DESCRIPTION OF TWO NEW SPECIES OF AQUATIC ORIBATID MITES (FAMILY: MALACONOTHRIDAE, GENUS: MALACONOTHRUS) FROM SOHAG GOVERNORATE, EGYPT

Two oribatid mite species belonging to the genus Malaconothrus, namely Malaconothrus ramadani sp. n.and Malaconothrus transversus sp. n.,were described as two new species. They were collected from the roots of the floating aquatic plant, Eichhornia crassipes in River Nile, Girga city, Sohag Governorate, Egypt. The first species, Malaconothrus ramadani sp. n., is clearly characterized by zigzag-like lateral margins of the notogaster, nine thick dorsal folds (2 longitudinal and 7 protruded transverse), eight ventral thick oblique folds (7 longitudinal and 1 transverse) and the genital plates carry four pairs of simple setae. Also, it has five and six distinct dorsal and ventral processes, respectively. The second species, Malaconothrus transversus sp. n., is characterized by the presence of six flattened dorsal transverse folds and five ventral oblique folds (4 longitudinal and 1 transverse).