Seasonal variation of oribatid mite (Acarina) populations and their relationship to sheep cestodiasis in Argentina.

Samples of soil were collected monthly from two ranches in the zone of Puan, Province of Buenos Aires, Argentina. The monthly distribution of males, females without eggs and females with eggs for the dominant species of oribatid mites were studied. The dominant species were Zygoribatula lata in Ranch A, and Zygoribatula elongata in Ranch B. Both species are hosts of Moniezia expansa Rudolphi, 1810 and Helictometra giardi Baer, 1927. Based on the data presented, the factors associated with transmission of these cestodes, including the role played by oribatid mites, are discussed.