Damaeidae Berlese, 1896

Fischer, Barbara M. & Schatz, Heinrich, 2013, Biodiversity of oribatid mites (Acari: Oribatida) along an altitudinal gradient in the Central Alps, Zootaxa 3626 (4), pp. 429-454 : 436-437

Damaeidae Berlese, 1896

Damaeus gracilipes (Kulczynski, 1902)

Distribution: Europe, Caucasia, Central Asia

Habitat: in forests and open forests, litter and moss Obergurgl area: pine forest at 2050 m (Zirbenwald)

Epidamaeus bituberculatus (Kulczynski, 1902)

Distribution: Europe, Caucasia, Central and Eastern Asia Habitat: forest litter

Obergurgl area: Nardetum at 2300 m (Schönwieskopf)

Nomenclatural remark: Damaeus (Epidamaeus) bituberculatus (Kulczynski, 1902) according to Subías (2012)

Kunstidamaeus diversipilis (Willmann, 1951)

Distribution: Austria, Northern Italy—Prov. Bolzano, Trento; Switzerland—Grisons Habitat: alpine meadows, raw soils

Obergurgl area: Caricetum at 2600 m (Hohe Mut); previous studies: 1960–1980 m (hay meadow), pine forest at 2050 m (Zirbenwald), 2100–2650 m (alpine meadows with lichen communities, alpine meadows & dwarf shrub community), 2800–3100 m (Androsacetum alpinae).

Remark: The known distribution of this species is restricted to subalpine and alpine habitats of the Central and Southern Alps (Schatz & Schuster 2009). It has also been recorded in the adjacent Grisons ( Switzerland, Schweizer 1956). Generally K. diversipilis prefers alpine dwarf-shrub and grass heathland. In the present study it was found only at 2600 m (Hohe Mut), while in previous studies it was detected at all sampled altitudes in Obergurgl (sub. Spatiodamaeus diversipilis ).

Nomenclatural remark: Damaeus (Kunstidamaeus) diversipilis (Willmann, 1951) according to Subías (2012)

Metabelba pulverosa Strenzke, 1953

Distribution: Europe, Caucasia, Central Asia

Habitat: forest litter, moss, lichen

Obergurgl area: pine forest at 2050 m (Zirbenwald) Nomenclatural remark: Metabelba (M.) pulverulenta (Koch, 1839) according to Subías (2012)

Porobelba spinosa (Sellnick, 1920)

Distribution: Palaearctic

Habitat: preferably in dry forest litter and meadows, moss, lichen Obergurgl area: pine forest at 2050 m (Zirbenwald); previous studies: 1960–1980 m (hay meadow)