This study investigated the abundance and diversity of acarine (mite) communities in the soil of rehabilitated bauxite mine pits of the Northern Jarrah Eucalyptus marginata forest in south-west Australia. The areas selected had been subject to various revegetation techniques and ranged in age from 2 to 20 years. The study found that more than ten years is required for rehabilitated areas to generate mite abundance and diversity comparable to adjacent unmined forest. The use of mites as indicators of ecosystem recovery following disturbance is discussed . Families of oribatid mites (Oppiidae and Oribatulidae) are identified as warranting further study for this purpose.