Morphological ontogeny of Hafenrefferia gilvipes (Acari: Oribatida: Tenuialidae), with comments on Hafenrefferia Oudemans

Abstract The morphological ontogeny of Hafenrefferia gilvipes (C.L. Koch, 1839) is described and illustrated. The juveniles of this species are unpigmented, and have most gastronotal setae long, and the nymphs carry the exuvial scalps of previous instars, using mainly seta c2. This seta is curved posteromedially and covers these scalps, representing a new manner of fastening of exuvial scalps to the mites' body in eupheredermous. The larva has 12 pairs of gastronotal setae, the nymphs have 12 pairs; the latter also have a small posterior excrescence, with a long, setiform and dorsally raised seta h1.