THE MITE GENUS HISTIOGASTER (ACARI: ACARIDAE) IN THE EASTERN PALAEARCTIC, WITH A DESCRIPTION OF TWO NEW SPECIES AND REPORT OF PRE-COPULATORY GUARDING

Abstract

Two new species of the mite genus Histiogaster—H. litoralis sp. n. and H. tareevi sp. n.—are described from Eastern Russia based on males and females. Histiogaster ornata are redescribed based on males, females and heteromorphic deutonymphs. For H. litoralis, pre-copulatory guarding of tritonymphs is reported based on observations in a laboratory culture. This contrasts with the mites from the H. arborsignis species group which lacking this behavior. An annotated checklist and a key to the species of Histiogaster from the Eastern Palearctic are provided.