Checklist of oribatoid mites in the vicinity of Mountain Lake Biological Station, Virginia
Sengbusch, H.
Virginia Journal of Science 8(2): 128-134
1957
ISSN/ISBN: 0042-658X
Accession: 022199830
This list of oribatoid mites is based upon observations and collections made during the summers of 1955 and 1956 in the vicinity of the Mt. Lake Bioi. Sta., Giles County, Virginia. Since no checklist has been compiled up until now, this information is incom-plete and should be considered only as a preliminary report. The major collecting sites are indicated upon a map which encompasses an area approximately 15.5 sq. miles surrounding the Biol. Sta. The sites contain varied ecological niches in which the hygrophilous, so-called "moss mites," can be found. The mites, which were collected by means of a modified Tullgren funnel, were mounted on slides and examined. The resulting list contains 20 families, 57 genera and 95 spp. New spp. will be reported in a subsequent paper. This region is particularly rich in regard to the oribatoid fauna and offers abundant opportunities for further research in the taxonomy and biology of these relatively little-known animals.