Arboreal Oribatid Fauna of Japanese Red Cedar （Cryptomeria japonica）

A faunal survey of arboreal oribatid mites in the tree-crown of Japanese Red Cedar (Cryptomeria japonica) plantation was achieved in Sanbe Experimental Forest of Shimane University, Western Japan. Nineteen species of oribatid mites were collected from twigs and leaves of 2 cedar trees using the twig washing methods. The arboreal fauna was dominated by Trinalaconothrus cf. hakonensis, Ommatocepheus clavatus japonicus, Hemileius sp., Oripada so. and Truncopes moderatus, and there were only a few species found in common with soil samples of the cedar plantation . The majority of the arboreal fauna was occupied by species belonging to superior taxonomic group, Poronota, and almost all of species had short and clavate sensillus. These characteristics agreed with the faunal characteristics of arboreal oribatid mites reported in the past. However, dominance of Trimalaconothrus cf. hakonensis beloging to the inferior group was characteristic, and might be the phenomenon which has not been reported