Biogeography of Carabodidae (Acari: Oribatida) in North America

Abstract

In North America the oribatid mite family Carabodidae is represented by 54 described and undescribed species in nine genera. Of these, the genus Carabodes is the most widely distributed and species-rich, but most of its 28 species are eastern. Some show considerable endemism and distributional patterns that may relate to glaciation or current climate. Based on the distinctness of the regional faunas, both Carabodes and Odontocepheus probably radiated after North America separated from Europe, and there is little evidence of Beringian dispersal. In continental USA nearly all species of Cubabodes, Kalloia, Yoshiobodes, Pentabodes, Klapperiches, Austrocarabodes and an undescribed genus are restricted to the south Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coasts, and considerable endemism is suspected. Except for the thelytokous species Y. irmayi, few carabodid mites have wide distributions in the Caribbean region. © 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.