Mesostigmatu 



57 



in distribution. None is known to be of medical or economic impor- 

 tance. 



References: 



Berlese, A. 1910. Brevi diagnosi di generi e specie nuovi di Acari. Redia 



6 (2): 346-388. 

 Finnegan, Susan. 1931. On a new species of mite of the family Heterozer- 



conidae parasitic on a snake. Proc. Zool. Soc. London 1931: 1349- 



1357. 

 Vitzthum, H. G. 1926. Malayische Acari. Treubia 8: 106. 



Poecilochiridae Willmann, 1940 



Figure 42 



Diagnosis: The family is character- 

 ized by Willmann on the basis of the 

 males and deutonymphs as follows: 

 the male genital opening is in a spe- 

 cial presternal plate; in other re- 

 spects it is similar to Parasitus, (leg 

 II of the males has well-developed 

 apophyses). Deutonymphs are 

 strongly heteromorphic, with very 

 long legs and exceptionally long, 

 stiff setae. Cheliceral chelae are 

 present with an anterior, projecting, 

 leaflike process. The sternal plate 

 usually has a dark, transverse band. 

 Neumann reports that the females 

 are similar to the Parasitidae. 



Figure 42 Poecilochinis iiecrophori 

 Vitzthum, 1930. Sternal plate of 

 deutonymph. (After Cooreman 

 1943) 



Genus: 



Poecilochinis G. and R. Canestrini, 1882 



Type. Poecilochirus carabi G. and R. Canestrini, 1882 



Discussion: Poecilochirids are found associated with beetles and in 

 caves or burrows inhabited by beetles. Species have been reported 

 from Europe and Asia. They are not known to be of any medical or 

 economic importance. 



