Family OLOGAMASIDAE Ryke, 1962
Introduction
The Ologamasidae is large family of relatively large and strongly sclerotised mites that occur in soil and litter, where they prey on nematodes, other mites, and Collembola (Lindquist et al. 2009). Lee (1970) reviewed the family, which he included in a broadly-conceived family Rhodacaridae. Karg & Schorlemmer (2011) reviewed the genus-level classification and taxonomic placement of the family, and the world fauna was catalogued by Castilho et al.. (2016). The Ologamasidae is mainly Gondwanan in distribution, and is very diverse and abundant in leaf litter in Australian forests. The known fauna includes 22 genera and 63 species, and many more undescribed and unidentified taxa are present in collections. Unidentified or partly identified species of Ologamasidae have been reported from Australia many times as listed for each genus, for example by Walter (1995), Osler & Beattie (2001), Beaulieu et al. (2006), Beaulieu & Walter (2007) and Adolphson & Kinnear (2008). Beaulieu et al. (2010) and Beaulieu (2012) reported a large number of unidentified or undescribed species in known genera, as well as a number of species that appear to belong to undescribed genera. Proctor et al. (2011) provisionally recorded Hydrogamasus? and a number of other unidentified taxa from Queensland.
Berlese (1910) described Ameroseius crassipes from Australia. Berlese (1916) transferred this species to Lasioseius (Leioseius). Westerboer & Bernhard (1963) pointed out that this species does not belong in Leioseius. Halliday et al. (1998), showed that this species belongs to the Ologamasidae, but its correct genus placement has not been resolved. Domrow (1957) reported Sessiluncus heterotarsus (Canestrini) from Australia, but this was a misidentification of Antennolaelaps testudo Lee (see Lee 1970).
Excluded Taxa
- Misidentifications
Ologamasidae: Sessiluncus heterotarsus (Canestrini, 1897) — Canestrini, G. 1897. Nuovi acaroidei della N. Guinea. Természetrajzi Füzetek 20: 461-474
General References
Adolphson, H. & Kinnear, A. 2008. Acari (mite) assemblages under plantations of bluegum, Eucalyptus globulus, in southwestern Australia. Pedobiologia 51: 427–437
Beaulieu, F. 2012. Saproxyly in predatory mites? Mesostigmata in decaying log habitats versus litter in a wet eucalypt forest, Tasmania, Australia. International Journal of Acarology 38: 313–323
Beaulieu, F., Walter, D.E., Proctor, H.C., Kitching, R.L. & Menzel, F. 2006. Mesostigmatid mites (Acari: Mesostigmata) on rainforest tree trunks: arboreal specialists, but substrate generalists? Experimental and Applied Acarology 39: 25–40
Beaulieu, F. & Walter, D.E. 2007. Predation in suspended and forest floor soils: observations on Australian mesostigmatic mites. Acarologia 47: 43–54
Beaulieu, F. & Weeks, A.R. 2007. Free-living mesostigmatic mites in Australia: their roles in biological control and bioindication. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 47: 460–478
Beaulieu., F., Walter, D.E., Proctor, H.C. & Kitching, R.L. 2010. The canopy starts at 0.5 m: predatory mites (Acari: Mesostigmata) differ between rainforest floor soil and suspended soil at any height. Biotropica 42: 704–709 + supplementary pages 1–13
Berlese, A. 1910. Brevi diagnosi di generi e specie nuovi di Acari. Redia. Giornale di entomologia, Firenze 6: 346-388
Berlese, A. 1916. Centuria prima di Acari nuovi. Redia. Giornale di entomologia, Firenze 12: 19-67
Castilho, R.C., Silva, E.S., de Moraes, G.J. & Halliday, B. 2016. Catalogue of the family Ologamasidae Ryke (Acari: Mesostigmata). Zootaxa 4197(1): 1-147.
Domrow, R. 1957. Some Acarina Mesostigmata from the Great Barrier Reef. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales 81: 197-216
Halliday, R.B., Walter, D.E. & Lindquist, E.E. 1998. Revision of the Australian Ascidae (Acarina: Mesostigmata). Invertebrate Taxonomy 12: 1-54
Karg, W. & Schorlemmer, A. 2011. The predatory mite family Ologamasidae Ryke, 1962 and its position within the higher groups of Parasitiformes (Acarina) with new species from South America. Zoosystematics and Evolution 87: 205–219
Lee, D.C. 1970. The Rhodacaridae (Acari : Mesostigmata); classification, external morphology and distribution of genera. Records of the South Australian Museum (Adelaide) 16(3): 1-219
Lindquist, E.E., Krantz, G.W. & Walter, D.E. 2009. Order Mesostigmata. pp.124-232 in Krantz, G.W. & Walter, D.E. (eds). A Manual of Acarology. Lubbock, Texas : Texas Tech University Press Third edition, 807 pp.
Osler, G.H.R. & Beattie, A.J. 2001. Contribution of oribatid and mesostigmatid soil mites in ecologically based estimates of global species richness. Austral Ecology 26: 70–79
Proctor, H., Kanowski, J., Catterall, C.P., Wardell-Johnson, G. & Reis, T. 2011. Rainforest-restoration success as judged by assemblages of soil- and litter-dwelling mites (Arachnida: Acari). Zoosymposia 6: 234–254
Westerboer, I. & Bernhard, F. 1963. Die familie Phytoseiidae Berlese 1916. pp. 451-777 in Stammer, H.J. (ed.). Beiträge zur Systematik und Ökologie Mitteleuropäischer Acarina. Band II. Mesostigmata. Leipzig : Akademische Verlagsgesselschaft Geest & Portig K.-G.
History of changes
| Published | As part of group | Action Date | Action Type | Compiler(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 05-Dec-2019 | Acari | 20-Sep-2021 | MODIFIED | Dr Bruce Halliday |
| 01-May-2017 | Acari | 20-Sep-2021 | MODIFIED | Dr Bruce Halliday |
| 07-May-2013 | 20-Sep-2021 | MODIFIED | ||
| 06-Nov-2011 | 06-Nov-2011 | MOVED | ||
| 08-Aug-2010 | 08-Aug-2010 | MOVED | ||
| 09-Jul-2010 | 09-Jul-2010 | ADDED | ||
| 08-Jul-2010 | MODIFIED |