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Abstract
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Oribatid mites are one of the richest acarine groups that occur in soil, litter, moss, lichen, and rarely aquatic environments. They are actively involved in decomposition of organic matters, in nutrient cycling and in soil formation (Pande & Berthet 1973; Bayoumi & Al-Khalifa 1996). Currently, almost 10,000 oribatid species, representing 172 families, have been described (Schatz 2002, 2004; Subías 2004; Norton & Behan-Pelletier 2009), while estimates of the real world oribatid fauna range from 50,000− 100,000 species (Schatz & Behan-Pelletier 2008). There is little information on the oribatid mite fauna of Iran. The oribatid mite fauna of rangelands in West Azerbaijan province, Iran, was studied in Ghooshchi, Ghasemloo, Marmishoo and Ordooshahi areas by taking soil samples at three different times (mid-May, mid-August and mid-October) of the year 2012. Soil samples were taken and transferred into the acarology laboratory of Plant Protection Department, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Tabriz. Mites were extracted by using the Berlese funnel and stored in Oudemans solution, cleared in Nesbitt’s fluid and mounted in Hoyer’s medium on microscopic slides. The slides were placed in the oven at 45−50 °C for 2−3 weeks and then the specimens were examined under a light microscope. Specimens are held in the Acarology laboratory, Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran.
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