| abstract | The author presents the results of a study of the oribatid mites of Mount Reatini. A total of 140 species were found, 8 of wich are new to Italy and one of which, Cepheus verrucosus is described here for the first time.
The notogastral sulpture of this species is distinctive for its groups of bumps, interspersed with tiny pits, especially towards the latero-posterior part of the notogaster. On the prodorsum the lamellae are detached from each other, and the pseudostigmatic organs are long and with spiny tip. There are a total of 11 pairs of notogastral hairs, of which 2 are on the "shoulders", 3 are on the posterior margin and 6 are on the lateral shield smooth.
The microsculpture of the notogastral cuticle has led the author to include the new species of Cepheus in the tuberculosus group, rather than in one of the other two groups.
Using material from the original Berleseʼs Collection, the species Ceratozetes maximus Berlese is redescribed and other species of particular systematic and biogeographic interst are examined. The synonymy of Lepidozetes conjunctus Schweizer and L. singularis Berlese is proposed.
Finally, biogeographical consideration about the probable origin of the oribatid peopling of M. Reatini are made presented, showing this group of mountains to be involved in animal peopling currents as the rest of the Apennines. |