Berlese's Primitive Oribatid Mites
Author
van der Hammen, L.
text
Zoologische Verhandelingen
1959
40
1
93
http://www.repository.naturalis.nl/document/148866
journal article
ORI111
0DC6B575-3CB3-41C1-A3EC-850520AE4487
Heminothrus
Berlese, 1913
Heminothrus
Berlese, 1913, p. 98.
Heminothrus
was described as a subgenus of
Nothrus
(i.e.
Camisia
). Berlese gave a concise diagnosis, and designated
Nothrus Targionii
Berlese (1885a) as type. It is remarkable that no diagnosis was given of the genus
Platynothrus
(same paper, p. 99!), although the two genera are closely related. In fact it is difficult to give diagnostic characters of
Heminothrus
and
Platynothrus
. Sellnick & Forsslund (1955) separated the genera on account of the presence of sacculae attached to the bothridium; the use of this character results in a genus
Platynothrus
that contains a heterogeneous collection of species.
I have contributed the species with distinct dorsal ridges, which have a rather similar habitus, to the genus
Platynothrus
. The remaining species are listed with
Heminothrus
; this genus certainly must be divided into a number of genera. I remark that
H. capillatus
has faint dorsal ridges in the anterior part of the notogaster (and short sensilli);
H. thori
is different because of the completely scleritized coxisternal region. For a future subdivision it will be useful to pay attention to position and length of the notogastral hairs; further to cerotegument, secretion, and adhering dirt.