Distribution of oribatid mites in pasture soils of Japan

Abstract

Study on distribution of oribatid mites as a vectors of Anoplocephaline cestodes, containing Moniezia expansa, was made. Soil samples were collected in winter at pastures, mainly of livestock breeding farm in each prefecture of Japan. Thirteen families, 19 genera, 31 species and 1877 individuals of oribatid mites were extracted by means of a Tullgren apparatus (Table 1). A naverage, 3.0 species are found in one soil sample and it means that the oribatid fauna of pasture soils are much simple as compaired with woodland one (Fig.1). Scheloribates rigidisetosus Willm. and Trichogalumna lunai Bal. are considered most dominant and show constant number among 41 samples collected. (Table 4 and 5). Their percentage, however, vary considerably in each sample (Fig.2). Scheloribates laevigatus (Koch) comes after them. This species are already known as a vector of Moniezia expansa and a mite of wide distribution. Mites belonging to the family Phthiracaridae may be reduced in pasture soils, while they are more abundant in other circumstances.