Three Species of Oribatid Mites of the Genus Tectocepheus (Acari: Oribatida: Tectocepheidae) from Mongolia

Abstract

Three species of oribatid mites of the genus Tectocepheus BERLESE, 1895: T. velatus (MICHAEL, 1880), T. minor BERLESE, 1903 and T. alatus BERLESE, 1913 are found in Mongolia. They are recorded in Mongolia for the first time. Redescriptions of all three species are given. The author recognised the validity of species status of T. alatus BERLESE, 1913, because the features of this species are more constant and sufficiently differentiated from T. velatus. It is remarkable that the former species does not show the same morphological variation of sensilli and lamellar cusps as in T. velatus.