Origin of five unique Mite‐Genera in geological periods compared to other groups of Gamasina (Acarina, Parasitiformes) and description of two new species of Rykellus Lee and Oloopticus Karg

At the centre of our investigation are the five genera Africoseius Krantz, 1962, Afrogamasellus Loots et Ryke, 1968, Rykellus Lee, 1970, Laelaspisella Marias et Loots, 1969 and Oloopticus Karg, 1978. These genera are distinguished by their extraordinary distribution in Africa and South America. We detected relations between the origin of these genera and the development of the earth's continents. These five genera must have developed during a geological period when the African and the South American continents were still connected, but separate from the other continents. The five genera belong to different super families and families of Gamasina. Within these groups, the cited genera are distinguished by extraordinary organ-formations in relation to their primary groups. Further, we identified genera that are with high probability the sister genera of the investigated five genera in agreement with the progression rule explained by W. Hennig. We also discuss the question, what time frames within geological periods are necessary for the development of higher categories, such as genera, families and even cohorts. The development of the five genera named above is placed at an estimated range of 20 to 30 million years. Results of investigations from the Galapagos Archipel and an island of the Lesser Antilles showed that within 4 million years new species developed, but no new genera. The family Leptolaelapidae Karg which includes 11 genera with 42 species are distributed over Sub Antarctic, South Africa, South America, Malaysia and Australia. These continents formed during the Mid Jurassic to the upper of Cretaceous period the Gondwanian super-continent. This means, a period of 60 to 80 million years was necessary to allow the development of this mite family. Corresponding findings refer to the Ologamasidae and, Trigynaspida. The origin of higher systematic categories, such as super-families and cohorts, has to be attributed to the oversized continent Pangaea. Several systematic groups, which are today distributed worldwide, already existed in the Permian and Triassic. Regarding the Parasitiformes the following groups of soil mites are significant: Gamasina, and Margotrichina. The subsequent gradual splitting of the Pangaea continent over 150 to 160 million years forced the development of these ancient higher systematic groups. Finally, we revise the subfamily Hypoaspidinae, the genera Oloopticus Karg, Laelaspisella Marais et Loots and Rykellus Lee including two new species and complete it with keys for 9 genera and 20 species. ((c) 2013 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)