Neopodocinium meridionalis (Sellnick, 1931)

Abstract, Hasan Hüseyin Özbek, 2025, Mites of the family Macrochelidae (Acari: Mesostigmata) in Bayburt province, Türkiye, Acarological Studies 7 (2), pp. 137-143 : 139

Neopodocinium meridionalis (Sellnick, 1931)

Material examined. 2♀♀, 2♂♂, 3 deutonymphs and 2 protonymphs, phoretic on a coprophilous beetle, ( AL) 40°31'57"N 40°23'23"E, 2845 m a.s.l., 1 June 2014 .

Remarks. GeÇit and Özbek (2017) identified both sexes and all developmental stages (except the larval stage and egg) of this species, which was found as a phoretic associate on an unidentified coprophagous beetle and gave a summary. In the present study, DIC images of all developmental stages of N. meridionalis , except the larval stage and egg, together with the body measurements of the Turkish specimens are presented in Figures 2-8 as follows: Dorsal shield length 980-1070 and width 600-650 at the widest point in females; idiosoma length 915-965 and width 645- 700 at the widest point in males; dorsal shield length 740- 760 and width 520-550 in deutonymphs. In protonymphs, the podonotal plate is almost equal in length and width (360), while the opisthosomal shield is 150 long and 290 wide at its widest point. The chelicerae of both sexes are presented in Figures 9–10 . According to Mašán (2003), the European female specimens have an idiosoma length of 820-835 µm; however, the Turkish specimens are significantly larger (dorsal shield length 980-1070 µm), although other morphological features are similar. This species is known from certain regions of Europe ( Mašán, 2003) and has so far only been recorded from the Bayburt province in Türkiye.

Figures

Figures 1-4. Macrochelid mites. 1. Longicheles ozkani, spermathecal apparatus of female, 2. Macrocholaspis recki, ventral view of female with a developing larva in the egg, 3. Larva of M. recki inside the egg, 4. Neopodocinium meridionalis, ventral idiosoma of male.

Figures 5-8. Neopodocinium meridionalis. 5. Sternal and epigynal shields of female, 6. Anal shield of female, 7. Idiosoma of deutonymph, 8. Idiosoma of protonymph.

Figures 9-10. Neopodocinium meridionalis. 9. Chelicera of female, 10. Chelicera of male.