Oribatella gigantea Berlese, 1916 , p. 306 Oribatella (Acari, Oribatida, Oribatellidae) of eastern North America Behan-Pelletier, V. M. Zootaxa 2011 2011-07-22 2973 1 1 56 7W675 Berlese, 1916 Berlese 1916 [151,556,1740,1766] Arachnida Oribatellidae Oribatella Animalia Sarcoptiformes 14 15 Arthropoda species gigantea      Oribatella gigantea Berlese, 1916, p. 306 ( Fig. 4C–E)   Topotypic material examined. Topotypes: 2 males, 1 female, compared with typeby R.A. Norton  19.viii.1988, from USA, Missouri, Boone Co., Hinkson Creek, Columbia, S.U. Mo. Campus,  25.iv.1985FMHD #85–130 ( J. Kethley, R.A. Norton) from mixed mesophytic flood plain ( RNC).  Other material examined.  Missouri, Boone Co., Ashland Wildlife Management Res.,  26.iv.1985, FMHD #85–137 ( J. Kethley, R.A. Norton) 1 from mixed mesophytic litter with maidenhair fern ( RNC).   Diagnosis.Total length of adult 606–653 µm, length topotype males 614, 624 µm, topotype female 653 µm. Integument of prodorsum, notogaster, venter and mentum micropunctate. Rostrum pointed in dorsal aspect, with medial crest; rostral margin round, smooth to undulating. Lamella (including cusp) about 225 µm long, cusp 160 µm long, about 75 µm wide at level of insertion of seta le. Lamellar cusps contiguous anteromedially; separated posteromedially, leaving prodorsum visible through oval opening, about 36 µm at greatest width, 56 µm long ( Fig. 4C, D). Medial and lateral dens on lamellar cusp subequal, about 63 µm long. Medial dens with 0–2 teeth, lateral dens with 2 teeth. Longitudinal striae on lamella laterally ( Fig. 4D). Translamella without tooth, about 38 µm at greatest width, 25 µm deep ( Fig. 4D). Setae roabout 138µm long, strongly barbed along length, acuminate, strongly directly medially. Setae leabout 113 µm long, thick, heavily barbed, tapered. Setae inabout 252 µm long, thick (less so than le), heavily barbed, tapered; mutual distance of pair about 100 µm. Bothridial setae 137 µm long, with barbed, narrowly fusiform head, tapered distally, subequal in width to lamellar setae ( Fig. 4C); stalk short, smooth; head directed anteromedially. Genal tooth broad, subrectangular, rounded distally, without dens ventrodistally, with longitudinal ridge ventrally. Tutorium about 238 µm long, extending anterior of rostrum, of which cusp about 138 µm long, rectangular, convex ventrally, distal margin with 5 to 7 dens. Custodium about 50–63 µm long, tapered. Porose area Al about 10 µm in diameter. Notogaster length subequal to width. Anterior margin undulating, convex lateral of bothridium, with 12–14 transverse ridges. Pteromorph with short ridges at anterior margin; with small dens on anteroventral margin. Porose areas present, about 18 µm in diameter. Ten pairs of long, barbed, acuminate notogastral setae present, about 113 µm long, lmmedial to posteromedial of Aa, lpmedial and slightly anterior to A1. Distance h 1–h 1about 48 µm, distance p 1–p 1about 29 µm. Subtriangular lenticulus present. Coxisternum with distinct longitudinal striae ( Fig. 4E). Epimeral setae mostly about 24 µm long, weakly barbed, 3cabout 55 µm long, subequal in shape and width to other epimeral setae, 4cabout 65 µm long subequal in shape and width to other epimeral setae. Genital, aggenital, anal and adanal setae weakly barbed, about 9–14 µm long. Genital setae 1+5, 1 pair of genital setae on anterior margin of plates. Postanal porose area oval 25 x 12 µm. Mentum with transverse carina anteriorly, with small tectum. Axillary saccule about 4 x 2 µm. Legs setation (I to IV): trochanters, 1- 1-2-1; femora, 5-5-3-2; genua, 3(1)-3(1)-1(1)-2; tibiae 4(2)-4(1)-3(1)-3(1); tarsi, 20(2)-15(2)-15-12. Setae l”on genu I about 50 µm, l”on genu II about 70 µm. Tarsi heterotridactylous.   Remarks.This is one of the species described by Berlese (1916)from “Columbia (N.A.)” which caused consistent problems in the literature until the provenance was clarified as Columbia, Missouriby Norton and Kethley (1989, p. 422). These authors subsequently collected topotypes from this locality, which were examined (see above).   Distribution and Ecology.This very large species is known only from its typelocality and from 1 other location in Missouri. 1985-04-25 1988-08-19 1985-04-25 RNC R. A. Norton & Columbia, S. U & J. Kethley United States of America Boone Co. Hinkson Creek 14 15 3 1 2 Missouri 1985-04-26 RNC J. Kethley & R. A. Norton Boone Co. Boone Co. 15 16 1 Missouri