Wl. Magowski, DISCOVERY OF THE 1ST REPRESENTATIVE OF THE MITE SUBCOHORT HETEROSTIGMATA (ARACHNIDA, ACARI) IN THE MESOZOIC SIBERIAN AMBER, Acarologia, 35(3), 1994, pp. 229-241
The first known fossil heterostigmatic mite species, Protophenax kotej
ii gen. et sp. nov. (Acari : Acarophenacidae), is described and illust
rated, based on the inclusion of three female specimens attached to a
coccid male, Inka minuta Koteja 1989 (Homoptera : Coccinea : Inkidae),
from Cretaceous taimyrian amber. The material is briefly discussed, w
ith remarks on the fossil mites' biology, morphology and systematics.
A provisional key to the genera of Acarophenacidae is given. The concl
usion that heterostigmatic mites had evolved before the Cretaceous per
iod is supported.