Abstract
Records of nine species of the family Lohmanniidae from the Bermuda Islands, belonging to six genera, are presented and discussed (Haplacarus foliatus Wallwork, 1962, Lohmannia banksi Norton, Metz et Sharma, 1978, L. jornoti Mahunka, 1985, L. similis Balogh, 1962, Meristacarus porcula Grandjean, 1934, Nesiacarus granulatus Hammer, 1972, Papillacarus incompletus (Mahunka, 1985), P. spinosus Bischoff de Alzuet, 1972, Torpacarus omittens omittens Grandjean, 1950). Morphological characteristics, ecology and zoogeographical relationships are analysed. Most Lohmanniidae species were found in terrestrial habitats, a few species colonize the salt-spray area of the supralittoral zone or even the upper eulittoral zone, mainly in mangrove leaf litter. Almost all Lohmanniidae species found on Bermuda occur also in Central or South America. Dispersal by hydrochory can be assumed for most species.
Highlights
The knowledge of the oribatid mite fauna from the Bermuda Islands is still very poor
A new species of the family Fortuyniidae, Fortuynia atlantica Krisper et Schuster, 2008 was described which is hitherto only known from the Bermuda Islands, occurring in many localities along the rocky coastlines (Krisper and Schuster 2008)
In the course of two collecting trips made by the second author to the Bermudas in the summers of 1977 and 1981, numerous Lohmanniidae species were collected
Summary
The knowledge of the oribatid mite fauna from the Bermuda Islands is still very poor. In the course of two collecting trips made by the second author to the Bermudas in the summers of 1977 and 1981, numerous Lohmanniidae species were collected. These taxa are presented in the present paper. It is largely influenced by the Gulf Stream which represents an important climatic factor This ocean current arising in the Caribbean region, is a significant factor for the colonization of the Bermuda islands by plants and animals. Since discovery by humans in 1503, numerous species have been introduced to the islands, deliberately or accidentally, which were responsible for the remarkable changes in the native flora and fauna of the archipelago as well as the subsequent changes in the original vegetation and landscape. Details about the natural history of the Bermudas are given in Thomas (2004)
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