Oribatella reticulata Berlese, 1916

Behan-Pelletier, V. M., 2011, Oribatella (Acari, Oribatida, Oribatellidae) of eastern North America, Zootaxa 2973 (1), pp. 1-56 : 44-45

Oribatella reticulata Berlese, 1916

Oribatella reticulata Berlese, 1916, p. 308

( Fig. 23A–C)

Materal examined. Topotype female, compared with type by R.A. Norton, 19.viii.1988 ( RNC), USA, Missouri, Boone Co., Hinkson Creek, Columbia, S.U. Mo. Campus, 24.iv.1985 FMHD #85–115 (J. Kethley, R.A. Norton) from moss on base of tree ( RNC); Illinois, Union Co. , Shawnee National Forest , 37°504N 89°372W, 23.ix.1992 ( VBP) 1 from litter from under large felled tree; same data except 1 from decomposing fallen oak .

Diagnosis. Length topotype female 360 µm; notogastral length 240 µm. Mean total length about 360 µm. Integument of notogaster, pedotectum I, lamellae, ventral and anal plates and coxisternal region reticulate, with integument micropunctate within reticules ( Fig. 23A–C). Rostrum rounded medially. Lamella (including cusp) about 137 µm long, lamellar cusps about 84 µm long, 48 µm at greatest width; medial and lateral dens subequal, about 58 µm; medial dens without teeth; lateral dens with 3–4 teeth, varying among specimens and on either side of same specimen. Maximum distance between lamellae 12 µm. Setae ro about 78 µm long, strongly barbed along length, acuminate, strongly directly medially. Setae le about 80 µm long, thick, heavily barbed, tapered. Setae in about 140 µm long, thick (less so than le), heavily barbed, tapered; mutual distance of pair 48 µm. Bothridial setae about 77 µm long, barbed, bacilliform, rounded distally. Exobothridial setae thin, smooth, about 29 µm. Genal tooth broad, subrectangular, rounded distally, with dens ventrodistally, with longitudinal ridge ventrally. Tutorium about 127 µm long, of which cusp about 70 µm long, rectangular, distal margin with 5 to 7 dens. Porose area Al about 10 µm in diameter. Epimeral setae 22 µm long, weakly barbed, 3c and 4c about 35 µm long, thicker and more heavily barbed than other epimeral setae. Custodium about 16 µm long, tapered. Genital setae 2+4, 2 pairs of genital setae on anterior margin of genital plates. Notogastral length subequal to width. Anterior margin undulating, convex lateral of bothridium, with about 7 transverse ridges. Pteromorph with reticulate pattern and with ridges along anterior margin ( Fig. 23B); with or without small dens on anteroventral margin. Porose areas small about 10 µm diameter. Ten pairs of long barbed, tapered notogastral setae present, 62–90 µm long, with c longest, closely following curved contour of notogaster laterally; lm posteromedial of Aa, lp anterior to A1. U-shaped lenticulus present. Mentum with transverse carina anteriorly. Seta l” of genu I and II about 34 µm long. Tarsi heterotridactylous.

Remarks. Oribatella reticulata may have been confused in the literature. Shtanchaeva and Subías (2009) noted that this “species differs from all other species of the genus by the polygonal sculpture of the notogaster”. However, the widely distributed O. minuta also has polygonal (reticulate) sculpture on the notogaster. The two species differ by the following character states (those of minuta in parentheses): Reticulate integument of pedotectum I similar to that of notogaster (with dense small foveae, without distinct reticulation of notogaster). Notogastral seta c about 80–90 µm long, strongly barbed, strongly following curvature of body (c about 50–65 µm long, weakly barbed, directed laterally); seta lm posteromedial of Aa (seta lm medial of Aa).

Distribution and Ecology. In North America this species is known only from the type locality in Missouri and from Illinois. In the Palaearctic it has been recorded from the Caucasus ( Shtanchaeva & Subías 2009), Russia, Poland, and Germany (see Marshall et al. 1987).