Malaconothrus darwini Colloff & Cameron , 2013

Colloff, Matthew J., 2013, Species-groups and biogeography of the oribatid mite family Malaconothridae (Oribatida: Malaconothroidea), with new species from the south-western Pacific region, Zootaxa 3722 (4), pp. 401-438 : 426

Malaconothrus darwini Colloff & Cameron, 2013 .

Adult female, IH0246, leaf litter, ex. Zygogynum howeanum , Pittosporum erioloma and Metrosideros nervulosa, Middle Summit, Mount Gower, Lord Howe Island, 31°35'15"S 159°4'29"E, coll. I. Hutton, 28.viii. 2001. Australian Museum, Sydney. Three adult females, wet moss, Cumberland Memorial Scenic Reserve, Victoria, 37º33' S 145º52' E, coll. R.E. Rougley, 12.iii.1996. In Australian National Insect Collection, Canberra.

Remarks. Malaconothrus darwini has the widest distribution of any Australian malaconothrid species, from 17°S (Eacham, Queensland) to 37°S (Victoria). There are slight variations between populations. For example the specimen from Lord Howe Island has much shorter setae e 2, f 2 and h 3 and genital setae g 1-4 than the type series from the Blue Mountains, New South Wales. The specimens from Cumberland Gap, Victoria have longer interlamellar setae and shorter exobothridial setae than the type series.