Labidostomma luteum Kramer, 1879

Labidostomma (Nicoletiella) luteum Kramer, 1879

By Błoszyk J.

Synonyms

• Labidostomma luteum Kramer, 1879 — Arch. Naturg. 45:13-16.
• Nicoletiella luteum Thor, 1931 — Das Tierreich 56: 66-77.
• Nicoletiella vejdovsky Štorkanan, 1938 — Vestn. Cs. Spolecn. Zool. 6-7:436-453.
• Labidostomma luteum Grandjean, 1942a — Bull. Mus. Nat. Hist. Nat. Paris (2)14:185-1 92.
• Labidostomma luteum Grandjean, 1942b — Bull. Mus. Nat. Hi st. Nat. Paris (2)14: 319-326.
• Labidostomma luteum Grandjean, 1942c — Bull. Mus. Nat. Hist. Nat. Paris (2)14:414-418.
• Nicoletiella luteum Vistorin, 1978a — Mitt. Naturwiss. Ver. Steiermark 108: 271-280.
• 1969 Feider, Vasiliu Nicoletiella luteum: Proc. 2nd Int. Congr. Acarol., SuttonBonnington 1967, pp. 201 - 207. 1978a
• 1978a Vistorin: Mitt. Naturwiss. Ver. Steiermark 108:271-280.
• Labidostomma luteum Bertrand, 1980 — Vie et Milieu 30:81-86.
• Nicoletiella (Nicoletiella) luteum Błoszyk, 1980 — Prace Komisji Biologicznej PTPN, Poznań 54: 53-85. 1981: Labidostomma luteum Bertrand: Doc. Atlas Zoogeogr. Languedoc-Roussillon 2 I: l-4.
• Labidostomma luteum Błoszyk & al., 2003 — Spixiana 26 (2): 171-174.
• Labidostomma luteum Błoszyk & al., 2018 — Redia 101: 155-160.

General account

Described almost 150 years ago by Kramer, Labidostomma luteum is the most widely distributed member of the family Labidostommidae in Europe. It owes its name to a colouration exceptional among mites — specimens are bright yellow or orange-yellow. This predatory mite has three simple eyes (a singularity among soil mites) and two large glands of unknown function (pustules) placed on the sides of the body. The structure of the chelicerae is likewise highly characteristic. The body is covered by a strong chitinous armour, separable into a dorsal and a ventral part and sculptured in a very distinctive manner. The mite bears two pairs of branched sensory setae set in trichobothria at the front and in the central part of the body. The sexes are readily distinguished: the female has a single large anogenital apparatus, whereas in the male two smaller, separate plates are seen — the genital and the anal. Earlier publications on L. luteum Kramer, 1879 already noted that most European populations of this species consist of parthenogenetic females (Kramer 1879; Storkan 1930, Grandjean 1942a, b). Later studies and reports on the species likewise consistently concerned populations composed exclusively of females (Błoszyk 1980, Lechtinen, Niemni 1995, Pfeloger W., Bertrand M., 2011). Populations comprising individuals of both sexes have been reported only from south-western France (Grandjean 1942a, Bertrand). It has further been observed that, on moving north-eastwards, males were progressively reduced until they disappeared altogether in the vicinity of Paris in the north (Bertrand 1981) and of Beny in southern France (Błoszyk et al. 2018). The authors of the latter publication set out the probable migration of the species from its centre of origin (France, the Pyrenees) eastwards following the retreat of the ice sheet (figure below).

Distribution in Europe

The species occurs in France, outside the Mediterranean region (Grandjean 1942). It has further been recorded from Austria (Vistorin 1978), Bohemia (Štorkan 1939) and Germany, whence it was first described (Kramer 1879). Thor (1931) lists further countries as localities for L. luteum: the Netherlands, England, Ireland and Scandinavia. Oudemans (1906) confirms its occurrence in Germany. The following localities for the species are given on the GBIF platform: Iceland (Ekström 2026), the Netherlands (observations from 1997-2005), and a collection deposited in the Natural History Collections, France (Trave 1960), Estonia, Belgium, and numerous localities in Poland. The Błoszyk mite collection, deposited in the Natural History Collections of the Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, additionally holds specimens of this species from Germany, Denmark and Norway.

Occurrence in Poland

The species occurs throughout Poland, with the exception of its south-eastern part, the area not covered by the glaciations (figure below).

Habitat preferences

L. luteum is encountered in environments of various kinds. It occurs in open, non-forest habitats, in woodlands and scrub of various types, and in impermanent microhabitats (merocoenoses).

Vertical distribution

In Poland, specimens of L. luteum are found up to a maximum altitude of 750 m a.s.l. (locality). It is, however, a decidedly lowland species, not usually exceeding 500 m a.s.l. The highest frequency (>30%) was recorded in samples up to an altitude of 200 m a.s.l., and the lowest (<10%) in samples from the 500-700 m a.s.l. range (Błoszyk 1980).

Morphology

Computed from 436 measured specimens — not transcribed.

Female

General. Strongly sclerotised, brightly coloured — yellow or orange-yellow.

Dorsal side. Dorsal side. Length 558-695 µm (mean 626 µm ±13.1 SD), width 285-413 µm (mean 379 µm ±15.5 SD). The idiosoma is ovate in outline, narrowing anteriorly. Laterally, in the anterior part of the idiosoma, short blunt horns (cornua) are visible. The median eye is set on the anterior margin of the idiosoma. The pair of lateral eyes is set immediately in front of the pustules. The pustules are strongly convex, three times larger than the lateral eyes. In the anterior part of the dorsal shield two pairs of long, branched sensory setae (trichobothria) are inserted, set in cup-shaped depressions (bothridia). The first pair is set on the anterior margin of the idiosoma, near the base of the cornua; the second at one third of the body length (at the level of the second pair of legs), somewhat below the lateral eyes and the pustules. The remaining dorsal setae are acicular, long and smooth. Six pairs of setae are arranged in two median rows (d1-d6); setae d1 and d6 are distinctly longer than the others. There are eight pairs of marginal setae (dm1-dm8). Setae dm1-dm1' are set at the base of the cornua, and dm2-dm2' protect the lateral eyes and the pustules. The sculpture of the dorsal shield is characteristic. Polygons of regular shape cover the anterior part of the shield, as far as the pustules, and continue as a narrow band along the margin of the body. In the central part of the shield, between setae d1-d1' and d6-d6', the polygons fade and become less distinct. Beside the second pair of trichobothria there is a pair of triangular, finely striated fields. A similar type of sculpture is seen on two elongate, C-shaped fields beginning at the base of setae d2-d2' and ending at the base of setae d6-d6'.

Ventral side. Ventral side. Epimera I-IV are clearly visible, of which epimera I are the broadest. All the epimera, and almost the whole ventral side of the idiosoma, are covered with polygons of regular shape. The exception is the portion of the opisthosoma lying between epimera IV and the genitoanal plate; this takes the form of a mushroom and is devoid of polygons. The ventral setae are numerous, short and acicular. On the podosoma they are concentrated exclusively on the epimera, and on the opisthosoma in its central part. A large (one third of the length of the idiosoma), rounded genitoanal plate lies in the posterior part of the opisthosoma. The genital and anal plates are covered with a pattern of regular polygons. The genital plate bears numerous acicular setae; the anal plate has three pairs of acicular setae.

Gnathosoma. Gnathosoma (Fig.). The maxillary plate bears two pairs of setae; one pair of short setae is set at the sides of the lacinia. The chelicera (Fig.) is massive, covered over half its extent with polygons of regular shape. The fixed digit is forked at its tip and longer than the movable digit. The movable digit narrows distally; its inner margin is finely denticulate. Two long setae are inserted on the chelicerae. The first lies in the fork of the fixed digit; the second, set on a characteristic tubercle, lies at mid-length on the dorsal side of the chelicera (in this species it does not reach the tip of the fixed digit).

Male

Dorsal side. Dorsal side: sculpture and chaetotaxy as in the female.

Ventral side. Ventral side: sculpture and chaetotaxy similar to the female. Sexual dimorphism is distinct; the genital and anal plates are separate.

References

• Bertrand, M. I980: Cycle saisonnier et distribution vertical de Labidostomma luteum Kramer 1879, espece parthenogenetique dans une charmaie a mercuriales (Brunoy, France).- Vie et Milieu 30:81-86.
• Bertrand, M. 1981: Labidostomma luteum Kramer, 1879 (Acariens, Actinedida, Labidostommidae). - Doc. Atlas Zoogeogr. Languedoc-Roussillon 2 I: l-4.
• Bertrand, M 1982: Contribution a l'etude des appendices des Labidostommidae (Acari: Prostigmata). – Acarologia 23:233- 237.
• Błoszyk J., 1980 – Badania nad rodziną Nicoletiellidae (Acari, Prostigmata) w Polsce. - Pr. Kom. Biol. PTPN, 54: 53-85.
• Błoszyk J., Adamski Z., Napierała A. 2018. Notes on the biology and ecology of Labidostomma (Acari: Prostigmata: Labidostommidae) in Poland. Redia, 101: 155-160.
• Błoszyk J., Jackiewicz M., Olszanowski Z., 1988 – Materiały do znajomości akarofauny Roztocza. I. Labidostommidae (Acari: Actinedida). - Przegl. Zool., 32: 387-392.
• Błoszyk J., Książkiewicz-Parulska Z., Adamski Z., Napierała A., 2017 – Influence of Pleistocene glaciation on the distribution of three species of Labidostomma in Europe (Acari: Labidostommatidae). - Syst. Appl. Acarol., 22: 841-857.
• Coles, B.J. 1998 Doggerland: a speculative survey. Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society 64, 45-81.
• Feider, Z. & Vasiliu, N. 1969: Revision critique de 1a famille Nicoletiellidae. - Proc. 2nd Int. Congr. Acarol., Sutton-Bonnington 1967, pp. 201 – 207.
• Grandjean, F. 1941: Observations sur les Acariens (6. ser.). -Bull. Mus. Nat. Hist. Nat. Paris (2)12:532-539.
• GRANDJEAN F., 1942a – Observations sur les Labidostomidae (1.ser.). - Bull. du Mus. Nat. Hist. Nat., 2 ser., 14: 185-192.
• Grandjean F., 1942b – Observations sur les Labidostomatide (1.ser.). - Bull. du Mus. Nat. Hist. Nat., 2 ser., 14: 319-326.
• Lehtinen P. T, Ritva Niemi R. 1995. The parthenogenetic mite Labidostomma luteum (Acarina Actinotrichida: Labidostommidae) in Finland. Entomol. Fennica 6:211-227.
• Pfliegler W., Bertand M., 2011 – A new species of Labidostomma Kramer, 1879 for the fauna of Hungary (Acari: Trombidiformes: Labidostommatidae) with an overviev of the family . - Opusc. Zool. Budapest, 42(2): 177-183.
• Štorkan J., 1939 – Beitrage zur Kenntnis der Familie Nicolletiellidae. - Aus dem Institute für systematische Zoologie der Karl’s Universität in Prag, 15: 436-45
• Vistorin, H.E. ( 1978) Zur Verbreitung europäischer Nicoletielliden-Arten (Acari, Trombidiformes). Mitteilungen des Naturwissenschaftlichen Vereines für Steiermark , 108, 271–280.

Data sources

• Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań. Natural History Collections of the Faculty of Biology AMU. Occurrence dataset https://doi.org/10.15468/54hgbz accessed via GBIF.org on 2026-07-31. https://gbif.org/occurrence/3476176808
• Ekström J (2026). Lund University Biological Museum - Zoological collections (MZLU). Lund University Biological Museum. Occurrence dataset https://doi.org/10.15468/mw39rb accessed via GBIF.org on 2026-07-31. https://gbif.org/occurrence/80022696
• Inventaire National du Patrimoine Naturel (2017). Réserves Naturelles de France (RNF) - RNF - Données de la Fédération des Réserves Catalanes. UAR PatriNat (OFB-MNHN-CNRS-IRD), Paris. Occurrence dataset https://doi.org/10.15468/ufryrd accessed via GBIF.org on 2026-07-31. https://gbif.org/occurrence/2493175243
• Kurina O. Estonian University of Life Sciences Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Entomological Collection. Estonian University of Life Sciences. Occurrence dataset https://doi.org/10.15468/qn6223 accessed via GBIF.org on 2026-07-31. https://gbif.org/occurrence/3023383563
• Siepel H, Dimmers W (2022). Alterra (NL) - Microarthropods inventories by Henk Siepel on various locations. Version 1.5. Wageningen Environmental Research. Occurrence dataset https://doi.org/10.15468/yhakfm accessed via GBIF.org on 2026-07-31. https://gbif.org/occurrence/920119835

This account is a compilation of published knowledge and collection data. It is not a nomenclatural act; no new taxonomic names are established here.

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Figures