Oppiella Nova Research Articles

Wolbachia of phylogenetic supergroup K identified in oribatid mite Nothrus anauniensis (Acari: Oribatida: Nothridae).

Heritable endosymbionts widely occur in arthropod and nematode hosts. Among these endosymbionts, Wolbachia has been extensively detected in many arthropods, such as insects and crustaceans. Maternal inheritance is the most basic and dominant mode of transmission of Wolbachia, and it might regulate the reproductive system of the host in four ways: feminization, parthenogenesis, male killing, and cytoplasmic incompatibility. There is a relatively high percentage (10%) of thelytokous species in Oribatida, a suborder under the subclass Acari of arthropods, but the study of the endosymbionts in oribatid mites is almost negligible. In this paper, we detected endosymbiotic bacteria in two parthenogenetic oribatid species, Nothrus anauniensis Canestrini and Fanzago, 1877, which has never been tested for endosymbionts, and Oppiella nova, in which Wolbachia and Cardinium have been reported before. The results showed that Wolbachia was first found in N. anauniensis with an infection rate of 100% across three populations. Phylogenetic analysis showed that Wolbachia in N. anauniensis belonged to the supergroup K, marking the second supergroup of Wolbachia found in oribatid mites. Unlike previous studies, our study did not detect Wolbachia in O. nova, leading to the exclusion of Wolbachia's role in mediating thelytoky in this species.

Immediate Effects of Prescribed Burning on Soil Mite (Acari: Oribatida) Communities in a Scots Pine (Pinus Sylvestris) Forest, Latvia

AbstractPrescribed burning is used to maintain and restore habitats, to protect and increase species bio-diversity. Knowledge about soil fauna is limited, especially on community responses to fire disturbances. The aim of this study was to determine the immediate effects of prescribed burning on soil armoured mite (Acari: Oribatida) communities, vegetation cover and soil physiochemical properties in a boreal Scots pine forest in Latvia. Soil samples were collected on the day of the prescribed burning in the protected landscape area “Ādaži” and 16 days after. No significant changes in abiotic factors were found. Fire significantly decreased the vegetation cover. After the burning, the total number of oribatid mites decreased by 93%, and the number of species by 77%. Changes in oribatid mite communities were significantly influenced by fire severity. The number of individuals decreased among all taxa, except Brachychthonioidea spp. and Cosmochthonius lanathus. A significant decrease in abundance was observed in previously abundant species — Suctobelbella spp., Oppiella nova and Tectocepheus velatus. After the burning, Suctobelbella spp. was an eudominant and Tectocepheus spp. was a dominant genus.

Incidence of Wohlbachia, cardinium, spiroplasma and Phage Wo in Different Geographical Populations of Chilo suppressalis (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) from China

Using specific primers, we measured the infection status of Wolbachia, WO, Cardinium, and Spiroplasma in Chilo suppressalis (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) collected from 14 locations in China, and conducted phylogenetic analysis of the three endosymbionts. The results showed that eight geographical populations of C. suppressalis were infected by Wolbachia. The infection rates of Wolbachia in four geographical populations had no significant difference between 2011 and 2012 (P>0.05). There were five geographical populations infected with Cardinium and seven geographical populations infected with Spiroplasma. Seven populations of C. suppressalis carrying Wolbachia were also infected with WO. The maximum parsimony tree shows that Wolbachia from C. suppressalis, Pieris rapae, Coliaserate poliographus and Tetranychus urticae fall into the same clade. Cardinium from C. suppressalis joins together with Cardinium from Oppiella nova. Spiroplasma in C. suppressalis has a close relationship with that of Fannia manicata. In conclusion, infections of three endosymbionts showed regional differences, and there were eight geographical populations infected with more than one endosymbiont. Our study found, for the first time, double infection with Wolbachia and Spiroplasma in one sample from Xinzhou. Phylogenetic analysis of the three endosymbionts proved that the endosymbionts can transfer horizontally between different individuals of the same or different hosts.

The Use of Wood Chips for Revitalization of Degraded Forest Soil on Young Scots Pine Plantation

The aim of the study was to assess the impact of several methods of mulching degraded forest soil with wood chips on the development of mite (Acari) community, with particular emphasis to oribatid mites (Oribatida), and on the growth of young plantings of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.). Mulching with wood chips should contribute to revitalize soil fauna and restore natural forests on degraded soils. Scots pine seedlings were planted at the post-military training ground. Four experimental treatments were tested: control—uncovered soil (C), mulching with wood chips (W), W + mycorrhiza preparation (WM), and W + forest litter (WL). At the end of the growing season in 2012, 2013 and 2014, the following plant measurements were carried out: length of annual increment of the main stem, stem base diameter, number and lengths of lateral shoots in the annual whorl. The mite calculations included average mite density, dominance index, species richness, oribatid mite diversity, average number of species, and Shannon general species diversity index. The use of mulching with wood chips did not significantly affect the growth characteristics of Scots pine plants, but strongly increased the mite community. After mulching, the total number and species diversity of Acari increased many times, and Oribatida began to dominate among micro-arthropods. The number of Oribatida increased most in W. The largest species diversity was observed in WL. 24 species of Oribatida were found that were used as the bio-indicators of soil succession changes. Tectocepheus velatus clearly dominated in all mulching treatments. Oppiella nova and Scutovertex sculptus were also numerous populations of Oribatida. The study shows that mulching with Scots pine wood chips, especially with the addition of forest litter, significantly enriches soil fauna and is therefore useful in the regeneration process of degenerated forest soils.

Oribatid mites (Acari: Oribatida) of hygrophyte grasslands on Transcarpathian Lowland

Fauna and ecological diversity of oribatid mites of hygrophyte grasslands on Transcarpathian lowland is considered in the paper. For Transcarpathia, such studies have not been conducted before. For hygrophyte grasslands 45 species of Oribatida (25 families, 34 families) are registered. The most numerous among detected taxa were Platynothrus peltifer, Ceratozetes mediocris and Oppiella nova. It has been established that dominant role belongs to the surface-soil morpho-ecological group of oribatid mites. In the ecological structure, predominant role is inherent of hydrophilous and eurytopic species.

Oribatida (Acari) communities in arable soils formed under waterlogged conditions: the influence of a soil moisture gradient

Oribatid mites make up a dominant group of soil mesofauna. These microarthropods are quite rarely researched in heavy clay soils, and their seasonal dynamics has never been studied thoroughly during the year in such an environment. The research was conducted in 1994–1995 at three sites along a small-scale moisture gradient, with the aim of describing the influence of different moisture conditions on this soil mesofaunal group and evaluating their seasonal dynamics regarding temperature and soil humidity fluctuations. The study area was characterized by a land depression in a field with clay soil, where waterlogged periods occurred, in the Eastern Slovak Lowland (Slovakia). The investigations were based on 24,890 oribatid adults from 72 species. The mean abundance and total species richness of Oribatida increased with increasing soil moisture towards the lower part of the land depression. The abundance and number of species reached a maximum at the bottom site (ca. 8000 ind.m−2 and 59 species) and was two-fold greater than at the summit site. The mean oribatid abundance and the mean species richness between the sites were compared, and significant differences were found on almost all sampling occasions, but the patterns of changes along the moisture gradient differed between study years. The seasonal fluctuations of oribatid abundance within the sites showed a pattern with spring and autumn maxima and a summer minimum only at moist depression bottom. Seasonal changes in the oribatid community composition were more pronounced at sites with lower soil moisture. Specific communities consisting of hygrophilous or eurytopic species and located at the bottom and slope sites of the depression clearly differed from those of the summit site, where xerotolerant species predominated. Ordination analysis confirmed the influence of temperature and precipitation on the species community composition. The bottom and slope site communities were dominated by the species combination of hygrophilous Microppia minus, Oxyoppia europaea and hygrotolerant Oppiella nova, while at the summit site these mites were replaced by more xerotolerant species: Ramusella insculpta, Oppiella obsoleta and Tectocepheus velatus.

Comparison of oribatid mites from agricultural soils with contrasting irrigation types in Hidalgo State, Mexico: a case study

The objective of this work is to know the structure (composition and density) of the community of the oribatid mites and their relationship to edaphic parameters in 2 agricultural parcels with different type of irrigation. It constitutes the first work done with oribatid mites in agricultural plots irrigated with waste water in Mexico. Two agricultural parcels were selected: one is irrigated with waste water (San Salvador) and the other with well water (El Bondho) from the municipality of San Salvador. The density of oribatids in San Salvador was higher than that from El Bondho (2,360 and 1,935 ind/m2, respectively). The maximum abundances in percentages in San Salvador were for 3 species: Tectocepheus velatus elegans (48%), Scheloribates sp. (15%) and Oppiella nova (13%); but for El Bondho, there were only 2 species: Zygoribatula connexa (74%) and Ramusella sp. (10%). Due to soil conditions by the irrigation type, results gave information, on one hand, about the tolerance of some species like O. nova, R. ardua, and T. velatus elegans to heavy metals, and on the other hand, about the low resistance to heavy metals of Epilohmannia pallida and Z. connexa , which were present in the less polluted parcel, but are tolerant to saline soils. Results can be useful to support the use of some species of oribatid mites as bioindicators in ecosystems with similar conditions.

Effect of ploughing and pesticide application on oribatid mite communities

ABSTRACTThe impact of conventional pesticide treatment and deep ploughing on oribatid mite communities was investigated in an abandoned arable land. The experimental plots were divided in “pesticide and ploughed” (PPL), “ploughed” (PL) and a“ meadow” as control (Ctr). Soil samples were taken monthly during the vegetation period (March-August) and once in three months (October and January) in a period without vegetation. Seventy-seven species of oribatid mites were determined. Species numbers were highest in Ctr (55 species), lower in PPL (53) and lowest in PL (41). Oribatid communities were dominated by sexually reproducing Brachypylina. Some of the generally frequent parthenogenetic species (e.g. Acrotritia ardua and Oppiella nova) were rare at the Ctr sites while stress-tolerant species (both, sexual and asexual, e.g. Protoribates capucinus, Punctoribates punctum, Ramusella clavipectinata, Tectocepheus velatus) were dominant. Pesticide application did not show any effect on oribatid mite community beyond the ploughing, whereas some species like P. capucinus, P. punctum, R. clavipectinata and T. velatus reached high abundances at PPL sites. Community structure of oribatid mites did not change significantly compared with Ctr sites, suggesting that the study area is inhabited by stress tolerant oribatid communities shaped by past agricultural disturbance.

Impact of ectohumus application in birch and pine nurseries on the presence of soil mites (Acari), Oribatida in particular

Abstract Intensively used forest nurseries are characterised by degradation processes that lead to a drop in the quality of seedlings. The main reason of this problem is a decrease in biological soil diversity. Therefore, an attempt of nursery soil enrichment by introducing ectohumus – as compost and fresh litter – from the pine forest was carried out. The research was carried out in 2009–2011 in the Bielawy forest nursery near the city of Toruń, Poland. The objective of the study was to determine the impact of organic fertilisation (compost made up of forest humus) and mulching using fresh ectohumus on the density and community composition of Acari mites and on species composition of oribatid mites (Oribatida) in the nurseries of silver birch and Scots pine. Mites, especially oribatid mites, were treated as bioindicators of soil biological activity. Research has shown that mulching using fresh ectohumus caused a multiple increase in the density of mites, especially in saprophagous mites Oribatida. Oribatid mites were clearly more numerous in birch cultivation than in that of pine. Overall, 27 species of oribatid mites were found. Mulching resulted in a significant growth in species diversity in both cultivations. The most numerous oribatid mite in the area under the study was Oribatula tibialis. This species was present in all plots and showed clear preference for birch cultivation. Tectocepheus velatus and Oppiella nova, common and known to be present in a variety of environments, were slightly less numerous.

Secondary successions of biota in oil-polluted peat soil upon different biological remediation methods

The effects of different bioremediation methods on restoration of the oil-polluted peat soil (Histosol) in the northernmost taiga subzone of European Russia was studied. The population dynamics of microorganisms belonging to different trophic groups (hydrocarbon-oxidizing, ammonifying, nitrifying, and oligonitrophilic) were analyzed together with data on the soil enzyme (catalase and dehydrogenase) activities, population densities of soil microfauna groups, their structures, and states of phytocenoses during a sevenyear-long succession. The remediation with biopreparations Roder composed of oil-oxidizing microorganisms-Roder with Rhodococcus rubber and R. erythropolis and Universal with Rhodotorula glutinis and Rhodococcus sp.-was more efficient than the agrochemical and technical remediation. It was concluded that the biopreparations activate microbiological oil destruction, thereby accelerating restoration succession of phytocenosis and zoocenosis. The succession of dominant microfauna groups was observed: the dipteran larvae and Mesostigmata mites predominant at the early stages were replaced by collembolans at later stages. The pioneer oribatid mite species were Tectocepheus velatus, Oppiella nova, Liochthonius sellnicki, Oribatula tibialis, and Eupelops sp.

A screen of maternally inherited microbial endosymbionts in oribatid mites (Acari: Oribatida).

We determined the distribution of microbial endosymbionts as possible agents of parthenogenesis in Oribatida. We screened mites from 20 species of 14 families suspected to be parthenogenetic from the absence or rarity of males. Our research included parthenogenesis-inducing bacteria Wolbachia spp., Cardinium spp., Rickettsia spp., and additionally Arsenophonus, Spiroplasma and microsporidia that can also manipulate host reproduction. We detected the endosymbionts by PCR-based methods and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observation of fixed and stained preparations of host cells. We detected Wolbachia only in one Oribatida species, Oppiella nova, by identifying Wolbachia genes using PCR. TEM observations confirmed infection by the endosymbiont in O. nova and its lack in other Oribatida species. Sequence analysis of hcpA and fbpA genes showed that the Wolbachia strain from O. nova was different from strains characterized in some insects, crustaceans (Isopoda), mites (Tetranychidae), springtails (Hexapoda) and roundworms (Nematoda). The analysis strongly suggested that the Wolbachia sp. strain found in O. nova did not belong to supergroups A, B, C, D, E, F, H or M. We found that the sequences of Wolbachia from O. nova were clearly distantly related to sequences from the bacteria of the other supergroups. This observation makes O. nova a unique Wolbachia host in terms of the distinction of the strain. The role of these micro-organisms in O. nova remains unknown and is an issue to investigate.

Biological activity of the metal-rich post-flotation tailings at an abandoned mine tailings pond (four decades after experimental afforestation).

In the spring 2012, post-flotation tailings of the inactive impoundment Lintich (Slovakia) were sampled. In the impoundment sediment and also in its surrounding, we detected concentration of Pb, Zn, Cd, Cu, and Ba exceeding limiting values. We detected low values of the microbial biomass carbon and microbial activity in the impoundment sediment (LiS) and its dam (DAM) along with potential respiration stayed relatively low and therefore also substrate availability index and metabolic quotient (qCO2) were higher in the control sample (REF) than in the LiS and the DAM. The low qCO2 level indicates that microbial community, despite of dangerously high levels of heavy metals in sediment, is still able to sufficiently utilize sources of available organic carbon. Anyway, we could doubt function of the metabolic index as universal indicator of environment conditions, regarding the anthropogenic substrates. We confirmed changes in composition of the mite communities along gradient dam-impoundment. The percentage of eudominant, recendent, and subrecendent species increased at the expense of dominants and subdominants, all together with decreasing diversity and equitability of the community. We identified species Chamobates borealis, Carabodes rugosior, Metabelba propexa, and Pergalumna nervosa with negative respond under the heavy metal stress. Species Adoristes ovatus was indifferent and Dissorhina sp., Hafenrefferia gilvipes, and Oppiella nova prospered under the loaded conditions. Forty years after experimental afforestation, we expect specific community of actively surviving microorganisms and Oribatida species detected in the DAM are usual in the greatly degraded habitats or on sites in the early succession.

Evidence for frozen-niche variation in a cosmopolitan parthenogenetic soil mite species (Acari, Oribatida).

Parthenogenetic lineages may colonize marginal areas of the range of related sexual species or coexist with sexual species in the same habitat. Frozen-Niche-Variation and General-Purpose-Genotype are two hypotheses suggesting that competition and interclonal selection result in parthenogenetic populations being either genetically diverse or rather homogeneous. The cosmopolitan parthenogenetic oribatid mite Oppiella nova has a broad ecological phenotype and is omnipresent in a variety of habitats. Morphological variation in body size is prominent in this species and suggests adaptation to distinct environmental conditions. We investigated genetic variance and body size of five independent forest - grassland ecotones. Forests and grasslands were inhabited by distinct genetic lineages with transitional habitats being colonized by both genetic lineages from forest and grassland. Notably, individuals of grasslands were significantly larger than individuals in forests. These differences indicate the presence of specialized genetic lineages specifically adapted to either forests or grasslands which coexist in transitional habitats. Molecular clock estimates suggest that forest and grassland lineages separated 16-6 million years ago, indicating long-term persistence of these lineages in their respective habitat. Long-term persistence, and morphological and genetic divergence imply that drift and environmental factors result in the evolution of distinct parthenogenetic lineages resembling evolution in sexual species. This suggests that parthenogenetic reproduction is not an evolutionary dead end.

The armoured mite fauna (Acari: Oribatida) from a long-term study in the Scots pine forest of the Northern Vidzeme Biosphere Reserve, Latvia

In 1992-2012, a considerable amount of soil micro-arthropods has been collected annually as a part of a project of the National Long-Term Ecological Research Network of Latvia at the Mazsalaca Scots Pine forest sites of the North Vidzeme Biosphere Reserve. Until now, the data on oribatid species have not been published. This paper presents a list of oribatid species collected during 21 years of ongoing research in three pine stands of different age. The faunistic records refer to 84 species (including 17 species new to the fauna of Latvia), 1 subspecies, 1 form, 5 morphospecies and 18 unidentified taxa. The most dominant and most frequent oribatid species are Oppiella (Oppiella) nova, Tectocepheus velatus velatus and Suctobelbella falcata.

Oribatid mites (Acari, Oribatida) of pine and cypress litter in selected habitats of Sicily (Italy)

Abstract Oribatid mites live in the soil or plant matter and usually feed on living and dead plant or fungal material, lichens, carrion, or some species are rarely predatory. Oribatid communities were investigated in litter under pine and cypress trees in selected locations in Sicily: Etna slopes (near Rifugio Sapienza and near Castiglione di Sicily), coastal town Giardini Naxos, Archaeological Museum in Agrigento, and Archaeological Park in Sagesta. The most abundant and diverse oribatid mites lived in cypress litter in Agrigento and on Etna slope. The lowest numbers of individuals and species were recorded in pine litter in Agrigento. In the oribatid mite communities, only 1-3 species were abundant, so the values of Shannon H’ index, and Pielou EPielou and Hurlbert EHurlbert evenness indices were rather low. Their values were the highest in pine litter near Rifugio Sapienza, located nearest to the crater of Etna, while the lowest in pine litter in Agrigento. The former habitat was rich in oribatid mites and species, with a large participation of small species, like Suctobelbella subcornigera, Brachychthonius impressus, and Liochthonius simplex, which made up nearly 63% of the total number of oribatid mites within that habitat. In other habitats, usually Oribatula propinqua dominated, but in pine and cypress litter in Giardini Naxos, Oppiella nova and Ramusella clavipectinata were the most abundant, respectively. Among oribatid mites, adults usually dominated, but Adrodamaeus femoratus, Aphelacarus acarinus, Brachychthonius impressus, Liochthonius simplex, Cosmochthonius reticulatus, Metabelba pulverulenta and Pilogalumna crassiclava were rich in juveniles.

Moss mites (Acari, Oribatida) at the edges of bog lakes and pools in Brodnica Lakeland and Orawa–Nowy-Targ Basin (Poland)

Abstract Moss mites were investigated at the edges of 4 bodies of water located in bogs: 2 lakes in Brodnica Lakeland (O and S) and 2 pools in Orawa-Nowy-Targ Basin (K and LP). The lakes differed from the pools in most of the analysed physicochemical parameters of water and in plant associations growing at their edges. Consequently, the species richness of Oribatida and their species composition differed between lakes and pools, but the total abundance of mites was similar. Abundance of most species was low, and only 13 had dominance indices (D) exceeding 1%. The acarofauna of both lakes was similar, as most abundant in them was Limnozetes foveolatus (D > 80%), and relatively abundant were Hydrozetes longisetosus, Limnozetes ciliatus, Punctoribates sellnicki, and Trhypochthonius nigricans. These species were absent or rare at the edges of pools K and LP. In the pools, differences in species structure of Oribatida were observed. At pool K, Trimalaconothrus maior was most abundant, accompanied by Hydrozetes octosetosus, H. lacustris, and Limnozetes foveolatus. At pool LP, Trimalaconothrus foveolatus was most abundant, which tolerates a wider range of humidity than T. maior; relatively abundant were also T. maior, Hydrozetes lacustris, and several species that were not found in the other bodies of water, including a generalist like Oppiella nova. In this study, Liochthonius furcillatus and Cultroribula berolina were recorded for the first time from Poland.

Factors Affecting the Vertical Distribution of Oribatid Mites (Acari: Oribatida) in Ismailia Governorate, Egypt

The vertical distribution of soil oribatid mites and its dependence on ecological parameters such as soil temperature, moisture, pH and organic matter content were studied in an age sequence of 22-year-old Mangifera indica L. plantations in Ismailia, down to a depth of 30 cm. The results showed that the numbers of total oribatid mites exhibited a gradual decrease trend with depth. The number of oribatid mite species was significantly lower in 20-30 cm depth than the tope layers (p <0.05). Pergalummna flagellate Grandjean and Oppiella nova (Ordemans) dominated in the upper 10 cm soil and their numbers strongly decreased with depth. Most of oribatid mites had an annual fluctuation in their abundance and population changes, which related to seasonal changes in the temperature and moisture contents of the soil. Soil moisture was positively correlated with total mites; while soil temperature had negative correlation.

Effect of irrigation and organic fertilization on oribatid mites (Acari, Oribatida) in forest nursery

The aim of the paper was to determine the effect of microirrigation and organic fertilization on the structure of assemblages of oribatid mites in Silver birch and Scots pine cultivations under conditions of mulching with forest ectohumus. Investigations were conducted at Forest Nursery BiaA‚e BA‚ota, Forest District in Bydgoszcz (Poland). Separate experiments in Scots pine and S. birch stands were established in 2003; the single plot area measured 4 m2 and contained 4 rows (4 m long). The soil samples for mites were taken twice a year (in May and October of 2003 and 2004). A total of 39 oribatid mite species were found in forest nursery cultivations of both tree species. Irrigation was found to be the factor which determined the mean number of species per sample in both plantations, as well as the density of oribatids, which were more numerous in S. birch stands than in that of Scots pine. Eurybionthic populations of oribatids – Oppiella nova, Oribatula tibialis and Tectocepheus velatus – were the most numerous in the study sites.Most of the species preferred specific ecological conditions which were created by high seedlings of S. birch which is characterized by abundant leaf-fall. Only the xerophilous Scutovertex sculptus was more abundant in Scots pine cultivation. Key words: Forest nursery, irrigation, organic fertilization, mulching, oribatid mites.

The effect of clear-cutting and wildfire on soil Oribatida (Acari) in windthrown stands of the High Tatra Mountains (Slovakia)

The aim of this study was to assess the impact of clear-cutting and wildfire on soil Oribatida in spruce forest stands in the High Tatra Mts. (Slovakia), which were heavily damaged by windthrow in 2004. Additionally, a part of the clear-cut area was subsequently damaged by wildfire in 2005. The investigation was carried out in 2007 in following treatments: clear-cut stands (EXT), wildfire stands (FIR) and control spruce stands (REF). Significantly lower abundance of Oribatida was found in FIR and EXT compared to REF stands. REF stands had clearly higher total species richness followed by EXT and FIR stands (47, 34, 29 species, respectively). NMS ordination showed considerable differences in the composition of Oribatida communities between treatments. The abundance of dominant Hermannia gibba, Oppiella nova and Tectocepheus velatus velatus was significantly lower in EXT and FIR compared to REF stands. The abundances of surface living H. gibba and Liacarus corracinus were low in EXT stands, whereas in FIR stands, H. gibba was rare and L. coracinus was totally absent. On the other hand, Oribatula tibialis had higher abundance in FIR stands than in others. Our results show that clear-cutting and wildfire had a pronounced negative effect on the abundance and diversity of soil Oribatida in the spruce forest of the High Tatras three and two years after the disturbance, respectively.

Oribatid fauna (Acari, Oribatida) from the Kumaya cave of Iheya village in Central Ryukyu arc, south Japan, with a description of several new species

Eleven oribatid species were collected from the Kumaya Cave of Iheya village in Central Ryukyu Arc, South Japan. The cave is a descending horizontal tunnel of a deep-sea abysmal quartziferous deposit formed in the Permian period of the Palaeozoic era and excavated by sea erosion. The floor of the cave was covered with sand, three to four meters deep. Fragments of psephite are found at the end of the cave. Each sample of about 200 ml was collected by hand from the following five marked points of the cave on 17 March 2010: A, Sand and a fragment of psephite; B, Sand and a fragment of psephite; C, Sand, a fragment of psephite, and litter of Ficus microcarpa; D, Litter and humus of F. microcarpa and Cassytha filiformis, and sand; E, Litter and humus of F. microcarpa and C. filiformis, and sand. All species belonged to Brachypylina: Oppiella (<I>O.</I>) nova from A; Mabulatrichus kumayaensis sp. nov., Protoribates kumayaensis sp. nov. and Zygoribatula iheyaensis sp. nov. from B; Tectocepheus kumayaensis sp. nov. from C; Tectocepheus iheyaensis sp. nov., Oribatula kumayaensis sp. nov., Protoribates hirokous sp. nov. and Haplozetes makii sp. nov. from D; Eupelops kumayaensis sp. nov. from E; Neoliodes iheyaensis sp. nov. from C, D and E.