Family: Mycobatidae
Taxonomy: This is the only species in this genus found at La Selva. The description of the species is in Behan-Pelletier (1998), which also includes a comparison with closely related species, which are somewhat similar in size and shape in the genus Lamellobates. As with Lamellobates, the family placement of Paralamellobates is questionable, and will probably be revised when immatures are discovered.
Habitat: This species is rarely found in soil and litter of primary or secondary forest at La Selva. In contrast, it can be common on grasses in old pasture fields, such as those at Sendero Tres Rios 4300, and from Retana and Gramalote (Paspalum fasciculatum (Gramineae)) in an old field in Annexo Flaminia, by Rio Puerto Viejo. As with species of Lamellobates, it is most easily collected by extracting the above-ground parts of grasses in Berlese extractors.
Ecology: This species feeds on fungi, possibly grazing phytopathogenic fungi on the grass leaves. Only females of this species have been collected so far, and it is possible that this species and others in the genus are thelytokous.
References:
Behan-Pelletier VM 1998. Ceratozetoidea (Acari: Oribatida) of lowland tropical rainforest, La Selva, Costa Rica. Acarologia 39: 349-381.