Liebstadia pannonica

Miko, L. & Weigmann, G., 1996, Notes on the genus Liebstadia Oudemans, 1906 (Acarina, Oribatida) in Central Europe, Acta Musei Nationalis Pragae, Series B, Historia Naturalis 52, pp. 73-100 : 86-89

Liebstadia pannonica (WILLMANN, 1951)

Figs 11-13; Pl. 2, figs 1-7

syn.:

Protoribates pannonicus WILLMANN, 1951

Protoribates variabilis RAJSKI, 1958 syn. nov.

Rajskibates variabilis ; Balogh et Balogh, 1984

Liebstadia variabilis ; Subias et Gil-Martin, 1995

Comparison of topotypical specmens of Protoribates pannonicus WILMANN, 1951 with the specimen of Protoribates variabilis RAJSKI, 1958 from the Poznan environs, and also with rich material (designated mostly as P. variabilis ) from Germany, the Czech Republic and Slovakia showed undoubtly, that all specimens belong to the genus Liebstadia and there is no specific difference between Austrian, Polish and other material. All specimens principally confirm with both original descriptions. The main differing character of Rajski is the greater number of notogastral setae due to a misidentification of Willmann's figure, where the lyrifissure im is drawn like a seta. With the exclusion of a second similar species from Willmann's locus typicus (see description of L. willmanni sp. nov. above) we consider Protoribates variabilis RAJSKI, 1951 to be a junior synonym of Willmann's species. The other possible synonymies are discussed in the discussion.

Material studied:

- 4 females and 4 males from Austria, Brunnlust Natural Reserve (near the Moosmühle). wet meadow, in bults of Juncus and Phragmites and in moss (locus typicus). 15. 6. 1992, leg. L. Miko and A. Bruckner.

- 1 female from Rafalski Collection, Poznan environs, (sample 71a), labeled: " Protoribates variabilis , Raj. leg., det."

- 3 females and 2 males from a total of 16 specimens from Germany, Frankfurt/Main, meadow at Batelle-Institute (samples D-Fr-1 to D-Fr-10), leg. 1986, Coll. Weigmann.

- 2 females and 2 males from Germany, Erlangen-Bruch, meadow near Regnitz river, leg. J. Ohm 22.11.68 (sample 502), Coll. Weigmann, 1 slide in bad condition.

- 3 females and 9 males from the Czech Republic, České Středohoří (Czech Midlands Mountains), Hrušovka, dry grassland, in grass litter and organic horizon of the soil. 25. 2. 1989 leg. L. Miko (sample LM-31 -89).

- 2 females from Slovakia, Pieniny National Park (Northeast Slovakia), Huta in Dunajec river Valley, in moss growths and primary soil on the rocks. 18. 4. 1987 leg. L. Miko (sample LM-178- 87).

- 2 females and 1 male from Slovakia, Pieniny National Park, Lesnica, mesophile meadow on southern slope, Upper soil layer with grass rhizosphere. 8. 6. 1990 leg. L. Miko.

Redescription of the adult

Diagnosis:

Small to medium large, comparatively robust species with typical characters of Liebstadia . Sensillus with fusiform head and comparatively long stalk. Bothridium with distinct small posterolateral scale. 4 pairs of areae porosae present on notogaster. Area A1 situated approximately in the middle between setae lp and h3, ratio lp-Al to h3-A1 less man 2.5. Pteromorphs well developed, bent downwards.

The immatures are unknown.

General characters:

Length of females 350-430 µm (average 389 µm, n=11), width 190-250 µm (average 206 µm), males 360-410x185-215 µm (average 377x197 µm, n=12). Length:width ratio 1.72:1. Dorsoventral toickness in postgenital transect 125-160 µm Length:dorsoventral thickness ratio 2.3-3.1:1. Colour yellowish brown to reddish brown. Cuticle smooth, sublamellar, subbothridial and acetabular region with fine granular cerotegument.

Prodorsum:

Rostrum protruding, lamellar complex typical of Liebstadia . Tutorium present as a distinct line, sometimes with small blade. Bothridium usually not fully covered by anterior border of notogaster, posterolaterally with a small, but distinct scale (figs 12b-d, Pl. 2, figs 5,6). Bothridial lamellae (bl, bl') distinct. Sensillus with comparatively long stalk and fusiform, sometimes slightly distally pointed head, with total length about 43-50 µm (stalk 20-25 µm, head 20-29 µm, see figs 12a-d). Exobothridial seta short, other prodorsal setae long (in 45-56 um, le 56-66 µm, ro 45-50 µm), finely, but distinctly bristled. Sublamellar area porosa present, comparatively large.

Notogaster:

Comparatively broad and arched, with anterior border indistinct, protruding to the prodorsum. Pteromorphs well developed, immovable, rounded and bent downwards. 10 pairs of medium long notogastral setae (about 18-32 µm) and 4 pairs of area porosae present. Areae A2 and A3 often near to each other, but only very exceptionally unilaterally fused (fig. 13). In one case a divided area A1 was found. Area AI not close to seta lp, ratio lp-A1:h3-A1 ranking from 1:0.75 to 1:2.6, usually about 1:1.6. All lyrifissures present in usual place, notogastral gland pore visible. Posterior border of notogaster broadly rounded.

Gnathosoma:

Without notable differences from those of L. willmanni (see above).

Ventral region:

Epimeral area, genital and anal shields similar to L. willmanni . Distance of genital to anal aperture about 2 times longer than genital plates (these about 45 µm long), or somewhat shorter. Longitudinal microstriation of ventral plate absent or indistinct. Adanal ridge laterally to anal plates absent, or reaching maximally the second adanal seta, indistinet. Border of ventral plate along the notogaster in posterior part with area-porosa-like fine punctulation.

Legs:

Legs monodactyl, with characters typical of Liebstadia .

Distribution:

The species is known from Poland, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Austria and Germany. Recently reported from Spain (Subias and Gil-Martin 1995).

Ecology:

In wet to dry meadows, grasslands and in moss on rocks.