The cuticular structure of juveniles of several oribatids of different families with wrinkled cuticles were compared: Hermannia gibba, Tectocepheus velatus, Scutovertex minutus, Achipteria coleoptrata and Eupelops occultus. Both the surface and internal structures of the "plissée" were studied. Light microscopy revealed several patterns in mites studied with Masson's triple stain and these results were supported by TEM. Although the "plissée" looks similar at the body surface, the structure and ultrastructure differ among groups. Some types of wrinkling is supported by small muscles, probably for changing body shape. Differences in the structure of the cuticle of the prosoma and opisthosoma were observed. The differences in the wrinkling in the cuticle in diferent lines is associated with change in the body shape in response to different moisture conditions.
The cuticle of Rhysotritia duplicita (Euphtiracaroidea: Euphtiracaridae), Phthiracarus sp., Steganacarus magnus, S. striculus and Tropacarus carinatus (all Phthiracaroidea: Phthiracaridae) was studied by light and transmission electron microscopy. A combination of light and electron microscopy were used to precisely characterize and classify the cuticular layers in oribatid mites and show how they differe in mites and other arthropods. In Rhysotritia duplicata the cuticle of the aspis (upper shield of the prosoma) differs significantly from that of the opisthosoma. Moreover, prosomal cuticle in this species is different from that of all others species studied. There were no structural differences in the cuticle of the prosoma and opisthosoma of species of the superfamily Phthiracaroidea (Phthiracarus, Steganacarus and Tropacarus) in spite of the differences in external apparence. Moreover, in Tropacarus, the rough sculpturing of the cuticle results from the very rough exocuticle, which is unlike the thick smooth cerotegument of the cuticle in Steganacarus.