New species and records of oribatid mites of the genus Protoribates (Acari, Oribatida, Haplozetidae) from China

Two new species of oribatid mites of the genus Protoribates (Oribatida, Haplozetidae) are described based on adult specimens from China. Protoribates tibetensis sp. nov. differs from all representatives of the genus Protoribates by larger body size, long, thick and barbed notogastral setae and monodactylous legs. Protoribates sichuanensis sp. nov. differs from Protoribates magnus (Aoki, 1982) by smaller body size, ventroanteriorly rounded femora II, shorter ad(1) and single porose area A1. Three known species of Protoribates, P. crassisetiger nipponicus Fujita, 1989, P. geonjiensis Choi, 1994, and P. oblongus (Ewing, 1909), are recorded in China for the first time. Two other known species, Protoribates cattienensis Ermilov & Anichkin, 2011 and Protoribates dentatus (Berlese, 1883), are recorded in mainland China for the first time. Supplementary morphological information is given for all the above known species. A key to the Chinese species of the genus Protoribates is given.