Soil Oribatei V. Investigations on Platynothrus peltifer (Acarina: Camisiidae)2

Abstract

Platynothrus peltifer, an oribatid mite widely distributed in the Palearctic and Nearctic, overwintered as an adult and oviposited from early spring through early September. Eggs developed into adults over an approximately five month period. Its food consisted of fungi and decaying wood and leaves although, when feeding upon the decaying organic materials, most of its sustenance was probably derived from the fungi and other microorganisms. The chief contribution of this mite to soil formation is that of comminuting decaying wood,, decaying leaf, and fungal tissues to 1µ–40µ size particles.