TY  - JOUR
JF  - Acarologia
T1  - An exceptionally well-preserved Eocene fossil mite, Histiogaster altilis sp. n. (Acari: Astigmata), from tree sap: Evidence of morphological and ecological niche conservatism, with a review of fossil Astigmata
VL  - 65
IS  - 1
SP  - 213
EP  - 241
PY  - 2025
SN  - 0044-586X
SN  - 2107-7207
PB  - Les Amis d'Acarologia
AU  - Kolesnikov, Vasiliy B.
AU  - Vorontsov, Dmitry D.
AU  - Perkovsky, Evgeny E.
AU  - Klimov, Pavel B.
UR  - https://doi.org/10.24349/c35e-8bmj
DO  - 10.24349/c35e-8bmj
DA  - 2025-03-26
ET  - 2025-03-26
KW  - astigmatid mites
KW  - Rovno amber
KW  - morphology
KW  - taxonomy
KW  - paleontology
AB  - We describe Histiogaster altilis sp. nov. (Acari: Astigmata: Acaridae), a newly identified species of mite from Eocene Rovno amber (34–37 Ma), based on both male and female specimens. The exceptional preservation of the fossils, coupled with advanced amber preparation and imaging techniques—including high-resolution microscopy, differential interference contrast (DIC) with transmitted light, and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) equipped with a super-resolution detector—enabled detailed examination of nearly all diagnostic features. These data allowed us to perform a comprehensive comparison between this fossil species and extant representatives of the genus Histiogaster. Based on morphological similarities with extant species of known biology, and the presence of syninclusions such as fossilized phloem sap emulsions and fungal or bacterial hyphae, we hypothesize that this fossil mite likely fed on fermented tree sap and associated microorganisms. Our findings indicate that species within the genus Histiogaster have undergone minimal morphological changes since the Eocene, while continuing to occupy their ancestral ecological niche. We also review fossil Astigmata and provide an annotated checklist of 14 fossil astigmatid records, and exclude 8 records, including the genus Palaeotyroglyphus Dubinin, 1962, from Astigmata.
ER -