Contribution to the knowledge of the oribatid mite genus Pilobatella (Acari, Oribatida, Haplozetidae)

The genus Pilobatella (Oribatida, Haplozetidae) comprises 10 species, which are distributed in the Palaeotropical region; this includes two new species described herein on the basis of adult specimens sampled from forest leaf litter in Andasibe-Mantadia National Park of eastern Madagascar. Pilobatella mikoi n. sp. is similar to Pilobatella baloghi Mahunka, 2003 in having long interlamellar setae and adanal setae ad(1) and ad(2), but differs by having monodactylous legs (versus tridactylous) and a bothridial seta that is gradually expanded to a narrow head (versus setiform, without head). Pilobatella kovaci n. sp. is similar to P. mikoi n. sp. in having monodactylous legs, long interlamellar setae and adanal setae ad(1) and ad(2), but differs by the presence of lineolate notogaster and anogenital region (versus lineolate markings absent), long tutoria (versus tutoria of medium length), rounded trochanters distodorsally (versus pointed) and clearly distanced medial ends of apodemes 2 (versus nearly touching at midline). A revised generic diagnosis and an identification key to known species of Pilobatella are presented.