Morphological abnormalities in some stigmaeid species of Eustigmaeus, Stigmaeus and Storchia (Acari: Raphignathoidea: Stigmaeidae)

Abstract

Although the family Stigmaeidae is one of the most studied mite groups because of its economically important members, data on their morphological variations are very limited and still rather poorly studied. In the present study, asymmetric and numerical variations in the body setae occurring in some adult females and males are provided. The known data on morphological variations based on literature data are also provided.

Intraspecific variation in Storchia pacifica (Summers) (Trombidiformes: Stigmaeidae), a widespread species intercepted by Australian biosecurity from seventeen countries

“…The study of variation in the Stigmaeidae has largely focused on asymmetrical expression of body setae (e.g., Bingül et al 2017b; Koç & Tinartaş 2017; Doğan et al 2019). This phenomenon is common in mites (e.g., Głowska & Skoracki 2009; Toyoshima & Amano 2013; Seeman et al 2017), and calls for caution when describing new species based on few specimens, especially when they rely on setal absences or additions.…”

Occurrence of Ophionyssus natricis (Acari: Macronyssidae) on the captive corn snake, Pantherophis guttatus, (Squamata: Colubridae) in Turkey

“…On the other hand, the patterns of chaetotaxy are typically considered constant within a species, but intraspecific variation in chaetotaxy have been reported in some mites (Głowska and Skoracki, 2009;Seniczak et al, 2012;Bingül et al, 2017Bingül et al, , 2018. The variations may lead to some problems with species identification, and even cause taxonomic mistakes.…”

New fossil stilt-legged mites ofNeophyllobiusBerlese, 1886 (Acariformes, Camerobiidae) from Eocene Baltic amber

“…Deviations are most often asymmetrical and include the absence of some idionymous organ (any holotrichous seta is an example of such), its doubling, change of size, or different location. Other scholars have also studied morphological abnormalities, mostly in terms of teratological singularities but also in the context of regulatory genes (e.g., Southcott, 1997; Weigmann, 2010; Bingül et al, 2017). Abnormalities occurring among populations of Tycherobius stramenticola Bolland, 1986 and T. polonicus Bolland, 1986, mostly in the form of asymmetrical absence of setae, were indicated (Koç and Akyol, 2007).…”