S. Mahunka szerk.: Folia Entomologica Hungarica 60. (Budapest, 1999)

FOLIA ENTOMOLOGICA HUNGARICA ROVARTANI KÖZLEMÉNYEK LX 1999 pp. 21-43 The extra-holarctic species of the Oripodidae Jacot, 1925 (Acari: Oribatei) J. Balogh and P. Balogh The extra-holarctic species of the Oripodidae Jacot, 1925 (Acari: Oribatei) — A survey and identification key for the species of the family Oripodidae Jacot, 1929. With 127 figures. INTRODUCTION The family of Oripodidae Jacot, 1925 comprises 18 genera «in the extra-holarctic regions. The diagnosis of the family is the following: Notogaster with sacculi. Pteromorphae immovable. Sensillus mostly with short stalk and capitate head. Anterior tectum of notogaster covering bothridia and sometimes sensillus. Adduced number of setae in genito-anal region: usually 1-2 pairs of genital, exceptionally 1 or 0 pair of anal setae. When making the word-wide survey of the family Balogh, (1961) relegated here 6 genera. The comprehensive work of "The Oribatid Genera of the World" (1972) discusses 16 genera. The last comprehensive work on oripodid mites was compiled by Balogh and Balogh (1984). Regarding details a highly useful work is that of Aoki and Ohkubo (1974). The Hungarian oribatidologists: S. Mahunka and the present authors drew up an overall collecting plan for the whole of the tropical and subtropical zones. During this work embracing the period between 1963 and 1993 they described well above 1000 so far unknown oribatids. From among the here elaborated 68 Oripodidae species 43 were described by one of these three Hungarian oribatidologists. The subsequently given identification keys are easy to use since in most cases the original figures or their simplified variety are appended. We believe that it is of utmost importance to study the original description when even the slightest uncertainty arises. The more intensive exploration of the canopies of tropical rainforests, the montane forests and the moss forests begin only recently. We hold the view that the majority of the Oripodidae species are yet unknown. The present contribution is meant to be a tool to study this group.