Ascidae

Abstract: The chaetotactic nomenclature proposed by Lindquist and Evans (1965) for the Gamasina, using the family Ascidae as examplar, is adopted for use in the family Phytoseiidae. Probable setal homologies were determined by: examining and comparing ontogenetic relationships in both the Phytoseiidae and Ascidae; standardizing the shape and size of the dorsal shield of exemplars from 7 genera of Phytoseiidae and one of Ascidae in order to compare standardized, transformed setal positions; examining the spatial relationships between setal and pore positions. The technique used to standardize the shape and size of the dorsal shield is described. The setal nomenclature adopted for each of the genera of Phytoseiidae is discussed and presented in diagrammatic form. Ventral chaetotaxy in the Ascidae and Phytoseiidae is also discussed.

Abstract: On passe en revue la chaetotaxie de l'opisthosoma des Gamasina holotriches suite a l'hypothese voulant que ces acariens possedent six segments opisthosomatiques embryonnaires. En se servant d'acariens Ascidae comme exemples, on modifie la notation des quelques poils ventrolateraux posterieurs de l'opisthosoma

Abstract: Ascid mites are an important component of the predatory meiofauna in soil, on vegetation, and in association with other animals, yet the Australian fauna is almost unknown. At least 15 genera of ascid mites occur in Australia, of which 14 genera and 26 species are treated in this paper. Four of these genera (Gamasellodes, Hoploseius, Platyseius, Xenoseius) are here recorded from Australia for the first time. Six new species are described [Antennoseius (Antennoseius) lobochelus, sp. nov., Arctoseius memnon, sp. nov., Gamasellodes plaire, sp. nov., Platyseius cupensis, sp. nov., Xenoseius elizae, sp. nov., and Zerconopsis pristis, sp. nov.], and six other species are reported from Australia for the first time [Arctoseius semiscissus (Berlese), Gamasellodes rectiventris Lindquist, Proctolaelaps aurora (Vitzthum), Proctolaelaps bickleyi (Bram), Proctolaelaps lobatus De Leon, and Protogamasellus massula (Athias-Henriot)]. Proctolaelaps nesbitti (Womersley) is removed from synonymy with P. pygmaeus (Muller). Lectotypes are designated for Proctolaelaps antennatus Karg and P. australis Stone. P. antennatus has wrongly been recorded from Australia, and is known only from New Zealand. The first observations of feeding behaviour of mites in the genera Iphidozercon, Xenoseius and Zerconopsis confirm that nematophagy is prevalent among soil Ascidae. Keys to the world genera and Australian species are provided. Protogamasellopsis Evans and Purvis is transferred to the Rhodacaridae, Tangarorellus Luxton to an unspecified family in the Rhodacaroidea, and Lindquistoseius Genis, Loots & Ryke to the Ologamasidae. Orolaelaps DeLeon is removed from synonymy with Melichares Hering. The following new synonymies are proposed: Arctoseius bicuspidatus Willmann, 1949 and Arctoseius limburgensis Nesbitt, 1954 = Arctoseius semiscissus (Berlese, 1892); Cheiroseius (Posttrematus) Karg, 1981 = Episeius Hull, 1918; Iphidozercon californicus Chant, 1963, Leioseius (Arctoseius) elegans Bernhard, 1963 and Iphidozercon variolatus Ishikawa, 1969 = Iphidozercon corticalis Evans, 1958; Garmania longipilis Chant, 1958 = Proctolaelaps aurora (Vitzthum, 1925); Proctolaelaps lewisi Garman & McGregor, 1956 = P. utahensis Chant, 1958; Lasioseius conviva var. laevisternus Berlese, 1916a = Proctolaelaps pygmaeus (Muller, 1859); Neojordensia lativentris Karg, 1982 = Africoseius areolatus Krantz, 1962.