Mesostigmata 



49 



divided circular disk that bears a pair of setae. Epicriids are usually 

 small (0,5 mm.) and golden brown in color. 







Figure 37 Epicriiis mollis (Kramer), 1876. Right, dorsal view of female; left, 

 ventral plates of female. (After Tragardh 1942) 



Genera and subgenera: 



1. Epicrius G. Canestrini and Fanzago, 1877 



a. Epicrius s. str. 



Type. Gamasus mollis Kramer, 1876 (= Epicrius geometricus G. 

 Canestrini and Fanzago, 1877) 



b. Diepicrius Berlese, 1916 



Type. Epicrius {Diepicrius) parisiensis Berlese, 1916 



2. Cor nubia Turk, 1943 



Type. Cornubia ornata Turk, 1943 



Discussion: Epicriids are usually found in moss or accumulations of 

 plant roots or rhizomes. On Guam Epicrius sp. was found among the 

 rhizomes of epiphytic ferns that live in the tops of the trees of the rain 

 forest. Epicriids are not known to be of any economic or medical 

 importance. 



References: 



Tragardh, I. 1942. Zur Kenntnis der Gattung Epicrius Berlese (Acarina). 



Arkiv. for Zoologi. 34A. N:o 4:1-10. 

 . 1943. Further contributions towards the comparative morphology 



of the Mesostigmata (Acarina) the Antennophoridae and the Megis- 



thanidae. Arkiv. for Zoologi. 34A. N:o 20:1-10. 



