Correlation of heteromorphic life instars in terrestrial Parasitengona mites and its impact on taxonomy – the case ofLeptus molochinus(C. L. Koch, 1837) andLeptus ignotus(Oudemans, 1903) (Acari: Trombidiformes: Prostigmata: Erythraeidae)

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Leptus molochinus (C. L. Koch, 1837 Koch, CL. 1837. Deutschlands Crustaceen, Myriapoden und Arachniden. Ein Beitrag zur Deutschen Fauna von C. L. Koch. Regensburg, fasc., : 10–16. [Google Scholar] ) is redescribed based on adults, deutonymphs and larvae. Larvae of hitherto distinguished Leptus ignotus (Oudemans, 1903 Oudemans, AC. 1903. Acarologische Aanteekeningen VII. Entomol Ber. (Amst.), 13: 91–93. [Google Scholar] ), syn. nov., redescribed as Leptus ignotus ignotus, were obtained by experimental rearing from females of L. molochinus (C. L. Koch, 1837 Koch, CL. 1837. Deutschlands Crustaceen, Myriapoden und Arachniden. Ein Beitrag zur Deutschen Fauna von C. L. Koch. Regensburg, fasc., : 10–16. [Google Scholar] ). The previous conjectures on “Leptus ignotus” as a compound taxon were not confirmed. Leptus ignotus danelli Southcott, 1992 Southcott, RV. 1992. Revision of the larvae of Leptus Latreille (Acarina, Erythraeidae) of Europe and North America, with descriptions of post-larval instars. Zool J Linn Soc., 105: 1–153. [Crossref], [Web of Science ®] [Google Scholar] is regarded as a distinct species, L. danelli Southcott, 1992 Southcott, RV. 1992. Revision of the larvae of Leptus Latreille (Acarina, Erythraeidae) of Europe and North America, with descriptions of post-larval instars. Zool J Linn Soc., 105: 1–153. [Crossref], [Web of Science ®] [Google Scholar] stat. nov. Data on larvae obtained by experimental rearing and those collected in the wild are compared with literature data on field-collected larvae. Information on development of eggs into larvae and on host spectrum is summarised. A female, from which larvae have been obtained by experimental rearing, is designated as neotype. Backgrounds for synonymisation of species known from different life instars are discussed.

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