Prelarva and larva of Opilioacarus (Neocarus) texanus (Chamberlin Mulaik) (Acari: Opilioacarida) with notes on the patterns of setae lyri ® ssures

Journal of Natural History 34 (10): 1977-1992, DOI: 10.1080/00222930050144819 The prelarva and larva of Opilioacarus (Neocarus) texanus (Chamberlin and Mulaik, 1942) are described based on reared specimens.

The larval description focuses on the pattern of setae, lyrifissures, and glands in order to test the hypothesis that these structures can be homologized among larvae of all suborders of the Parasitiformes. The distribution pattern of lyrifissures and setae on the hysterosoma of opilioacarid larvae appears to be the most complete pattern of these structures in the order Parasitiformes, and strongly suggests an ancestral segmental arrangement of the cuticular sensillae and glands.