Oribatid mites of China: a review of progress, with a checklist

Abstract

The present paper gives a review of the taxonomic study on the suborder Oribatida (the cohort Astigmata excepted) in China including Hong Kong and Taiwan, with a checklist of 599 species and subspecies in 275 genera, representing 97 families. One junior synonymes is proposed, i.e., Peloribates praeoccupatus Subías, 2004 is regarded as a junior synonym of Peloribates tsengi Wen, Wang & Chen, 2003. The taxonomic study of oribatid mites in China was started by A. P. Jacot in 1922, and was very productive during the period from 1980 to the end of last century with the efforts of several Chinese and foreign oribatologists. In addition to taxonomic research, publications on biodiversity, seasonal dynamics, biological monitoring for soil pollution, and esterase isoenzyme patterns of oribatid mites have been published by Chinese scholars.