New Records of Soil Galumnid Mites (Acarina: Cryptostigmata) From Central Howrah, India

Abstract

Among all the soil micro- arthropods, mites are predominant and playing important role in increasing soil fertility through organic decomposition and they are inhabiting in all types of soil but predominantly found in soil litter, humus and compost heaps. Central Howrah, mainly Narasinha Dutt College and Belilious park campus is situated in a heavily polluted area which are surrounded by numerous iron factories. The present research work has been done to identify and prepare a record of the soil Galumnid mites from this region as very few works has been done on the taxonomy of this important group in this geographical area as well as in India. 7 species including 4 genera of galumnid mites are recorded for the first time from this area of study.