Oribatid Mites from the Brothers, Cook Strait, New Zealand

Abstract

The Systematics of the oribatid mites collected from two localities on the Brothers, Cook Strait, are reviewed and described. Twenty-five new species are established, and are placed in the following genera: Phthiracarus, Hoplophthiracarus, Oribotritis, Phyllhermannia, Acronothrus, Heoliodes, Arthrodamaeus, Ceratoppia, a new genus of the family Carabodidae, Oppia, Pelops, a new genus of the family Achipteriidae, a new genus of the family Ceratozetidae, Peloribates, Liebstadia, Protoschelobates, and two new genera of the family Scheloribatidae, Every species collected was found to be new and all are illustrated, twenty-four of them in detail. In addition a new family is established in the super-family Phthiracaroidea, and the family Scheloribatidae is divided into two new sub-families. A new genus, based on mites from the Sunda Straits described by Willmann, which were formerly placed in Liebstadia, is also established. Diagnoses are given to the following super-families, sections, families, sub-families, and genera and in many cases they are reviewed and keys given to the families, genera, and species: Phthiracaroidea, a new family of the Phthiracaroidea, Phthiracarus, Hoplophthiracarus, Euphthiracaridae, Oribotritia, Nothroidea, Hermanniidae, Phyllhermannia, Camisiidae, Acronothrus, Circum-dehiscentiae, Eupheredermes, Neoliodidae, Neoliodes, Gymnodamaeidae, Arthrodamaeus, Apheredermes a nymphes dorsodericient, Ceratoppiidae, Ceratoppie, Apheredermes Phcnonotique normaux, Carabodidae, a new genus of the Carabodiae, Oppiidae, Oppia, Poronotiques, Achipteriidae, a new genus of the Achipteriidae, Pelopsidae, Pelops,Ceratozetidae, a new genus of the Ceratozetidae, Haplozetidae, Peloribates, Scheloribatidae, two new sub-families of the Scheloribatidae, Liebstadia, Protoschelobates, and three new scheloribatid genera. The relationship of the fauna is briefly considered but the oribatid fauns of New Zealand as a whole is too insufficiently known at present for any final conclusions to be reached. It is suggested that relationships, similsr to those of the New Zealand collembolan and earthworm faunas, in which affinities with both the Austrslian and Indo-Malayan Regions exist, will be found to occur. Two examples of the Phenomenon known as aparity are deseribed and the various theories concerning it, discussed. Grand Jean’s theory is slightly modified.