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愛媛大学農学部紀要（Mem. Fac. Agr., Ehime Univ.）
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Report on Oribatid Mites in Eco-Friendly Agriculture with a Descriptionof Third New Species of the Genus Cosmogalumna from the Litterof Coconut Palm Tree on Ishigaki Island, in Southern Japan
Yoshio NAKAMURA＊ and Tokuko FUJIKAWA＊＊
Abstract
Oribatids are subdived taxonomically into Macropylina, Apterogastrina and Pterogasterina. In the field of ecofriendly agriculture, the number of Pterogasterina species was clearly larger than in the field with tillage management
or chemical fertilizer application. This indicates that an increase in the number of Pterogasterina species is a bioindicator of eco-friendly agriculture. A new species of the Pterogasterina, Cosmogalumna hiroyoshii, was collectedfrom coconut palm tree litter on Ishigaki Island, in southern Japan. Characteristic features of the new species include
thick rostral setae which are not extending in front of the anterior rostral margin; a bimucronate rostrum; setae leinserted lateral to the carina L between L and L; the polygonal structure on the prodorsal, notogastral, pteromorphal
surfaces, and ventral plate; and on the alveoli of dorsal setae, granules on and around each area porosa.
Key words: Pterogasterina, Cosmogalumna hiroyoshii sp. nov., Oribatid mites, Ishigaki Is., Eco-friendly Agriculture

Soil animals are divided into four categories by themethod in which they are collected: macrofauna, dry
mesofauna, wet mesofauna and microfauna (Nakamura,2000). Together with collembola, oribatid mites are themain component in the dry mesofauna of cropfield soil
(Nakamura, 1988; Nakamura et al ., 2000). Oribatid mites
are about 0.1-1.6 mm in body length, and have a darkbrown and chitinized body. About 9,000 species are
known world-wide, and 900 species are found in Japan(Balogh, 1972; Fujikawa, 1991; Fujikawa et al ., 1993). Ina broad sense, they are saprophagous (Wallwork, 1976)
and are often called ‘moss mites’. But many of them feedon fungi (Matsuzaki and Itakura, 1991; Nakamura et al .,1991, Nakamura, 1993). A recently discovered species,
Scheloribates azumaensis ENAMI, NAKAMURA et KATSUMATA, 1996, from Japanese cropfields, actively ate
Rhizoctonia solani KÜHN, a plant pathogenic fungus, andprevented root rot of radish under laboratory conditions(Enami and Nakamura, 1996). This indicates that oribatid
mites possess great potential as agents for the biologicalcontrol of soil-borne crop root diseases.
Recently, eco-friendly agriculture has been emphasized.
Based on the opinion that eco-friendly agriculture should
also be friendly to soil animals (cf. Nakamura, 1998),
studies on the effect of various agricultural practices on
Received 8 March 2004.
Accepted 17 May 2004.
＊＊
Laboratory of Crop Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Ehime
University, 3-5-7 Tarumi, Matsuyama city, Ehime, 7908566, Japan＊＊
Yokogawara 1375, Shigenobu town, Ehime, 791-0203,
Japan

soil animals have been carried out. For instance, soil
animals were more numerous and complicated in notillage cultivation than in tillage cultivation (Nakamura,1988), or in organic farming than in chemical-intensive
farming (Fujikawa, 1976; Nakamura et al ., 2000). Organic mulch of crop residues and chopped weeds help
create a healthy environment for soil animals, especiallyenchytraeids and earthworms (Nakamura et al ., 2003).
Trials involving the artificial introduction of soil animals
into a crop field proved that a certain species could
colonize the crop fields when the introduction was carriedout together with forest litter (oribatid mites by Fujikawa,
1988; macro animals by Nakamura, 1998). This suggeststhat organic materials transferred into crop fields provide
a medium for settlement of soil animals, in addition to
supplying organic fertilizer for the crops. In tropicalregions, coconut palm litter is thought to be an importantmulch material.
Since oribatids are subdivided taxonomically into two
types: the Lower (Primitive) Oribatei (=Macropylina; ex.
Eniochthonius minutissimus BERLESE, 1904, Fig. 1A) andthe Higher Oribatei (=Brachypylina) of the Apterogasterina (ex. Oppiella nova (OUDEMANS, 1902), Fig. 1B) andPterogasterina (Balogh, 1972), the species complex plays
a bioindicator in agroecosystems (Behan-Pelletier, 1999;
Enami, 2000). In the natural forest of Japan, the number
of Apterogasterina species was numerous (Fujikawa,
2004). In the crop fields, on the other hand, the numberof Pterogasterina species was numerous (Nakamura, 1989;
Enami, 2000). And the number of Pterogasterina species
was clearly larger in fields where no-tillage was practiced(Nakamura, 1989) or organic materials were applied to thesurface soil (Fujikawa, 1988; Nakamura, 1998), as１
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Yoshio NAKAMURA and Tokuko FUJIKAWA

200μm

200μm

B

A

200μm

200μm

C

D

Fig. 1. Species of the Lower (Primitive) and the Higher oribatids. A: Eniochthonius minutissimus (BERLESE, 1904) of
the Lower oribatids, B: Oppiella nova (OUDEMANS, 1902) of Apterogasterina, the Higher, C: Transoribates
agricola NAKAMURA et AOKI, 1993 of Pterogasterina, the Higher, and D: The new species of Pterogasterina, theHigher. Black arrows show pteromorphae.

A

B

C

D

Fig. 2. Cosmogalumna hiroyoshii sp. nov. NSMT-Ac 11738 and 11739. A: Dorsal view, B: Prodorsum, C:
Pteromorphae and D: Anal region.

Oribatid mites in eco-friendly agriculture with a description of new species

compared with tillage management or chemical fertilizer
application. Furthermore, all of the dominant species
belong to Pterogasterina; Eporibatula sakamorii (AOKI,1970) in the cropped heavy clay soil of Nayoro Nature
Farm, the northern district (Fujikawa, 1988), andTransoribates agricola NAKAMURA et AOKI, 1989 (Fig. 1
C) in the cropped andosol of National Inst. AgroEnvironmental Science, Tsukuba, the central district(Nakamura, 1989), respectively. In the cropped andosol of
National Tohoku Agric. Exp. Stn., Fukushima, thenorthern district, the number of individuals of Scheloribates azumaensis of Pterogasterina was enormous(Nakamura, 1998). These results suggest that an increasein the number of Pterogasterina species is a bio-indicatorof eco-friendly agriculture.
The new species being reported here also belongs to thegenus Cosmogalumna, one of the members of the Pterogasterina group, which have well developed pteromorphae
and area porosae (Fig. 1D). The pteromorphae of thisspecies are especially clear and thick, with a large lightcolored polygonal reticulated pattern (Fig. 2A & B) whichis covering whole body. The question is its function: do
the pteromorphae protect against enemies and desiccationby covering the body, and/or against an increase of bodytemperature by fanning, or do they help it to fly for winddispersion as Collembola suggested by Farrow andGreenslade (1992). The various species with such a large
polygonal network are collected from tropical or subtropical areas. Other questions are whether the network is
helpful for heat radiation, or for collecting raindrop by
expansion of the body surface area. The present new
species, Cosmogalumna hiroyoshii, was collected fromcoconut palm tree litter on Ishigaki Island. In tropical
district including Ishigaki Island, the palm tree litter isthought to be the mulch and compost materials.
In 1988 Aoki defined the genus Cosmogalumna, anddescribed a new, and type, species, Cosmogalumna
ornata, from Nakanoshima Island in the Tokara Islands(Aoki, 1988). So far as the authors know, only one
species has been added to this genus. The second species,
C. imperfecta AOKI et HU, 1993 was collected fromYunnan Province in southern China (Aoki and Hu, 1993).
The species described in this report was also collectedfrom a subtropical region, Ishigaki Island, and is the third
member of the genus. The notation follows that ofHammen (1980).
Cosmogalumna hiroyoshii sp. nov.
[Japanese name: Hiroyoshi-kazarifurisodedani]
Measurements (2 exs.) and color: Body length, 336µm; wide, 257 µm. Light yellowish brown.
Body surface: The whole integument on prodorsum,
notogaster, pteromorphae and ventral plate with finegranules and distinct light colored polygonal network.
Lamellar region of prodorsum, on and around area
porosae, genital and anal plates densely covered byirregular dark colored granules. Femora with striate
pattern of granules.

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Prodorsum: According to depressed specimen, rostrum
bimucronate; mucrones convergent, forming a trapezoid
concavity (Fig. 3C). A large elliptical light area of weakchitinisation present just behind the concavity. Rostralsetae (ro) thick, originating ventrally. Lamellar setae (le)shorter than ro, inserted between carinae L and L, justlateral to carinae L. Carinae extending for about half
length of prodorsum. Interlamellar setae (in) and exobothridial setae (ex) located at the same level. Setae le,in and ex short, setiform and slightly roughened. Sensilli(ss) composed of a thin stem and an expanded head
which bears bristles; ss extending at the level of anteromargin of carinae (Fig. 3A). Relative lengths: ss > ro > le> ex > in (Fig. 3D).
Notogaster: Circular in form with a small indentation
at the medial portion of the posterior margin which is notseen in depressed specimen. Length as long as, or slightly
longer than width. Pteromorphae extending for a shortdistance in front of carinae L and S on prodorsum; furrow(st after Grandjean, 1966) remarkable (Fig. 3E). Five pairsof area porosae present; the relative sizes: Ad > Aa > A1
> A3 > A2 (Figs. 3F-H). Ten pairs of alveoli of dorsal
setae present. Lyrifissures ia, im, ip and ips discernible;
im located at inverse apomedial line and antero-laterally
to A1.
Ventral region: Genito-anal setae: (6 or 5−1−2−3);
genital setae variable in number; all setae short andglabrous (Fig. 4D). Relative lengths: g1 > g2 to g6 > ad1 >an > ag ≒ ad2, ad3. Lyrifissures iad situated parallel tothe lateral side of anal aperture and almost mid-distance
between the levels of two anal setae (Fig. 4E). Adanal
setae ad3 inserted lateral to iad . Epimeral setae 1a, 3b
and 4a present; relative lengths: 3b ≒ 3 x 1a; 1a ≒ 4a.
Alveoli 4b present (Fig. 4B). Subcapitulum diarthric,bearing each one pair of anterior (a), medial (m) andposterior (h) infracapitular setae (Fig. 4A); all setaesmooth; relative lengths: a ≒ h > m. Genito-anal,
epimeral and infracapitular setae inserted at the end of adark colored inner capsule.
Legs: All legs heterotridactylous; median claw thicker
than lateral ones, with a dent ventrally at the middle
portion. Leg chaetotaxy including famulus, but excluding
solenidia, I (1−4−3−4−20); II (1−4−3−4−15); III(2−2−1−3−15); IV (1−2−2−3−11). Solenidiotaxy,
I (1−2−2); II (1−1−2); III (1−1−0); IV (0−1−0).
On tarsus I, solenidion "1 bacilliform, coupled with ft’’;solenidion "2 setiform, inserted posterior-laterally to "1;
famulus !setiform, shorter than ft’’, inserted anterior toand between solenidia (Fig. 5A). All solenidia on leg II
bacilliform (Fig. 5D), but solenidia on tibia I, genu I (Fig.
5B), tibia III (Fig. 5F), genu III (Fig. 5G) and tibia IV(Fig. 5H) setiform. Trochanter III with v’, of longsetiform bearing barbs unilaterally, and l ’ of remarkable
like a trigonal pyramid (black arrow in Fig. 5G).
Material examined: Holotype (NSMT-Ac 11738) fromlitter of coconut palm tree (Satakentia liukuensis MOORE,
1969, Family Palmae) in Ishigaki Island, Okinawa Pref.,Oct. 25, 2000, H. Shiraishi; 1 paratype (NSMT-Ac

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Yoshio NAKAMURA and Tokuko FUJIKAWA

Fig. 3. Cosmogalumna hiroyoshii sp. nov. A & B: NSMT-Ac 11738; C to H: NSMT-Ac 11739. A: Dorsal view, B:
Ventral view, C: Rostrum, D: Right lamellar region, E: Furrow on pteromorph, and F to H: Area porosal
region. ro: Rostral seta; le: Lamellar seta; in: Interlamellar seta; ex: Exobothridial seta; ss: Sensillus; ta, te, im,ms, r1, r3, p1 and p2: Dorsal setae; Aa, A1, A2 and A3: Area porosae; gla: Glanular opening; L: Lamellar line; S:
Sublamellar line; st: Furrow. Black arrows in Figs. E to H direct to rostrum.

Oribatid mites in eco-friendly agriculture with a description of new species

１５Fig. 4. Cosmogalumna hiroyoshii sp. nov. NSMT-Ac 11739. A: Infracapitular region, B: Epimeral region, C: Coxal
region of leg I to IV, D: Genital region, E: Anal region. a, m and h: Anterior, medial and posterior
infracapitur setae, respectively; an: Anal seta; ad : Adanal seta; ag: Aggenital seta; g: Genital seta; 1a, 3b and4a: Epimeral setae; 4b: Alveoli; iad : Adanal lyrifissure.

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Yoshio NAKAMURA and Tokuko FUJIKAWA

Fig. 5. Cosmogalumna hiroyoshii sp. nov. NSMT-Ac 11739. A: Right tarsus I, B: Right tibia I and genu I, C: Leftfemur I and a part of trochanter I, D: Left leg II, E: Right tarsus I, F: Right tibia III, G: Right genu III totrochanter III, H: Right tarsus IV and tibia IV, I: Left genu IV, J: Right femur IV and trochanter IV.

Oribatid mites in eco-friendly agriculture with a description of new species

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７Table 1. Comparison in some features among three species of the genus Cosmogalumna
C. ornata AOKI, 1988
C. imperfecta AOKI et HU, 1993
C. hiroyoshi sp. nov.
roundedfine;
extending in front of anterior
rostral marginroundedlePN< ro; between L and S
notogaster, Ge-An≒ ro; lateral to L
notogaster, Ge-An

BL
BW
Coll.

317(330)342µm
256(264)270µm
Mt. Mitake, Nakanoshima Is.
of Tokara Islands

326−365µm
276−287µm
natural forest Xishuangbannaof Yunnan in ChinaRoroextending in front of anterior
rostral margin

bimucronate
thick;
not extending in front ofanterior rostral margin; notseen from above< ro; lateral to L
prodorsum, notogaster pteromorphae, ventral plate
336µm
257µm
coconut palm tree in Ishigaki
Is., Okinawa prefecture

Ro: Rostrum; ro: Rostral seta; le: Lamellar seta; L: Lamellar line; S: Sublamellar line; PN: Polygonal
network; Ge-An: Ventral surface between genital and anal apertures; BL: Body length; BW: Body
width; Coll.: Place where samples were collected.
Table 2. Comparison in a few features among species of different genera with body surface covered by a reticulated pattern
Trachygalumna bisulcata
BALOGH, 1960

Flagellozetes porosus
BALOGH, 1970

le
ds
Ap
Gr
PN

between L and L
short, partly absent
punctiform
absentnotogaster, Ge-An pteromorphae

between L and S
all long, flagellate
developed
absentnotogaster, prodorsum, pteromorphae

BL
BW
Coll.

250µm
202µm

529µm
329µm

AfricaCeylonCosmogalumna spp.
between L and S, or L and L
alveolideveloped
present
notogaster, Ge-An (prodorsum, pteromorphae, notogaster & ventral plate of the
new species)
317−365µm
256−287µm
Tokara Is., Ishigaki Is., China

le: Lamellar seta; ds: Dorsal seta; Ap: Area porosae; Gr: An aggregation of granules on and around each area porosa; PN:
Polygonal network; Ge-An: Ventral surface between genital and anal apertures; BL: Body length; BW: Body width; Coll.: Place
where samples were collected.

11739): the same data as holotype. Types are deposited in
the National Science Museum, Tokyo.
Remarks: The new species is conspicuous by the bodysurface covered by a network-like pattern. Surface
structure of this kind is seen in some known species, forexamples, Cosmogalumuna ornata AOKI, 1988, C. imperfecta AOKI et HU, 1993, Flagellozetes porosus BALOGH,
1970 and Trachygalumna bisulcata BALOGH, 1960.
However, the present species differs from T. bisulcata by
having developed area porosae and polygonal structure on
prodorsal surface, from F. porosus by having alveoli of
dorsal setae, granules on and around each area porosa, andlamellar setae inserted between L and L, from C. ornata
by having polygonal structure on prodorsal and pteromorhal surface, thick rostral setae not extending in frontof anterior rostral margin, bimucronate rostrum, and setae
le inserted lateral to carinae between L and L, and from
C. imperfecta by having polygonal structure on prodorsal
and pteromorphal surface, bimucronate rostrum, androstral setae longer than lamellar setae, not extending infront of anterior rostral margin, as summarized in Tables
1 and 2.
Ethymology: The new species was named in honor of
the late Mr. Hiroyoshi SHIRAISHI (1968−2002), a researcher at the Tohoku National Agricultural Experiment
Station. Mr. H. SHIRAISHI, while working at the Ministryof Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries of Japan, studied
soil animals, especially oribatid mites (Shiraishi and Aoki,
1994) and springtails (Collembola) (Shiraishi et al .,2003), as the agents for biological control of soil-borne
crop root diseases. This new species was obtained fromhis samples during a survey for collembolan fauna in thesubtropical Ishigaki Island.

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Yoshio NAKAMURA and Tokuko FUJIKAWA

References
Aoki, J. (1988) Oribatid mites (Acari: Oribatids) from theTokara Islands, Southern Japan II. Bull. Biogeogr. Soc.
Japan, 43(6): 31−33.
Aoki, J. & S. Hu (1993) Oribatid mites from tropical forestsof Yunnan Province in China II. Families Galumnidae andGalumnellidae. Zool. Sci., 10: 835−848.
Balogh, J. (1960) Oribates (Acari) nouveaux d’Angola et duCongo Belge (2ème Série). Publ. cult. Co. Diam. Ang.
Lisboa, 51: 14−40.
Balogh, J. (1970) New oribatids (Acari) from Ceylon. The
scientific results of the Hungarian Soil Zoological Expeditions. Opusc. Zool. Budapest, 10: 33−67.
Balogh, J. (1972) The oribatid mites genera of the world.
Akademiai, Budapest, 188pp, 72 plates.
Behan-Pelletier, V. M. (1999) Oribatid mite biodiversity inagroecosystems: role for bioindication. Agr. Ecosystems
Environ., 74: 411−423.
Enami, Y. (2000) Oribatid mites as decomposers and their use
as bioindicators of upland soil management. Farming Japan,
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Enami, Y. and Y. Nakamura (1996) Influence of Scheloribates
azumaensis (Acari: Oribatida) on Rhizoctonia solani, thecause of radish root rot. Pedobiologia, 40: 251−254.
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Fujikawa, T. (1976) Study on oribatid mites in nature farmingand habitual farming fields. Edaphologia, 15: 1−11. (InJapanese.)
Fujikawa, T. (1988) Fluctuation of oribatid mites in Nayoro
nature farming field during ten years. Edaphologia, 39: 29−37.
Fujikawa, T. (1991) List of oribatid families and genera of theWorld. Edaphologia, 46: 1−130.
Fujikawa, T. (2004) Oribatid mites. In: A monitoring method
development for the forest ecosystem conservation of the
Shirakami-sanchi world heritage site and a forest management method development for harmonization with forest
utilization in its surrounding areas. pp. 166−213. (In Japanese with English abstract.)
Fujikawa, T., M. Fujita and J. Aoki (1993) Checklist oforibatid mites of Japan (Acari: Oribatida). J. Acarol. Soc.
Jpn., 2, suppl. 1. 1−121. (In Japanese.)
Grandjean, F. (1966) Erogalumna zeucta n. g., n. sp. Acarologia, 8: 475−498.
Hammen, L. van der (1980) Glossary of acarologicalterminology. vol. l general terminology. Dr. W. Junk BV.
−Publishers− The Hague, pp. 1−244.
Matsuzaki, I. and J. Itakura (1991) Grazing of soil animals onplant soilborne disease. Nogyo-Gijutu, 46: 364−369. (InJapanese.)
Nakamura, Y. (1988) The effect of soil management on thesoil faunal makeup of a cropped andosol in central Japan.
Soil Tillage Res., 12: 177−186.

Nakamura, Y. (1989) Oribatids and enchytraeids in ecofarmed
and conventionally farmed dryland grainfields of central
Japan. Pedobiologia, 33: 389−398.
Nakamura, Y. (1993) Relation between soil microorganisms
and soil animals: Biological control of soil borne pathogen
by collembola, oribatids and enchytraeids. Soil Microorganisms, 42: 43−59. (In Japanese.)
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Hypochthoniella (Acari: Oribatida) from soils on the suburban roadside in Fukushima city. Edaphologia, 52: 29−32.
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摘要中村好男・藤川!子：環境保全型農業とササラダニ類の関係についての一考察および１新種の記載
畑地土壌のササラダニ類は３群，Macropylina, Apterogastrina および Pterogasterina，に区分される．無耕起や有機物被覆条件下にあるいわゆる環境保全型農業のササラダ
ニ類は，耕起や化成肥料施用条件に比べ Pterogasterina の種の割合が多く，環境保全型農業の生物指標の可能性が見受けられる．この Pterogasterina に属するカザリフリソ
デダニ属の新種を記載した．本種は石垣島では有機物被覆や堆肥材料として有望なヤシ林床から採集され，深い湾入部を持つ吻と前体部，後体部，翼状突起及び腹板の全表面が亀甲模様をもつ特徴により同属種から区別される．この標本は故 白石啓義（１
９
６
８−２
０
０
２）氏の採集によるものである．同氏は農林水産省において，土壌動物研究の立場から農業の技術改革を目指していた．その功績を讃えて Cosomogalumna hiroyoshii sp. nov．ヒロヨシカ
ザリフリソデダニ（新称）と命名した．