Oribatid mites (Acari: Oribatida) of the maritime Antarctic and Antarctic Peninsula

Eleven species of oribatid mites are reported from 26 maritime Antarctic islands. The oribatid faunas of Fredriksen, Atriceps (South Orkney Is.), Cockburn, Seymour, Vega, Brabant, Adelaide, Lagoon, Léonie, Horseshoe, Alexander Islands and Peter I Øy were studied for the first time. Austroppia crozetensis (Richters, 1908) and Magellozetes processus Hammer, 1962 are first records for the Antarctic Region. Halozetes belgicae longiseta Wallwork, 1967 is a new record for the South Orkney Is., Edwardzetes dentifer Hammer, 1962, is new for the South Shetland Is., Magellozetes processus Hammer, 1962 is new for Graham Land whilst Globoppia loxolineata longipilosa Covarrubias, 1968 and Magellozetes antarcticus (Michael, 1895) are new records for Palmer Land. The distribution patterns of the 11 species of oribatid mites are figured and their zoogeographical relationships are discussed.     

Oribatid mites of Liebstadia (Acari: Oribatida: Scheloribatidae) from Mongolia,with notes on taxonomy of the genus

Three new species of oribatid mites belonging to the genus Liebstadia are described from Mongolia. The new species are characterized by the poorly developed pteromorphae; the club-shaped head of the sensilli; the absence of the dorsosejugal suture; the dorso-ventral thickness, and the length and arrangement of notogastral setae. In addition, L. similis (Michael, 1888) is redescribed and recorded for the first time in Mongolia. Protoribates serratomarginatus Mahunka, 1983 is synonymized with L. similis. A key to the known species of the genus Liebstadia is given.     

Mites of the family Oppiidae (Acari: Oribatida) from Turkey

Two new oppiid species (Gressittoppia luxtoni, Anomaloppia ozkani) and one new subspecies (Graptoppia sundensis acuta) are described from Turkish soils, and two known species are recorded for the first time. The genera Gressittoppia, Anomaloppia and Graptoppia are redefined and keys provided to the known species.     

Ptyctimous mites (Acari,Oribatida) from the Ecuador rainforest

Twelve species of ptyctimous mite have been found in new localities in forest litter, in two National Parks of Ecuador: Bombuscaro and Cajanuma. The ptyctimous mite fauna has been shown to differ totally between the two parks. Two new species are described: Euphthiracarus bombuscaroensis sp. nov. and Austrophthiracarus cajanumaensis sp. nov. Three species are reported from Ecuador for the first time. The specimens of two species: Protophthiracarus quasiminisetosus Niedba?a and Illig, 2006 Niedba?a, W. and Illig, J. 2006. New species of ptyctimous mites (Acari, Oribatida) from Ecuador.. Tropical Zoology, 20(1): 107–122.  [Google Scholar] and Notophthiracarus aculeatus Niedba?a, 1988 found in Ecuador have some morphological characters different from their analogues in the type specimens.     

New species of ptyctimous mites (Acari,Oribatida) from Cuba

Five new species of two genera of ptyctimous, soil mites (Acari, Oribatida, Steganacaridae) are described: Protophthiracarus aethes sp. nov., Protophthiracarus pinarensis sp. nov., Protophthiracarus ruseki sp. nov., Notophthiracarus granpiedraensis sp. nov. and Notophthiracarus obturatus sp. nov. The identification key for determination of Protophthiracarus species of Cuba is provided. One of the genera, Notophthiracarus, is newly found in the Antilles. New described species have increased the number of endemic species for Cuba and increased the number of the known species of ptyctimous mites to 47.     

The British oribatid mites (Acari: Cryptostigmata) of Warburton and Pearce

Two of the oribatid species described by Warburton and Pearce (1905) are redescribed, and three are synonymized, from original material. Forty-one identifications made by Warburton (1904) and Warburton and Pearce (1904. 1905) are reinterpreted; eight of their records retain the taxonomic status originally assigned to them; and two taxa (including one of their new species) are declared species inquirendae.     

New species of cryptognathid mites from Israel (Acari: Prostigmata: Cryptognathidae)

Favognathus gersoni n. sp. (from mosses), Favognathus cordylus n. sp. (from pine litter), and Cryptognathus attenuatus n. sp. (from tree bark) are described from Israel.     

New and little known oribatids from Kenya,with descriptions of two new genera (Acari: Oribatida)

A list of newly collected and identified oribatids from Kenya is presented, two of them represent new genera; Sceletoppia gen. nov. (Oppiidae) and Mahnertozetes gen. nov. (Haplozetidae). Twelve species, belonging to the families Steganacaridae, Lohmanniidae, Tetracondylidae, Microzetidae, Zetomotrichidae and Galumnidae are new to science. Taxonomical notes on two other species are given.     

A limnological reconnaissance of the Falkland Islands; with particular reference to the waterfleas (Arthropoda: Anomopoda)

Forty‐eight freshwater bodies on the Falkland Islands, including 33 lakes and pools, and 12 rivers and streams, were sampled for freshwater invertebrates. This study yielded 129 species of invertebrates (79 Rotifera, 34 Arthropoda, six Platyhelminthes, three Gastrotricha, two Nematoda, two Annelida, two Mollusca, and one Tardigrada) plus two fish species bringing the known Falkland Islands freshwater fauna to more than 170 species. While the presence of fishes, molluscs, amphipods, caddis larvae, waterboatmen, parasitic cercaria, and truly planktonic rotifers make the Falkland Islands fauna markedly richer than any subantarctic, or maritime Antarctic island, it is nevertheless sparse when compared with other temperate and tropical locations.     

The soil mite family Eremaeidae (Acari: Oribatida) in Mongolia,with remarks on distribution and diversity of known genera

The oribatid mite family Eremaeidae is represented in Mongolia by eight species in three genera. Three new species, Eueremaeus tenuisensillatus sp. nov., Eu. crassisetosus sp. nov. and Eu. laticostulatus sp. nov., collected from cool temperate forests, dry steppe and semi-desert habitats in central and southern Mongolia, are described on the basis of adults. Five known species, Eremaeus hepaticus C. L. Koch, Eu. oblongus (C. L. Koch), Eu. granulatus (Mihel?i?), Proteremaeus mongolicus (Golosova) and P. punctulatus Bayartogtokh are redescribed; the first three of these are recorded for the first time from Mongolia. Taxonomic status of Eu. granulatus (Mihel?i?) and Eu. silvestris (Forsslund) is discussed, and the latter is considered a junior synonym of the former species. The following new combinations are proposed: Eueremaeus brevifer (Mahunka), Eueremaeus fossulatus (Kunst) and Eueremaeus roissi (Piffl). A key to Mongolian species of Eremaeidae is given. Data on distribution and diversity of Eremaeidae of the world are discussed.     

Arphthicarus andamanensis sp. nov., a new species of ptyctimous mite (Acari,Oribatida) from the Andamans

A new species, Arphthicarus andamanensis sp. nov., from the Andaman Islands is described and illustrated. Some known species of ptyctimous mites from the northern and southern islands of the Andamans and the Eastern Ghats of continental India are noted.     

Two new species of Epimerella Kulijev, 1967 (Acari,Oribatida, Epimerellidae) from Turkey

Two new species of the genus Epimerella, E. luxtoni sp. nov. and E. subiasi sp. nov. collected from Yozgat Pine Grove National Park in Turkey are described. A key to the species of Epimerella is provided.     

Taxonomic revision of Amerus troisi (Berlese, 1883) (Acari,Oribatida, Ameridae) using morphological and biochemical characters

This paper redescribes the classical taxon Amerus troisi (Berlese, 1883) on the basis of topotypical material. A new species, Amerus cuspidatus, characterized by short interlamellar setae and a distinct rostral morphology, is also described. In spite of overlapping biogeographical distributions, biochemical analysis indicates that the two Amerus species are clearly differentiated.     

Oribatid mite (Acari) community structure in steppic habitats of Burgos Province,central northern Spain

This work is a study of the communities of oribatid mites in steppic areas of Burgos Province, central northern Spain, in relation to different habitat types belonging to natural or disturbed ecosystems. The primary objective was to find the relationship between anthropogenic use of land and several diversity indices. Parameters such as abundance, species richness, real diversity (H′) and equitability (J′) of the mite communities were calculated in 20 soil plots, sampled in spring and autumn 2000, belonging to the predominant habitat types of this area: (1) cultivated lands, (2) abandoned crop lands, (3) grasslands/pastures, and (4) natural oak forests or a pine plantation. The most widespread species in the area as well as the most abundant taxa overall are documented, together with the faunistic checklist of oribatid mites identified in the study. The results show a general decline in the composition of the oribatid community, in terms of species diversity and abundance, from non‐disturbed soils to cultivated lands. The number of species (richness) was usually higher in forest soils than in disturbed ecosystems, in which the most degraded soils showed the lowest number of species. The community analysis shows the differences due to habitat type and ubiquitous bioindicator species.     

Taxonomic revision of Steganacarus (Steganacarus) magnus (Nicolet, 1855) (Acarida,Oribatida)

The classical taxon, Steganacarus (Steganacarus) magnus (Nicolet, 1855) is redescribed on the basis of topotypic material. The study and the comparison of many European and North African populations reveals a variation in the size of the anterior notogastral tectum and consequently enables another classic entity, S. (Steganacarus) anomalus (Berlese, 1883), to be put into synonymy. These two different ecophenotypes, in the authors' opinion, seem to be linked to the presence of xeric low-altitude southern environments (S. (S.) magnus f. anomala) or cool higher-altitude mid-northern environments (S. (S.) magnus f. magna).     

First collections of water mites (Acari: Hydrachnidia) from Honduras: descriptions of six new species

First collections of water mites (Acari: Hydrachnidia) from Honduras indicate a rich fauna. Nineteen species from just three sites yielded six species new to science. New species described and discussed are: Hydrodroma moralesi n. sp., Flabellifrontipoda triscutata n. sp., Monatractides angelae n. sp., Pseudotorrenticola espinasseae n. sp., Atractides jenniferae n. sp. and Recifella cusucoensis n. sp.     

Description of the immature stages of Sigara (Tropocorixa) santiagiensis (Hungerford, 1928) (Insecta: Heteroptera: Corixidae)

The immature stages of Sigara santiagiensis are described and illustrated for the first time. The eggs of Sigara can be distinguished by the chorionic surface. The main characters separating the five nymphal instars of S. santiagiensis are: body and head lengths; body, head and eye widths; ocular index; numbers of transverse sulcations of the rostrum, setae on the inner surface of protibiotarsus, campaniform sensilla on posterior surface of protrochanter, spines on posteroventral surface of mesotibia and on tibial comb of metaleg, long, slender setae on posterodorsal surface of mesotarsus, spines and swimming hairs on anteroventral and posterodorsal surfaces of metatarsus; and grade of development of the wing pads. The body length, the chaetotaxy of the mesonotum, profemora and metafemora, protibiotarsus, metatibia, metatarsus and urosternites distinguish species or group of species of instars I and V of some of the species of the genus Sigara described up to now.