs 25, 27 F). Two pairs of metapodal platelets, inner platelets minute, usually slit-shaped, and outer platelets distinct, suboval and with a vermiform appendage on anterior margin. Peritreme well developed, with only a few narrow fragments of peritrematal shield in anterior and submedial parts, not connected to podonotal shield, with anterior tip between setae z 1 and s 1. Lengths of selected ventrally located setae as follows: st 1 35 – 42 μm, st 2 – st 5 30 – 38 μm, ad 29 – 34 μm, pa 25 – 30 μm, Jv 5 32 – 40 μm, and other opisthogastric setae 30 – 38 μm. Gnathosoma (Figs 18 A, 18 B, 18 D, 20 G – L). Middle article of chelicerae 93 – 103 μm long (movable digit 31 – 37 μm), similar to female (Fig. 18 A); movable digit usually with six teeth, but often also with five or seven teeth; fixed digit usually without 2 – 4 minute teeth in lateral row, as present in female. Ventral gnathosoma as in female (Figs 18 B, 18 D), with rostral setae of following length: h 1 21 – 30 μm, h 2 10 – 15 μm, h 3 33 – 39 μm, pc 18 – 23 μm. Anterior margin of epistome as in Figs 20 G – L, similar to that of female; some specimens with conspicuously widened central process (Fig. 20 G). Other characteristics as in female. Legs (Figs 14 C, 27 C – E). All legs shorter than idiosoma (Fig. 14 C): legs I 350 – 420 μm, legs II 280 – 340 μm, legs III 270 – 340 μm, and legs IV 330 – 400 μm long. Setation as in adults, but some dorsal setae not as thickened, and apicoventral setae (av 1 and pv 1) of tarsi II – IV thin, needle-like and subapically arranged. Seta ad 2 of tarsi II – IV elongate, distally attenuated, almost whip-like and erect (Figs 27 C, 27 E), similar to female. Dorsal and lateral setae of some leg segments of legs III and IV as in Figs 27 C – E.	en	Mašán, Peter (2025): Digamasellid mites (Acari: Mesostigmata) in association with saproxylic darkling beetles (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) and wood-decaying fungi (Polyporales) in Slovakia. Zootaxa 5627 (1): 1-58, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5627.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5627.1.1
100287940801FFECFF14868BD947FBC9.taxon	materials_examined	Type material Holotype female: Slovakia, Little Carpathians Mountains, Lozorno Village, Lintavy Forest, deciduous forest, decaying fruiting body of Laetiporus sulphureus (Basidiomycota: Polyporales) growing on a trunk of Quercus sp. and infested by Diaperis boleti (Coleoptera, Tenebrionidae), elevation 330 m, September 10, 2024. Paratypes: two females, two males and 13 deutonymphs (six of them on D. boleti) — with the same collection data as in the holotype; one female — Biele Karpaty Mountains, Pruské Village, Babiná Forest, mixed forest, in Phaeolus schweinitzii (Basidiomycota: Polyporales) on a trunk of Pinus silvestris, elevation 270 m, August 17, 2023; eight deutonymphs — Borská Nížina Lowland, Lozorno Village, Dlhá Mláka Forest, pine forest with birch admixture, on D. boleti in Fomitopsis betulina (Basidiomycota: Polyporales) on a trunk of Betulus sp., elevation 180 m, June 21, 2023; one male — Borská Nížina Lowland, Vysoká Pri Morave Village, Horný Les Forest, hard floodplain forest, in L. sulphureus on a trunk of Cerasus avium, elevation 145 m, May 19, 2020; one male — Podunajská Rovina Flatland, Svätý Jur Town, Panónsky Háj Forest, deciduous forest, in L. sulphureus on a trunk of Quercus sp., elevation 135 m, June 12, 2023; one female, two males — Strážovské Vrchy Mountains, Podskalie Village, Veľké Skaly Mt., meadow, in fruiting body of Trametes cf. trogii on a trunk of Quercus sp., elevation 445 m, July 2, 2024; two dutonymphs — Tríbeč Mountains, Lovce Village, Pelúsok Brook Valley, deciduous forest, on D. boleti, in F. betulina on a trunk of Betulus sp., elevation 340 m, June 3, 2024. All these specimens were collected by the author and are deposited at the Institute of Zoology of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia.	en	Mašán, Peter (2025): Digamasellid mites (Acari: Mesostigmata) in association with saproxylic darkling beetles (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) and wood-decaying fungi (Polyporales) in Slovakia. Zootaxa 5627 (1): 1-58, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5627.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5627.1.1
100287940801FFECFF14868BD947FBC9.taxon	etymology	Etymology The specific name of this species refers to its phoretic association with the darkling beetle of the genus Diaperis Geoffroy.	en	Mašán, Peter (2025): Digamasellid mites (Acari: Mesostigmata) in association with saproxylic darkling beetles (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) and wood-decaying fungi (Polyporales) in Slovakia. Zootaxa 5627 (1): 1-58, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5627.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5627.1.1
100287940801FFECFF14868BD947FBC9.taxon	biology_ecology	Ecological notes The phoretic deutonymphs of Insectolaelaps diaperi are not rare in the forest areas of southwestern Slovakia, especially in some polypore fungi inhabited by their specific host beetle Diaperis boleti, such as Fomitopsis betulinus, Laetiporus sulphureus, Phaeolus schweinitzii and Trametes cf. trogii. If this beetle was missing in the examined fungus, we were also unable to detect the mite. In contrast to the tenebrionid Neomida haemorrhoidalis, D. boleti is not a monophagous fungivore and feeds on a much broader spectrum of fungal species. In general, it prefers sporocarps of various “ soft ” polypores growing mainly on deciduous trees. Insectolaelaps diaperi is a monoxenous species and, unlike Insectolaelaps latopini, has not been found on other fungivorous tenebrionids. The deutonymphs of I. diaperi are relatively large and can also be found on the body surface and in the subelytral cavity of adult beetles. The beetle Diaperis boleti seems to be the main host for two mesostigmatic mites. In addition to the deutonymphs of Insectolaelaps diaperi, it also harbors the females of the fungicolous blattisociid mite Lasioseius boleti recently described by Mašán (2023 a). The beetle is widespread in Slovakia and occurs in Europe, Northwest Africa and Asia (Burakowski et al. 1987). Its typical habitat is old deciduous forests, but it can also be found in fungi on isolated trees in parks or gardens. The longevity of the “ soft ” and “ fleshy ” sporocarps of the above-mentioned fungi is considerably reduced compared to perennial fungi such as Fomes fomentarius, e. g. only one year in Laetiporus sulphureus, so that some beetles (together with mites) that survive the winter have to colonize a new fungus at the beginning of the new reproductive season (Burakowski et al. 1987). Despite the enormous effort and the high number of phoretic deutonymphs on the host beetles in the observed fruiting bodies, only a limited number of adult individuals could be obtained from the sporocarps. The adults were collected individually from both sides of the fungal surface (in the case of Laetiporus sulphureus), from tunnels left by larvae of different fungivorous insects in the fungal tissue (L. sulphureus, Phaeolus schweinitzii), and inside the pores of the active hymenophore (Trametes cf. trogii).	en	Mašán, Peter (2025): Digamasellid mites (Acari: Mesostigmata) in association with saproxylic darkling beetles (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) and wood-decaying fungi (Polyporales) in Slovakia. Zootaxa 5627 (1): 1-58, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5627.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5627.1.1
100287940801FFECFF14868BD947FBC9.taxon	discussion	Taxonomic notes With the broadened shape of the idiosoma and ventrianal shield, most of the dorsal setae of similar length and the straight anteromedial margin of the opisthonotal shield, Insectolaelaps diaperi is most similar to Insectolaelaps japanoarmatus Hirschmann & Wiśniewski, 1982, a species originally based only on barely adequate illustrations of misidentified females of Insectolaelaps armatus from Japan (Ishikawa 1980). The females of the two species can be easily distinguished by the following characters, with the corresponding data for I. diaperi in parentheses: 1) setae J 4 longer than j 5 and J 1: J 4> j 5 ≈ J 1 (J 4 shorter than j 5 and J 1: J 4 <j 5 ≤ J 1), 2) movable cheliceral digit with eight teeth in addition to the terminal hook (with six to seven teeth), 3) bases of setae st 1 – st 4 longitudinally aligned, all near the lateral margins of the sternal shield (st 3 conspicuously adjacent and in the submedial part of the shield), and 4) ventrianal shield with straight anterior margin and widened posterior part (with widely convex anterior margin and widened anterior part). Insectolaelaps latoarmatus Hirschmann & Wiśniewski, 1982 from North America is another very similar species, which can be distinguished from the new species by the same features as in Insectolaelaps japanoarmatus, such as the form and arrangement of the setae on the sternal shield, the shape of the ventrianal shield, the relative length of the opisthonotal setae J 4 and the dentition of the movable cheliceral digit. Among the Insectolaelaps species, deutonymphs are known in about ten species. All these deutonymphs have a normal number of four pairs of setae on the sternal shield (st 1 – st 4). The same structure of the deutonymphs of Insectolaelaps diaperi is unusual in that it has only two pairs (st 1, st 3) on the lateral edges of the shield. The arrangement of the sternal setae is often related to the size of the shield, but in the new species it does not seem to be reduced compared to congeners. I am currently not aware of any digamasellid species with a similar feature.	en	Mašán, Peter (2025): Digamasellid mites (Acari: Mesostigmata) in association with saproxylic darkling beetles (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) and wood-decaying fungi (Polyporales) in Slovakia. Zootaxa 5627 (1): 1-58, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5627.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5627.1.1
100287940805FFF1FF1482B6DE66FE41.taxon	description	(Figures 28 – 36)	en	Mašán, Peter (2025): Digamasellid mites (Acari: Mesostigmata) in association with saproxylic darkling beetles (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) and wood-decaying fungi (Polyporales) in Slovakia. Zootaxa 5627 (1): 1-58, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5627.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5627.1.1
100287940805FFF1FF1482B6DE66FE41.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis Idiosoma suboval, with setae mostly thin and short, similar in length; setae r 2 and r 3 on soft integument in deutonymph. Dorsal and ventral shields reticulate and densely micropunctate, at least in lateral parts. In females sternal setae st 3 somewhat thicker than others, with conspicuously adjacent bases. Genital shield with a small marginal notch in posterolateral corner. Ventrianal shield with four pairs of opisthogastric setae (Jv 1 – Jv 3, Zv 2), widened in anterior part, with distinct punctation near anus. Peritremes of adults short and not reaching anterior margins of coxae III. Movable cheliceral digit with six to seven teeth in females and five to six teeth in deutonymphs; male spermatodactyl thin, curved and almost as long as movable chela. Genu III and tibia III with seven setae each and only one anterolateral seta; genu IV and tibia IV without conspicuously elongated dorsal setae. Male legs II and IV spurred, as in Figs 34 A – D; subapical spur of tarsus II unusually robust, with rounded apex.	en	Mašán, Peter (2025): Digamasellid mites (Acari: Mesostigmata) in association with saproxylic darkling beetles (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) and wood-decaying fungi (Polyporales) in Slovakia. Zootaxa 5627 (1): 1-58, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5627.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5627.1.1
100287940805FFF1FF1482B6DE66FE41.taxon	description	Redescription Female (Figs 28 A, 29 – 31 A, 31 C, 32 A, 32 D, 33 A, 34 E, 36 B, 36 C). Dorsal idiosoma (Fig. 29). Idiosoma 450 – 575 μm long, 270 – 345 μm wide (n = 10), dorso-ventrally flattened, elongate, suboval, largely covered by two dorsal shields. Podonotal shield 220 – 275 μm long, 250 – 320 μm wide, semicircular, convex anteriorly, moderately curved laterally and almost straight or slightly convex posteriorly, with four small and rounded medial scleronodules between setae j 5 and j 6, very fine punctation on weakly reticulate surface and 22 pairs of setae (j 1 – j 6, z 1 – z 6, s 1 – s 6, r 2 – r 5), of which r 3 usually located ventrally on peritrematal part of the shield. Opisthonotal shield 240 – 305 μm long, 235 – 315 μm wide, semicircular, widest at level between setae S 1 and S 2, with straight to slightly convex anterior margin, curved lateral margins slightly expanded ventrally, well-rounded posterior margin, punctate-reticulate surface (reticulation better indicated in anterolateral areas between setae J 1 – J 3 and Z 1 – Z 3 and predominated by transverse lines at level between setae J 3 and J 4), and a curved row of dots between setae Z 5; 20 pairs of opisthonotal setae, of which only R 1 is located on the soft integument outside the shield. Most dorsal setae relatively short and thin, needle-like and similar in length, except for short setae z 1, R 1, R 2 and J 5, and elongate whip-like setae Z 5 and S 5. Lengths of selected dorsal setae: j 1, j 5 and j 6 20 – 26 μm, j 2 and j 4 25 – 31 μm, j 3 29 – 35 μm, z 1 13 – 17 μm, z 5 23 – 28 μm, s 1 19 – 24 μm, s 5, s 6 and r 3 28 – 35 μm, J 1 – J 4 20 – 26 μm, J 5 11 – 15 μm, Z 1 – Z 3 29 – 36 μm, Z 4 20 – 25 μm, Z 5 90 – 110 μm, S 1 – S 4 27 – 35 μm, S 5 105 – 135 μm, R 1 and R 2 10 – 15 μm, R 3 14 – 18 μm, R 4 19 – 24 μm, R 5 27 – 36 μm. Ventral idiosoma (Figs 28 A, 30, 31 A, 32 A). Tritosternum normal for the genus. Presternal plates weakly sclerotized, transversely striate and separately connected to anterolateral margins of sternal shield (Fig. 31 A). Sternal shield 78 – 97 μm long in its better sclerotized part, 75 – 90 μm wide at the narrowest part between coxae II, with well-developed anterolateral and lateral corners, undulate and slightly concave anterior and well concave posterior margins; surface completely and finely punctate like other ventrally located scutal structures, with reticulation better indicated in marginal areas and usually absent in posteromedial part; four pairs of sternal setae (st 1 – st 4) and three pairs of slit-like lyrifissures (iv 1 – iv 3), of which st 1 located on weakly sclerotized anterior part of shield; sternal setae st 1 – st 4 similar in length, but st 3 slightly thicker than others (Fig. 30), with following distances between them: st 3 ↔ st 3 (28 – 39 μm) <st 1 ↔ st 1 (62 – 71 μm) <st 2 ↔ st 2 (74 – 86 μm) ≤ st 4 ↔ st 4 (78 – 98 μm). Epigynal shield elongate, 105 – 135 μm long, 83 – 112 μm at widest point behind genital setae (st 5) and 54 – 69 μm at narrowest point in anterior part between coxae IV, with convex hyaline anterior margin reaching level of setae st 4, straight lateral margins, straight to slightly convex posterior margin, a pair of small incisions in posterolateral corners, faint reticulate pattern predominated by longitudinal lines in anterior and posterolateral parts, and a pair of setae on posterolateral margins (Fig. 30); genital lyrifissures (iv 5) on soft integument near posterolateral corners of shield. Ventrianal shield (Fig. 32 A) longer than wide, 167 – 235 μm long and 120 – 172 μm wide, convex anteriorly and posteriorly, concave laterally, conspicuously widened in anterior part and moderately narrowed posteriorly, with a slight notch near bases of Jv 1, four pairs of opisthogastric setae (Jv 1 – Jv 3, Zv 2; of which Jv 1 and Zv 2 on shield margin) and three circumanal setae; almost entire surface reticulate, except for punctate area in posteriormost part near anus; circumanal setae similar in length (ad 29 – 40 μm, pa 26 – 36 μm); posterior margin connected to opisthonotal shield; cribrum with two transverse rows of denticles. Endopodal platelets III / IV free, small and subtriangular. Exopodal platelets fused into a narrow strips, free of peritrematal shields except for their posterior tips. Peritrematal shields narrow, free over almost entire length including poststigmatic part, connected to podonotal shield between setae r 2 and r 3; peritremes short, 71 – 117 μm long, with anterior tip between setae r 4 and r 5. Two pairs of metapodal platelets present; larger platelets narrow and long, usually 28 – 46 μm long, fusiform, with anterior and posterior angles bluntly pointed and a wormlike appendage connected to anterior margin; smaller platelets minute, slit-shaped. Soft opisthogastric integument with three pairs of setae (Jv 5, Zv 1, Zv 3). All sternal and opisthogastric setae similar to those on dorsum, except for slightly thicker st 3, with following lengths: st 1 24 – 31 μm, st 2 and st 3 22 – 29 μm, st 4 20 – 27 μm, st 5 24 – 28 μm, Jv 1 19 – 25 μm, Jv 2 22 – 27 μm, Jv 3 25 – 33 μm, Jv 5 35 – 45 μm, Zv 1 18 – 23 μm, Zv 2 and Zv 3 22 – 30 μm. Sperm induction system (Fig. 31 C). Normal for genus, with a pair of well-sclerotized spherical structures, each adjacent to inner margin of coxa IV and bearing two tubular projections; projection often variously curved, only rarely straight as in Fig. 31 C, somewhat thicker in basal part and 30 – 55 μm long. Gnathosoma (Figs 32 D, 33 A, 36 B, 36 C). Deutosternal furrow normal for genus, with five transverse rows of many denticles connected laterally by slightly undulate longitudinal lines (Fig. 32 D); posteriormost row widest and extending beyond longitudinal lines; corniculi well sclerotized and spaced, horn-like, divergent to each other; internal malae apically pointed, with densely fimbriated outer margins and reaching beyond corniculi. Hypostomal setae smooth and needle-like, usually with attenuated apical part in h 1 and h 3; setae h 2 shortest and h 3 longest (h 1 35 – 43 μm, h 2 12 – 17 μm, h 3 46 – 56 μm, pc 22 – 30 μm). Middle article of chelicerae relatively short and broad, with similar width along entire length, 125 – 138 μm long (Fig. 33 A); digits relatively robust, movable digit 52 – 59 μm long, with well-developed terminal hook and six, more often seven teeth (rarely eight teeth), including the largest and most proximal one; fixed digit with bidentate terminal hook, one distal tooth and laterally located row of three larger medial teeth, followed by usually 3 – 5 smaller proximal teeth; pilus dentilis short and thin; dorsal cheliceral seta short, hyaline and barely observable; arthrodial membrane well developed, usually with a row of several spines near ventral base of movable digit. Anterior margin of epistome triramous; all processes thin and similar in size, slightly spatulate and spiny in their apical part (Figs 36 B, 36 C). Legs (Figs 28 A, 34 E). All legs shorter than idiosoma, with well-developed pretarsus and ambulacral apparatus including pulvillus and two claws; pulvillus and claws of legs I smaller than those of other legs; legs I longer or similar in length to legs IV; dorsal scutal surface of coxae I obliquely cleft, with interspace of soft cuticle (Fig. 28 A) and a row of several denticles on anterior margin; anterior margin of coxae II with a sharp spine; legs I 365 – 415 μm, legs II 295 – 355 μm, legs III 265 – 315 μm, legs IV 330 – 410 μm long. Chaetotaxy of the legs: leg I — coxa (2), trochanter 1 - 1 / 3 - 1 (6), femur 2 - 3 / 1, 2 / 3 - 2 (13), genu 2 - 3 / 2, 2 / 1 - 2 (12), tibia 2 - 3 / 2, 2 / 1 - 2 (12); leg II — coxa (2), trochanter 1 - 0 / 3 - 1 (5), femur 2 - 3 / 1, 2 / 2 - 1 (11), genu 2 - 3 / 1, 2 / 1 - 2 (11), tibia 2 - 2 / 1, 2 / 1 - 2 (10); leg III — coxa (2), trochanter 1 - 1 / 3 - 0 (5), femur 1 - 2 / 1, 1 / 0 - 1 (6), genu 1 - 2 / 1, 2 / 0 - 1 (7), tibia 1 - 1 / 1, 2 / 1 - 1 (7); leg IV — coxa (1), trochanter 1 - 1 / 3 - 0 (5), femur 1 - 2 / 1, 1 / 0 - 1 (6), genu 1 - 2 / 1, 2 / 0 - 1 (7), tibia 1 - 1 / 1, 2 / 1 - 1 (7); tarsi II – IV with 18 setae; genu III with only seven setae (al 2 and pv 1 absent), tibia III with only seven setae (al 2 absent). Leg setae smooth and thin, mostly needle-like, except for some slightly thickened dorsal setae of femora II – IV and genua III – IV, including spine-like seta pd 2 on genua III and IV (Fig. 34 E), conspicuously shortened and thickened apicoventral setae (av 1, pv 1) on tarsi II – IV, elongated and distally attenuated whip-like setae ad 2 on tarsi II – IV (ad 2 unusually oriented perpendicular to tarsal axis). Male (Figs 28 B, 31 B, 31 D, 32 E, 33 B, 34 A – D, 36 D, 36 E). Idiosoma 405 – 535 μm long, 245 – 350 μm wide (n = 10; Fig. 28 B). Podonotal shield 215 – 275 μm long and 245 – 350 μm wide, laterally fused with peritrematal shield, located on anterolateral margins of venter; opisthonotal shield 195 – 270 μm long and 245 – 340 μm wide, extensively united laterally and posteriorly with ventral shield. All dorsal setae on podonotal and opisthonotal shields, including marginal setae R 1 – R 5. Sternitogenital shield as in Fig. 31 B, 180 – 245 μm long, with well-developed endopodal corners between coxae II – III and III – IV, completely punctate, with reticulate pattern on anterior and medial parts, and four pairs of similar sternal setae (st 1 24 – 29 μm, st 2 – st 4 18 – 27 μm); genital setae (st 5) on triangular plates adjacent to posteriormost part of sternitogenital shield, each plate with several longitudinal lines on surface and inner posterior margin connected to posterior margin of sternitogenital shield. Anterior margin of ventral shield widely convex and deeply notched behind coxae IV, each notch narrow, long, diagonally directed and ending near bases of setae Jv 1; shield with the same number of opisthogastric setae as in female. Peritrema as in Fig. 31 D, similar to that of female. Ventral gnathosoma with similar features as in female (Fig. 32 E), but relatively shorter and broader than in female; length of rostral setae as follows: h 1 21 – 28 μm, h 2 11 – 16 μm, h 3 50 – 58 μm, pc 31 – 37 μm. Middle article of chelicerae similar in proportions to that of female, 113 – 129 μm long; movable digit 43 – 52 μm long, regularly curved distally, with well-developed terminal hook, large submedial tooth and spermatodactyl; spermatodactyl about as long as fixed digit, narrow and long (47 – 55 μm long), slightly narrowed towards terminal part, moderately curved in distal part, apically rounded or bluntly pointed, with proximal part directed anteriorly and obliquely downwards and most distal part towards midline; sperm duct relatively wide, open near apex and located approximately along the central axis of spermatodactyl; fixed digit with short terminal hook, distal tooth and small pilus dentilis (Fig. 33 B). Epistome as in Figs 36 D and 36 E, similar to that of female. Legs II spurred (Figs 34 A – D): femur, genu, tibia and tarsus with anteroventral seta modified into robust and superficially striated spur (femur), or with strongly sclerotized structure shaped as small and hemispherical tubercle (genu, tibia, tarsus); ventral telotarsus II with conspicuous, almost tubular and apically rounded projection in distal part, apparently more pronounced than in its proximal part (Figs 34 C, 34 D). Proximal segments of legs IV also spurred (Figs 34 A, 34 B): posteroventral distal margin of coxa with inconspicuous, rounded, petal-like projection and row of denticles behind this projection; anterodistal margin of trochanter with rather large and bluntly pointed spur, posterodistal margin of trochanter with small swelling; and medial posteroventral surface of femur also with conspicuous and bluntly pointed spur (spur of femur almost as large as that on trochanter); spurs of legs IV clearly reduced in size in small individuals; sexual dimorphism of dorsal setae of legs IV only weakly pronounced: ad 2 of femur IV spine-like and together with pd 2 on common bump-like projection (Fig. 34 B). Other characteristics as in female. Deutonymph (Figs 28 C, 32 B, 32 C, 32 F, 33 C, 35, 36 A, 36 F, 36 G). Dorsal idiosoma (Fig. 35). Idiosoma 385 – 455 μm long, 230 – 305 μm wide (n = 10), elongate, suboval, covered by two dorsal shields and with the same number of setae as in adults; in mature deutonymphs probably before molting, idiosoma conspicuously expanded laterally, subcircular, not completely covered by the shields. Podonotal shield 195 – 240 μm long, 200 – 250 μm wide, subpentagonal, with indistinct or only faintly indicated medial scleronodules at level between setae j 5 and j 6 and 20 pairs of setae (lacking r 2 and r 3, both on soft integument outside shield). Opisthonotal shield 188 – 222 μm long, 195 – 245 μm wide, with straight to slightly convex anterior and lateral margins, well-rounded posterior margin and similar setation as in female, except for presence of four pairs of marginal setae (R 2 – R 5 on soft integument adjacent to lateral margins of shield). Surface of both dorsal shields with similar ornamentation as in female. Dorsal setae mostly thin and needle-like, only Z 5 and S 5 elongated and whip-like as in adults. Soft integument densely striated. Lengths of selected dorsal setae as follows: j 1 12 – 17 μm, j 2 and j 4 – j 6 16 – 24 μm, j 3 23 – 29 μm, z 1 9 – 13 μm, z 5 18 – 23 μm, s 5 24 – 31 μm, s 6 28 – 35 μm, r 3 24 – 32 μm, J 1 – J 3 15 – 21 μm, J 4 13 – 18 μm, J 5 6 – 10 μm, Z 1 and Z 2 24 – 30 μm, Z 3 22 – 27 μm, Z 4 15 – 20 μm, Z 5 105 – 135 μm, S 1 and S 3 23 – 29 μm, S 2 28 – 35 μm, S 4 19 – 25 μm, S 5 120 – 140 μm, R 1 – R 3 7 – 14 μm, R 4 12 – 17 μm, R 5 16 – 22 μm. Ventral idiosoma (Fig. 36 A). Presternal plates weakly sclerotized, diagonally striated and completely fused with sternal shield. Sternal shield 185 – 215 μm long, 75 – 90 μm wide (at widest part of iv 2), with fine reticulation on entire surface (rarely reticulation indistinct, not well visible), weak sclerotization in anteriormost part with st 1 and four pairs of setae placed very close to lateral margins; sternal setae st 5 on soft integument adjacent to posterior margin of shield (Fig. 36 A). Seven pairs of opisthogastric setae (Jv 1 – Jv 3, Jv 5, Zv 1 – Zv 3), all placed on soft integument. Anal shield 75 – 102 μm long, 100 – 125 μm wide, as in Figs 32 B and 32 C, rounded anteriorly and laterally, strongly convex posteriorly, reticulate on medial preanal surface, densely and distinctly punctate on lateral and postanal surfaces; cribrum with a slightly curved row of denticles posterior to postanal seta. All scutal structures with fine micropunctation. Two pairs of metapodal platelets, slit-shaped inner platelets minute, barely observable, outer platelets distinct, suboval, subglobose or irregularly shaped. Peritreme long, with only a few narrow fragments of peritrematal shield in anterior and submedial parts; anterior tip free of podonotal shield and extending between setae z 1 and s 1. Lengths of selected ventrally located setae as follows: st 1 18 – 25 μm, st 2 – st 5 11 – 17 μm, ad 24 – 32 μm, pa 20 – 27 μm, Jv 5 26 – 34 μm, Zv 1 10 – 15 μm, and other opisthogastric setae 13 – 21 μm. Gnathosoma (Figs 32 F, 33 C, 36 F, 36 G). Ventral gnathosoma as in female (Figs 32 F), with following length of rostral setae: h 1 26 – 33 μm, h 2 10 – 15 μm, h 3 36 – 43 μm, pc 19 – 26 μm. Middle article of chelicerae 101 – 111 μm long; movable digit 40 – 48 μm, usually with six teeth, but often also with five and rarely seven teeth; fixed digit with similar dentition as in female (Fig. 33 C). Anterior margin of epistome as in adults and Figs 36 F and 36 G. Legs (Fig. 28 C). All legs shorter than idiosoma: legs I 320 – 360 μm, legs II 255 – 300 μm, legs III 230 – 270 μm and legs IV 295 – 340 μm long. Setation as in adults, but some dorsal setae not as strong, and apicoventral setae (av 1 and pv 1) of tarsi II – IV thin, needle-like and with subapical arrangement. Other features as in female.	en	Mašán, Peter (2025): Digamasellid mites (Acari: Mesostigmata) in association with saproxylic darkling beetles (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) and wood-decaying fungi (Polyporales) in Slovakia. Zootaxa 5627 (1): 1-58, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5627.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5627.1.1
100287940805FFF1FF1482B6DE66FE41.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined Thirty-five females, 18 males, 38 deutonymphs — Slovakia, Borská Nížina Lowland, Tomky Village, Lásek Forest, pine forest with birch admixture, in fruiting body of old Fomes fomentarius growing on a trunk of Betula sp., elevation 190 m, September 1, 2023; one deutonymph — Šaštín-Stráže Town, Gazárka Jubilejný Forest, mixed forest, on Fomitopsis betulina and a trunk of Betula sp., elevation 175 m, June 25, 2024; three females, four males, seven deutonymphs (November 15, 2023), three females, one male, six deutonymphs (July 4, 2024) — Javorníky Mountains, Papradno Village, Papradnianka Brook Valley, mixed forest, on Ganoderma applanatum (Basidiomycota: Polyporales) on a spruce stump, elevation 450 m, July 4, 2024; one deutonymph — Little Carpathians Mountains, Bratislava Capital, Kamzík Forest, deciduous forest, on Bolitophagus interruptus Illiger (Coleoptera, Tenebrionidae) in old F. fomentarius on a trunk of Fagus sylvatica, elevation 340 m, May 6, 2019; 17 females, 9 males, 15 deutonymphs — Lozorno Village, Lintavy Forest, deciduous forest, in old F. fomentarius abundantly infested by Bolitophagus reticulatus (Linnaeus) (Coleoptera, Tenebrionidae) and Neomida haemorrhoidalis, on a trunk of Aesculus hippocastanum, elevation 340 m, September 10, 2023; seven females, eight males, six deutonymphs (including three deutonymphs on B. reticulatus) — Stupava Town, Riedky Vŕšok Mt., deciduous forest, in F. fomentarius on a trunk of F. sylvatica, elevation 265 m, June 17, 2024; one deutonymph — Podunajská Rovina Flatland, Svätý Jur Town, Panónsky Háj Forest, deciduous forest, on Eledonoprius armatus (Coleoptera, Tenebrionidae) in Inonotus obliquus (Basidiomycota: Polyporales) on a stem of Carpinus betulus, elevation 135, September 27, 2023; one deutonymph — Považský Inovec Mountains, Hrádok Village, Hrádocká dolina Valley, deciduous forest, on B. reticulatus found in F. fomentarius on F. sylvatica, elevation 350 m, June 1, 1995; three males, one deutonymph — Rimavská Kotlina Basin, Teplý Vrch Village, Hikóriový Porast Forest, oak forest with admixture of C. betulus, on Trametes gibbosa (Basidiomycota: Polyporales) and stump of Quercus sp., elevation 225 m, June 21, 2005; four females, two males, four deutonymphs — Slovenský Raj Mountains, Hrabušice Village, Suchá Belá Valley, spruce forest, in Ischnoderma benzoinum (Basidiomycota: Polyporales) on a stump of Picea abies, elevation 580 m, October 1, 2024; six females, one male, 56 deutonymphs (including seven deutonymphs on B. reticulatus) — Tríbeč Mountains, Skýcov Village, Prostredný Vrch Mt., deciduous forest, in F. fomentarius on a trunk of F. sylvatica, elevation 480 m, June 6, 2024.	en	Mašán, Peter (2025): Digamasellid mites (Acari: Mesostigmata) in association with saproxylic darkling beetles (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) and wood-decaying fungi (Polyporales) in Slovakia. Zootaxa 5627 (1): 1-58, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5627.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5627.1.1
100287940805FFF1FF1482B6DE66FE41.taxon	biology_ecology	Ecological notes Insectolaelaps latopini is one of the most common mesostigmatans on perennial xylotrophic fungi in Slovakia, as it colonises a broader spectrum of such polypores than other mycetobiont species (found on / in Fomes fomentarius, Fomitopsis betulina, Ganoderma applanatum, Inonotus obliquus, Ischnoderma benzoinum, Trametes gibbosa) and at the same time is able to colonize the fruiting bodies already at the stage of their growth or incipient decomposition. It prefers particularly large fruiting bodies of the tinder fungus Fomes fomentarius, which are probably obtained by phoresy of deutonymphs on the black tinder fungus beetle, Bolitophagus reticulatus, which seems to be monophagous on tinder fungus, but other host fungi are also occasionally reported for this beetle (Nilsson 1997). Remarkably, we have never found phoretically active deutonymphs of I. latopini on the beetle Neomida haemorrhoidalis, which could serve as a potential secondary host and which often occurs together with B. reticulatus in the same fruiting bodies of tinder fungus and is the phoretic host of the mite Bulbolaelaps neomidae. The different phoretic appetence of the two mites mentioned must also be pointed out, as findings of phoretic deutonymphs of the mite I. latopini on the host beetles are incomparably rarer compared to B. neomidae. This is probably due to the different bionomy, feeding requirements and reproductive and dispersal strategies. The adult mites can easily be collected directly from the fruiting bodies of the tinder fungus with a moistened toothpick, especially from the spore-bearing lower layer when they move or hide in crevices or various surface irregularities. In older and already partially decomposed sporocarps, which have a high content of fungal remains, the adult mites can be collected abundantly inside the fungi. If the sporocarps are infested, the mites often like to hide in the silk-woven frass of the moth larvae from the Tineidae family near the entry holes that these larvae make on the underside of the fruiting body. These holes and the exit holes on the upper side of the fruiting body probably facilitate the penetration of various fungus-feeding beetles, including mites, into the interior of the fungus. The tubes of the hymenophores are narrow enough to be inhabited by these mites, as is the case with other fungi and other fungus-inhabiting and similarly sized mesostigmatic mites (Lindquist 1995). In contrast to the two previous digamasellid species, Insectolaelaps latopini is not monoxenous, i. e. strictly bound to a single phoretic host. Its dispersal can be ensured by phoresy on various darkling beetles, most frequently on the beetles Bolitophagus reticulatus, more rarely also on the related Bolitophagus interruptus and Eledonoprius armatus. Also in contrast to the two previous digamasellids, I. latopini occurred on fungi on which its phoretic hosts could not be detected. This could be related to the presence of other potential phoretic hosts used to spread the mites, such as fungivorous fruit flies of the family Drosophilidae or fungus gnats of the dipteran family Keroplatidae. For example, flies of the genus Drosophila Fallén are known to be hosts of mycetobiont mites of the genus Hoploseius Berlese (Chant 1963).	en	Mašán, Peter (2025): Digamasellid mites (Acari: Mesostigmata) in association with saproxylic darkling beetles (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) and wood-decaying fungi (Polyporales) in Slovakia. Zootaxa 5627 (1): 1-58, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5627.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5627.1.1
100287940805FFF1FF1482B6DE66FE41.taxon	discussion	Taxonomic notes Insectolaelaps latopini was originally described in 1982 by Hirschmann & Wiśniewski on the basis of illustrations of two females from the Caucasus (coastal area of the Black Sea), which were incorrectly identified as Insectolaelaps pini (Hirschmann) by Shcherbak (1980). Later, Wiśniewski (1984) redescribed the adults and deutonymph of this species under the name Dendrolaelaps (Insectolaelaps) latopini, which he found in a fungus Fomes fomentarius growing on a birch tree in Babki Forestry near Poznan (Poland). He described and illustrated all the important morphological features of the species, with the exception of the metric data and chaetotaxy of the legs. I was able to examine a small part of the specimens from Babki redescribed by Wiśniewski and deposited in his collection in Poznan (one female and one deutonymph), and I can confirm a perfect match between the individuals from Poland and those collected by me in Slovakia. When redescribing the species Insectolaelaps latopini, Wiśniewski (1984) was aware of the considerable mutual similarity with the related species Insectolaelaps pini and therefore attached great importance to their comparison in order to facilitate the differentiation of the two species. Despite his efforts, I. latopini could be misidentified and confused with I. pini in some analyzes of mites collected from wood-decaying fungi in Europe (Salmane 2005; Gdula et al. 2024). As my preliminary study of a limited number of Insectolaelaps species collected in Slovakia has shown, the adult and deutonymphal stages of I. latopini can be easily and reliably distinguished from other congeneric species based on the chaetotaxy of the genu and tibia of legs III. These leg segments have eight setae in the representatives of the genus Insectolaelaps, two of which are anterolateral setae (al 1, al 2), whereas I. latopini has only one such seta (al 2 missing) out of a total of seven setae. The absence of the anterolateral seta al 2 in both segments is unusual and has not been found in the other genera of the family, except for some neotenic forms in the genus Longoseius Chant (Lindquist 1975).	en	Mašán, Peter (2025): Digamasellid mites (Acari: Mesostigmata) in association with saproxylic darkling beetles (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) and wood-decaying fungi (Polyporales) in Slovakia. Zootaxa 5627 (1): 1-58, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5627.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5627.1.1
