New faunistic and taxonomic data on oribatid mites (Acari, Oribatida) inhabiting soil and termite nests in the Golden Gate Highlands National Park (eastern South Africa)

The present study is based on oribatid mite material collected from soil and nests of the termite, Trinervitermes trinervoides of the Golden Gate Highlands National Park in South Africa. A list of identified taxa, including 49 species, belonging to 41 genera and 24 families, is presented; of these, 13 species, eight genera and two families are found in South Africa for the first time. The faunistic comparison of mites from soil and termite nests showed higher abundance and species richness in soil than in the nests. Soil samples contain dominant species Oppiella nova, Tectocepheus velatus sarekensis, Africoribates pilosus, Afroleius lucidus and Scheloribates elsi versus Ausoribula bloemfonteinensis and Coetzeella navalensis in termite nests. One new species, Urubambates ueckermanni sp. nov. (Scheloribatidae) is described as differing from all known species of the genus by the presence of monodactylous legs.