Malgacheliodes martensi spec. nov. (Acari, Oribatida, Licnodamaeidae) from South Africa.

The genus Malgacheliodes is recorded in South Africa for the first time. Malgacheliodes martensi spec. nov. is described from soil of Hogsback State Forest, Eastern Cape Province. Adults of the new species differ from those of Malgacheliodes guillaumeti by the presence of ribs and furrows in the aggenital region, bacilliform leg tracheae, rounded ventral keel on leg I femur and four pairs of notogastral setae (h1 absent); while its tritonymph differs from that of M. guillaumeti by the presence of five pairs of gastronotic setae (c1 absent). The generic diagnosis of Malgacheliodes is updated. The differences in morphology of the tritonymphal instar in Malgacheliodes and other genera of Licnodamaeidae are presented.

Hogsbackia africaensis/ gen. nov., sp. nov. (Acari, Oribatida, Ceratozetoidea, Punctoribatidae), from Afromontane forest of South Africa.

A new oribatid mite genus, Hogsbackia gen. nov. (Oribatida, Punctoribatidae), with type species Hogsbackia africaensis sp. nov., is proposed and described from the indigenous Afromontane forest of South Africa. The new genus is closely related to Scotiazetes, from which it is most easily distinguished by body size ratio, number of notogastral and genital setae, type of humeral porose area Ah, position of dorsophragmata, and leg setation. The redescription of Scotiazetes bidens Wallwork, 1966 is presented, based on material from South Georgia (Antarctic region). The generic diagnosis of Scotiazetes is revised, and the genus is transferred from Ceratozetidae to Punctoribatidae. Relationships between the genera Hogsbackia gen. nov., Scotiazetes and other punctoribatid genera are discussed.

Three new species of oribatid mites of the family Galumnidae (Acari, Oribatida) from South Africa.

Three new species of oribatid mites of the family Galumnidae are described from soil and coniferous litter of Hogsback State Forest, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. Pilogalumna hogsbackensis sp. nov. differs from Pilogalumna tenuiclava and P. ornatula by the presence of elongate oval postanal porose area and narrowly unilaterally dilated bothridial head. Pergalumna amatholensis sp. nov. differs from Pergalumna distincta by the presence of smaller body size, rounded rostrum, unilaterally dilated bothridial head, one pair of notogastral porose areas Aa, and the localization of opisthonotal gland opening and lyrifissure im. Stictozetes ihaguensis sp. nov. differs from all species of the genus by presence of bothridial seta with narrowly dilated head and median pore in both genders. An identification key to known species of Stictozetes is presented.

Galumna capensis dissimilis Engelbrecht, 1969, a junior synonym of Galumna lawrencei Jacot, 1940 (Acari, Oribatida, Galumnidae), with remarks on type material.

The morphology of adult instars of two South African oribatid mites Galumna lawrencei Jacot, 1940 and Galumna capensis dissimilis Engelbrecht, 1969, is analyzed, resulting in the following new taxonomic proposal: G. lawrencei Jacot, 1940 (=G. capensis dissimilis Engelbrecht, 1969 syn. nov.). Comparison was based on the lectotype and paralectotypes (for G. lawrencei) and on the holotype and paratypes (for G. capensis dissimilis). Comments are made on the type material.

Redescriptions and species status of the South African mites Galumna lawrencei Jacot, 1940 and Galumna natalensis Jacot, 1940 (Acari, Oribatida, Galumnidae), with lectotype designation.

The main morphological traits of Galumna lawrencei Jacot, 1940 stat. nov. and Galumna natalensis Jacot, 1940 stat. nov. (Oribatida, Galumnidae) are presented based on the type material from South Africa. We consider that these species are not subspecies of Galumna maxima as was proposed originally by Jacot 1940, but independent species. A lectotype for G. lawrencei is designated, due to the mixed-species cotype series.

A new genus and species of the family Microdispidae (Acari: Heterostigmata) associated with Trinervitermes trinervoides (Sjöstedt) (Isoptera: Termitidae) from South Africa.

A new genus and species of termitophilous microdispid mites, Sidorchukdispus ekaterinae gen. nov. and sp. nov. (Acari: Prostigmata: Microdispidae), associated with termites, Trinervitermes trinervoides (Sjöstedt) (Isoptera: Termitidae) are described from South Africa. The morphological and biological traits of Sidorchukdispus ekaterinae gen. nov. and sp. nov. are discussed.

New Notophthiracarus species (Acarina, Oribatida, Phthiracaridae) and overview of the distribution of the genus in South Africa.

Notophthiracarus (Oribatida, Phthiracaridae) is a large genus of ptyctimous oribatid mites with species in Australasian, Ethiopian, Neotropical, Oriental and Subantarctic regions, mostly in tropical and subtropical areas. Herein, we describe two new species from the Western Cape of South Africa: Notophthiracarus sidorchukae Niedbala sp. nov. and Notophthiracarus spathulatus Niedbala sp. nov. Each is represented by adult specimens collected from soil in a coastal forest in the Kaaimansgat estuary, the only documented locality. These two bring the known South African fauna of Notophthiracarus to 31 species, all of which are either indigenous or endemic. A review of distributional data shows that within South Africa most species have been recorded from southern, eastern and northeastern parts, and are most prevalent near the coast, where woody vegetation dominates.

Contribution to the knowledge of the oribatid mite family Nesozetidae (Acari, Oribatida).

A new oribatid mite species of the genus Nesozetes (Oribatida, Nesozetidae) is described from moss (Sphagnum sp.) on the seepage area below a permanent spring in South Africa. Nesozetes membranus sp. nov. differs from its only congener, Nesozetes rostropterus, described from Fiji, by the presence of a second pair of membranes located in the podosomal region, setiform bothridial setae and striate subcapitular mentum. A revised diagnosis of Nesozetidae, discussion on its taxonomic status, and information on distribution and ecology of Nesozetes species are given.

A new genus of the mite family Scutacaridae (Acari: Heterostigmata) associated with Trinervitermes trinervoides (Isoptera: Termitidae) from South Africa.

A new monotypic genus of scutacarid mites, Gerdalbertia gen. nov. (Acari: Pygmephoroidea: Scutacaridae), with type species G. elongata sp. nov. is described from nests of and phoretic on termites, Trinervitermes trinervoides (Sjostedt, 1911) (Isoptera: Termitidae), from South Africa. The taxonomic position of the new genus is discussed.

New Oppiidae (Acari: Oribatida) from the Golden Gate Highlands National Park in South Africa.

A checklist of Oppiidae sampled at Golden Gate Highlands National Park in central South Africa is provided. Twelve genera and 17 species were recorded of which one species, Arcoppia fenestralis, is recorded from South Africa for the first time. One new subgenus and six new species were identified and are described. The new species are Brachioppia louwi sp. nov., Brachioppiella (B.) dawidi sp. nov., Brachioppiella (B.) goblina sp. nov., Kokoppia mandelai sp. nov., Lanceoppia (L.) scytheae sp. nov., Oppiella (Q.) goldengatensis sp. nov.. Oppiella (Quattoppiella) subgen. nov. is characterized by the absence of costulae on the prodorsum and having four pairs of genital setae.

New species of Aleurodamaeus Grandjean, 1954 (Oribatida: Aleurodamaeidae) from South Africa.

Seven new species of Aleurodamaeus (Oribatida: Aleurodamaeidae) from South Africa are described: A. salvadordalii sp. nov., A. vicinus sp. nov., A. angelae sp. nov., A. niedbalai sp. nov., A. minutus sp. nov., A. woasi sp. nov. and A. prominens sp. nov. Their distribution in South Africa is discussed. Aleurodamaeus deswardti (Hugo, 2010) comb. nov. is proposed. A key to all South African species of Aleurodamaeus is provided.