Prozercon
Sellnick, 1943
Prozercon is a of mesostigmatic mites in the Zerconidae, containing over 20 described . These small arachnids inhabit soil, leaf litter, and moss across Europe and parts of Asia. The genus has been subject to recent taxonomic revision, with several new species described from Turkey in the past decade.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Prozercon: /proʊˈzɜrkɒn/
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Identification
Identification to level requires examination of microscopic morphological features including setation patterns on the shield, pore arrangements, and leg chaetotaxy. A key to species similar to P. plumosus was published by Călugăr (2004).
Habitat
Soil, leaf litter, and moss. in this have been collected from ground-level substrates in forested and semi-natural environments.
Distribution
Europe (including Slovakia, with western Slovakia representing a range extension for P. plumosus); Turkey (including Turkish Thrace and western Turkey). GBIF records indicate presence in Sweden and Serbia.
Ecological Role
Component of soil mesofauna; specific functions not documented.
Similar Taxa
- ZerconSimilar in Zerconidae; distinguished by morphological features of the shield and setation patterns
More Details
Taxonomic activity
Four new (P. elifae, P. esati, P. gamzeae, P. tataroglui) were described from Turkish Thrace between 2012–2014, and P. didimensis was described from western Turkey, indicating ongoing species discovery in this .
Sources and further reading
- BugGuide
- Wikipedia
- GBIF taxonomy match
- Review of the mite genus Prozercon Sellnick, 1943 (Acari: Zerconidae) in Turkish Thrace, with descriptions of four new species
- First record of Prozercon plumosus Călugăr, 2004 (Acari, Mesostigmata, Zerconidae) from Slovakia
- Mites of the genus Prozercon (Acari: Zerconidae) in Dilek Peninsula-Büyük Menderes Delta National Park (Turkey), with description of a new species