Taxonomic investigations into carabodid mites (Acari, Oribatida, Carabodidae) of the Harşit Valley, Türkiye

Oribatid mites are a dominant and biodiversity-rich group of arthropods that primarily inhabit the soil-litter system. In order to contribute to the studies on oribatid mites in Türkiye, the species belonging to the family Carabodidae of oribatid mites extracted from the soil, litter, moss, lichen, and bark collected from the Harşit valley between 2013-2015 were evaluated taxonomically. As a result of the investigations Carabodes (C.) labyrinthicus (Michael), Carabodes (C.) pirinensis Kunst, Carabodes (C.) rugosior Berlese, Carabodes (Flexa) dubius Kulijev and Carabodes (Klapperiches) willmanni Bernini taxa were determined. Of these, C. willmanni was identified as a new record for the fauna of Türkiye. The distinguishing features of the identified species were given together with scanning electron microscope photographs. Identified taxa were discussed with previously known ones based on morphological characters, and their geographical distributions are given.