Fauna of soil-dwelling predatory Gamasina mites (Acari: Mesostigmata) in seashore habitats of the Kurzeme Coast, Latvia

Because of the lack of data on the Gamasina mite fauna in coastal habitats of Latvia, sampling was made on the seashore of the Kurzeme Coast. An unexpectedly high total number (78) of Gamasina species was recorded. Twenty-three species were found to be new for Latvia. A previously undescribed species (new to Science) from the genus Lasioseius was recorded from the yellow dunes. Leioseius bicolor, Leioseius halophilus and Parasitus halophilus were recorded as the most widely distributed Gamasina species along the Kurzeme Coast. Driftline, primary and yellow dune Gamasina faunas were investigated separately. Fourteen Gamasina species were found to be common to all three habitats. Driftline habitats were the most diverse with 55 species. Twenty-two species were recorded from the primary dunes and 50 species from the yellow dunes. Comparison of Gamasina fauna along the coasts of the Baltic Sea and the Riga Gulf of the Kurzeme was made. Fifty species from coastal habitats of the Riga Gulf Coast and 55 from the Baltic Sea Coast were recorded. Twenty-seven Gamasina species were recorded as common for both sites, but 24 species for the Riga Gulf Coast and 29 for the Baltic Sea Coast were unique for their respective habitats.