Further new and little known species of ptyctimous mites (Acari, Oribatida) from Cameroon

Abstract

Nineteen species of ptyctimous mites were found in 20 samples collected in Cameroon: 15 samples from the Southwestregion, near the ocean, and 5 samples from the Northwest region, inland. Two new species: Euphthiracarus (Pocsia) inaequatus sp. n.and Steganacarus (Rhacaplacarus) alius sp. n. are described and figured. Six species are new to Cameroon. The so far unknown instarsof Mesoplophora (Mesoplophora) invisitata Niedbała, 1983: larva, proto-, deuto-, and tritonymph are described. The deutonymph andtritonymph of M. (M.) invisitata are compared with the corresponding stages of the related species. The tritonymph of the species ofboth subgenera, Mesoplophora and Parplophora, differ in the number of setae on the anal and adanal plates, which is an additionalmorphological character differentiating these subgenera. Two previously known species, Phthiracarus parabaloghi Niedbała, 1983 andProtophthiracarus diatropos Niedbała and Starý, 2014, show some morphological differences compared to their holotypes.