S. Mahunka szerk.: Folia Entomologica Hungarica 63. (Budapest, 2002)

APHELACARIDAE Grandjean, 1954 Aphelacarus acarinus (Berlese, 1910) - Mahunka 1994: 48, 1997a: 117. HYPOCHTHONIIDAE Berlese, 1910 Malacoangelia remigeraBerlese, 1913-Mahunka 1997a: 121. ENIOCHTHONIIDAE Grandjean, 1947 Hypochthoniella sumatrana Mahunka, 1989 - Mahunka 1993: 290. SPHAEROCHTHONIIDAE Grandjean, 1947 Sphaerochthonius variosetosus Mahunka, 1997-Mahunka 1997a: 121. PROTOPLOPHORIDAE Ewing, 1917 Bursoplophora madagassica Mahunka, 1994 - Mahunka 1994: 49. PHTHIRACARIDAE Perty, 1841 Archiphthiracarella bulbifera" Mahunka, 1996-Mahunka 1996a: 18. Archiphthiracarella baloghorum Mahunka, 1997-Mahunka 1997e: 86; Balogh 1962a: 149 (Phthiracarus insularis); Niedbala 1986: 331 (Phthiracarus insularis); Mahunka 1996a: 20 (Archiphthiracarella insularis); Mahunka 1997a: 117 (Phthiracarus insularis); Niedbala 2001: 15 (Phthiracarus minor Niedbala, 2001 syn. n.). Phthiracarus anonymus Grandjean, 1933 - Niedbala 2001: 12. ** The present author in many instances cannot accept Niedbala'

s (2001 latest) suggestions of synonymy. The reason for this is that some taxonomic characteristics represent different phylogenetical, consequenly hierarchic "values", in other words, its plesiomorphic or apomorphic nature is different, or his evaluation of certain units (e.g. the position of genital setae in Phthiracaridae or in Steganacaridae families). His endeavours clearly show not to accept a forced simplification. For if these methods would be accepted then in many other groups of oribatids some 70% of the higher taxa should be synonymized instantly (e.g. Damaeidae, Oppioidea, Oribatuloidea, Galumnoidea). Obviously, this would lead to a great deal of confusion.