The family Nanorchestidae Grandjean (Acari: Prostigmata) with descriptions of new species from South African soils
Abstract
Mites of the family Nanorchestidae have a worldwide distribution for they are known to occur in European, North American and Antarctic soils. Recent soil ecological studies in South Africa have shown that they form a numerically important part of the local soil-inhabiting Acari. Olivier & Ryke (1965) and Loots & Ryke (1966) reported the family Nanorchestidae as occurring in large numbers in soil covered by kikuyu grass (Pennisetum clandestinum) and in different types of pasture soil respectively. These authors made observations on the populations of species of this family over a period of one year.

