Taxonomy of European Damaeidae (Acari: Oribatida) IV. Partial revision of Metabelba Grandjean, 1936 with proposal of one new subgenus, one new species and redescriptions of two known species

Abstract

We review the current state of taxonomy of the oribatid mite genus Metabelba Grandjean, 1936 (Damaeidae) and present an amended generic diagnosis. In contrast to Subías (2004) we consider Allobelba Kunst, 1961 and Neobelba BulanovaZachvatkina, 1967 as separate genera, not subgenera of Metabelba. We consider the subgenus Metabelba (Parametabel- ba) Mihelčič, 1964, to be a nomen nudum and propose a new subgenus—Metabelba (Pateribelba) n. subg., with type species Metabelba (Pateribelba) sphagni Strenzke, 1950—to replace it. Pateribelba n. subg. includes species of Metabelba without the propodolateral apophysis. Together with the type species, the following named species (new combinations) belong to this subgenus: Metabelba (Pateribelba) italica (Sellnick, 1931); M. (P.) romandiolae (Sellnick, 1943); M. (P.) platynotus Grandjean, 1954; M. (P.) ericius Kunst, 1957; M. (P.) rhodopeia Kunst, 1961; M. (P.) filippovi Bulanova-Zachvatkina, 1965; M. (P.) flagelliseta Bulanova-Zachvatkina, 1965; M. (P.) monilipeda Bulanova-Zachvatkina, 1965; M. (P.) pseudoitalica Bulanova-Zachvatkina, 1965; M. (P.) paraitalica Kulijev, 1967, M. (P.) glabriseta Mahunka, 1982 and M. (P.) machadoi Pérez-Iñigo, 1986. A new species Metabelba (Pateribelba) denscanis n. sp. is described and illustrated; it is characterized mainly by the presence of a notogastral cornicle in the adult. It was found in Central Bohemia (Czech Republic), Upper Silesia (Poland) and South Tyrol (Italy). Metabelba romandiolae and M. sphagni are redescribed and illustrated. Metabelba gladiator Mihelčič, 1963 is considered to be junior synonym of M. romandiolae. Metabelba lanceolata van der Hammen, 1952 is considered to be a junior synonym of M. sphagni. We also provide a ten-tative diagnostic key of the known species of Metabelba (Pateribelba) n. subg., based on detailed study of available species and a review of literature data.

Taxonomy of European Damaeidae VIII. Contribution to classification of genus Damaeus C. L. Koch, 1835, with a review of Adamaeus Norton, 1978 and Paradamaeus Bulanova-Zachvatkina, 1957 and redescription of three species

“…Specimens, except of those permanently mounted, were studied in open slides after treatment in lactic acid. SEM photos of Damaeus (Adamaeus) onustus were kindly provided by Jan Mourek and scanned (see Mourek et al 2011a for details). GPS coordinates of individual findings of older authors were roughly estimated based on original indication of locality, using Google Earth internet application, and are provided in parentheses after description of the material.…”

“…Some differences may be caused by the method of measurement, and the proper positioning of the measured body. Mourek et al (2011a) proposed a more stable measure, the ventral length, i.e. length measured on ventral side from tip of the rostrum to the posterior end of ventral plate.…”

Taxonomy of European Damaeidae X. Description of Coronabelba unicornis n. gen., n. sp. (Acari, Oribatida, Damaeidae) from Abkhazia, with comments on genus Metabelba Grandjean, 1936

“…As most of the characters seem to be very stable within the group, we argue that observed differences need to be considered at generic level. In Metabelba, as defined by Miko (2006) and Mourek et al (2011), presence of 10 setae on femora I and II is a typical character, and exemption mentioned in diagnosis (presence of nine setae) was related to Grandjean's M. platynotus only. Already Grandjean (1954) noted different femoral setation of M. platynous, and highlighted also the uniqueness of the general structure of body and cerotegument of his species, indicating that it may belong to different taxon at generic level, as already mentioned.…”

“…The nominate subgenus was characterized by presence of apophyse P, while species without it were considered as members of the poorly defined subgenus Parametabelba Mihelčič, 1964. This concept was later revised by Mourek et al (2011), who argued that according to the rules of International Commission of Zoological nomenclature the name Parametabelba is not available and cannot be used as a valid name of this taxon, and proposed new subgenus Pateribelba instead, with the type species Metabelba sphagni Strenzke, 1950. The new definition of Metabelba and both subgenera was provided and discussed in detail.…”

“…Metabelba platynotus Grandjean, 1954 with trochanteral setation 1-1-4-3, associated setation of tibia 0-1-1-0, and femoral setation 9-9-7-7 was placed by Mourek et al (2011) into the subgenus Metabelba (Pateribelba), even if femoral setation was seen as exceptional within that subgenus. Similarly, Subias (2004, online update 2021) keeps M. platynotus within his concept of subgenus Neobelba.…”