Mesostigmata 



59 



Rhodacaridae Oudemans, 1902 



Figure 44 



Diagnosis: The following diagnosis is taken from 

 Vitzthum 1941. The rhodacarids are colorless, gold- 

 en, or rose-red mites that are from 0.3 to 0.5 mm. 

 in length. They are elongated, and the length is usu- 

 ally three times as great as the width. The opistho- 

 soma is separated by a deep furrow from the 

 podosoma and some movement between the opistho- 

 soma and podosoma is possible. A dividing line may 

 also separate the propodosoma from the metapodo- 

 soma. The sternal plate projects anteriorly so that 

 it covers the male genital opening. Tarsi ii, iii, and 

 IV have pretarsus, caruncle, and claws. Tarsus i 

 either lacks an ambulacral apparatus or the pretarsus 

 and claws are vestigial. The anterior margin of the 

 tectum is attenuated into three-toothed points. The 

 middle element is usually much longer than the 

 lateral ones. 



Figure 44 



Rhodacarus 

 roseiis Oude- 

 mans, 1910. 

 Ventral view of 

 male. (After 

 Banks 1915) 



Genera: 



1. Rhodacarus Oudemans, 1902 



Type. Rhodacarus roseus Oudemans, 1902 



2. Rhodacaropsis Willmann, 1935 



Type. Rhodacaropsis inexpectatus Willmann, 



3. Rhodacarellus ^'\\\m?inti, \93>5 



Type. Rhodacarellus subterraneus Willmann, 



1935 



1935 



Discussion: Rhodacarids are frequently found in material collected 

 from litter. The family has not been well studied and many species 

 await description. They are of no known medical or economic impor- 

 tance. 



Reference: 



Willmann, C. 1935. III. Ueber eine eigenartige Milbenfauna im Klisten- 

 grundwasser der Kielen Bucht. Schr. naturw. Ver. Schl.-Holst. 20: 



422-434. 



