Fungal spore transfer and intraspecific variability of a newly described African soil mite (Heterostigmata, Scutacaridae, Heterodispus)

► Heterodispus foveatus, an African mite, has cavities on the posterior sternal plate. ► These cavities (foveae) are considered to be sporothecae. ► The mites' opportunistic life style could explain the evolution of the sporothecae. ► The intraspecific variability of the species is moderately high. ► Population groups can be separated using different multivariate methods.