Phylogenetic relationships of Paralamellobates: Immature characters of P. misella (Berlese) place the genus in Punctoribatidae (Acari, Oribatida)

Abstract

Species in the oribatid mite genus Paralamellobates are primarily tropical and subtropical, and are found in both arboreal and soil habitats. Herein, we describe all stages of P. misella (Berlese) collected from banana from the Philippines. We provide a revised and expanded diagnosis for Paralamellobates. Paralamellobates striatus Behan-Pelletier, described from Costa Rica, is considered a junior synonym of P. misella new. syn. We assess relationships of Paralamellobates using characters of adults and its apheredermous immatures. Based on morphology, the closest relatives are hypothesized to be among the Punctoribatidae (Ceratozetoidea) rather than among the Achipteriidae (Achipterioidea), and the Oribatellidae (Oribatelloidea) as suggested in previous classifications. However, molecular studies did not support our morphological analysis.