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Post-embryonic development in the mite suborder Opilioacarida, with notes on segmental homology in Parasitiformes (Arachnida)

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Abstract

In order to study homology among the major lineages of the mite (super)order Parasitiformes, developmental patterns in Opilioacarida are documented, emphasizing morphology of the earliest, post-embryonic instars. Developmental patterns are summarized for all external body structures, based on examination of material in four different genera. Development includes an egg, a 6-legged prelarva and larva, three 8-legged nymphal instars, and the adults, for the most complete ontogenetic sequence in Parasitiformes. The prelarva and larva appear to be non-feeding. Examination of cuticular structures over ontogeny allows development of an updated model for body segmentation and sensillar distribution patterns in Opilioacarida. This model includes a body made up of a well-developed ocular segment plus at most 17 additional segments. In the larvae and protonymphs each segment may carry up to six pairs of sensilla (setae or lyrifissures) arranged is distinct series (J, Z, S, Sv, Zv, Jv). The post-protonymphal instars add two more series (R and Rv) but no extra segments. This basic model is compatible with sensillar patterns in other Parasitiformes, leading to the hypothesis that all taxa in that (super)order may have the same segmental ground plan. The substantial segmental distortion implied in the model can be explained using a single process involving differential growth in the coxal regions of all appendage-bearing segments.

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Acknowledgments

For permission to examine specimens they collected, or in their collection, we thank Luis F. de Armas, Brian Fisher, Charles Griswold, Mark Harvey, Dania Prieto, Will Reeves, Owen Seeman, and Darryll Ubick. This work was supported in part by NSF Grant DEB-REVSYS 1026146 (HK), CUMEX (Consorcio de Universidades Mexicanas (MMV), and Capes/Brazil PDSE 1202-12-0 (LFOB).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Acarology Laboratory, Ohio State University, 1315 Kinnear Road, Columbus, OH, 43212-1192, USA

    Hans Klompen

  2. Division de Ciencias e Ingenierias, Universidad de Quintana Roo, Chetumal, Quintana Roo, Mexico

    Ma. Magdalena Vázquez

  3. Departamento de Biologia, UFLA, Lavras, Minas Gerais, Brazil

    Leopoldo Ferreira de Oliveira Bernardi

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  1. Hans Klompen
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  2. Ma. Magdalena Vázquez
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  3. Leopoldo Ferreira de Oliveira Bernardi
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Correspondence to Hans Klompen.

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Klompen, H., Vázquez, M.M. & Bernardi, L.F.O. Post-embryonic development in the mite suborder Opilioacarida, with notes on segmental homology in Parasitiformes (Arachnida). Exp Appl Acarol 67, 183–207 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10493-015-9939-7

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