| abstract | Fifty-six soil samples from different parts of Australia were analysed for the presence of moss mites. In these samples, 65 species of ptyctimous mites were identified. Four new species are described, all of them were found in the samples from Queensland: Hoplophthiracarus mediocris sp. nov., Austrophthiracarus longus sp. nov., Notophthiracarus caulis sp. nov. and Notophthiracarus salebrosus sp. nov. Additionally, morphological remarks on four already known species are presented. From among the 65 species found in the samples analysed, over 40% are widespread (including 15 semicosmopolitan and pantropical) and over 40% are characterised by narrow geographic distributions (including 11 narrowly endemic ones). At present, the number of ptyctimous mite species known from Australia will increase to 154. |