Two new parasitic mites ( Acari , Astigmata ) from the skin of Australian Vertebrates

Two new parasitic astigmatic mites are described from the skin of Australian Ver­ tebrates: Petauratges rackae n. g., n. sp. (Psoroptidae) from a marsupial Petaurus brevi­ ceps and Neocnemidocoptes austratiensis sp. n. (Knemidokoptidae) from a bird Taenio­ pygia guttata (Passeriformes, Ploceidae). We describe here two new parasitic mites collected by the junior author. One is a new genus and species Petauralges rackae, from the skin of an Austra­ lian marsupial, Petaurus breviceps (Phalangeridae); the other is a new species of Neocnemidocoptes, N. australiensis and was found on a bird, Taeniopygia guttata (Passeriformes, Ploceidae). Family Psoroptidae CANESTRINI, 1892 Subfamily Listropsoralginae FAIN,1965 Petauralges gen. nov. De fin i t ion: Shape of the body and structure of the legs as in Listropso­ ralges Fain, 1965 and Listropsoralgoides FAIN & LUKOSCHUS, 1970. This new genus is distinguished from these genera, in the male by the absence of suckers on tarsi IV and the absence of a shield on opisthogaster; in the female by the absence of suckers on tarsi III and IV. In both sexes by the presence of the d 1 setae. T y P e s P e cie s: Petauralges rackae sp. n. Petauralges rackae spec. nov. This species is named for the distinguished Acarologist Dr. GISELA RACK, Zoological Institute and Zoological Museum of the University, Hamburg. Male (fig. 1-2): Holotype 159 !lm long and 154 !lm wide (idiosoma). Body strongly widened in its middle part, this widening is in relation with the very large size of the legs III. Opisthosoma broadly conical with rounded extre­ mity . Do r s u m: there is one large median and pitted shield covering the middle part of dorsum and extending from the v i setae until posterior margin of body; this shield is interrupted by the incomplete sejugal furrow. Ven ter: ') Prof. Dr. ALEX FAIN, Institute of TroItical Medicine, 155 Nationalestraat, B-2000 Ant­ werp, Belgium. 2) Dr. FRITZ S. LUKOSCHUS, Katholieke Universiteit Nijmegen, Toernooiveld, Nijmegen, Nederland. 388 ALEX FAIN and FRITZ S. LUKOSCHUS Fig. 1-1 a: Petauralges rackae sp. n. Holotype male, ventrally (1); tarsus IV dorsally (1 a). aIl the epimerae are free, epimerae l widely separated. Anus flanked with 2 rather large copulatory suckers. Legs l and II as in the genera Listropsoralges and Listropsoralgoides but the tibial ventral processes bear two prongs. Legs IV very short and devoid of pedonculate sucker, however the tarsus IV bears dorsallya modified disciform sensory hair. Cha e t 0 t a X y: A complete set of setae is present except for the v e setae which are lacking; there are 2 pairs of anals. The sc e, h, d 1, d 2, d 3, d 4 and d 5 are 60 Ilm, 75 Ilm, 36 Ilm, 30 Ilm, 15 Ilm, 6 Ilm and 75 Ilm long respectively. Fe mal e (fig. 3-4): Allotype 204 Ilm long, 150 Ilm wide (idiosoma). Do r­ su m as in the male but the shields are wider and the propodonotal shield is more widely separated from the hysteronotal shield. Ven ter: epimerae free. There is a large epigynium. The coxae III bears two sc1erotized bifid proFig. 2-3: Petauralges racF cesses; coxae IV with a' male. Legs III much Ion; ding in 2 strong triangul cess. Tarsus IV ending Tri tonymph: Le 2 large shields: one pro Legs I-II as in the adult by a small rounded cut Protonymph: L but aIl the setae are shc chanter setae and the: Host and localit n° T 663 conserved in the male, al10type and 1 parat seum, Hamburg. Host-pa The subfamily Lis1 and three species liviIL The genus Listrops sitizing marsupials: L. '" delphis FAIN, 1965, frol'l ralgoides FAIN and LUE sis FAIN and LUKOSCHl mys guyannensis (Ech One might be surp group of mites on an A more complete chae1