Mesostigmata 



47 



Key to the Liroaspina 



1. Sternal shields in and iv fused to narrow, transverse shield; sternal 

 shields i and ii free or fused in females; male genital aperture 

 closed by nude, circular disk Liroaspidae 



Sternal shields ii, iii, and iv fused in female, i free; male genital 

 aperture closed by two-piece circular disk bearing single pair of 

 setae Epicriidae 



^v<^ 



Liroaspidae Tragardh, 1946 



Figure 36 

 Diagnosis: The characteristic dis- 

 tribution of the dorsal plates of 

 liroaspids is diagnostic for the 

 family. A single, large plate cov- 

 ers most of the dorsal surface of 

 the podosoma. At the posterior 

 end there is an entire or divided 

 pygidial plate that may or may 

 not have posterior, setal-bearing 

 projections. Between these two 

 plates is a series of smaller plates 

 and platelets. The sternal plates 

 of the females are divided or par- 

 tially fused. No epigynial plate is 

 present. The male genital aper- 

 ture is covered by a nude circular 

 disk. It is situated near the anterior margin in the sternal shield. All 

 tarsi are provided with pretarsi and claws. 



Figure 36 Liroaspis armatiis Fox, 

 1947. Dorsal view of female. 



Genera and subgenera: 



1936) 



1. Liroaspis Banks, 1902 (= Dwigubskyia Oudemans, 

 Type. Liroaspis americana Banks," 1902 



2. Berlesiana Turk, \9A3> 



Type. Epicriiis cirratus Berlese, 1917 



3. Epicroseius Berlese, 1904 

 a. Epicroseius s. str. 



Type. Epicroseius augelioides Berlese, 1904 

 h. I phidinychus Berlese, 1913 



Type. Echinoseius {Iphidinychus) manicatus Berlese, 1913. 

 noseius is apparently only a lapsus for Epicroseius) 



(Echi- 



