64 Acarology 



rated by a straight or slightly curved line from the ventroanal plate. 



(Vitzthum 1941 follows Oudemans 1939 in the use of the familial 



name Allolaelaptidae. Such a 

 course is contrary to the practice 

 of forming familial names and is 

 not followed here.) 



Figure 49 Asca qumquesetosa Whar- 

 ton, 1941. Ventral view of female. 

 (After Wharton 1941) 



Genera: 



1. Asca V. Heyden, 1826 



Type. Acarus ophidioides Linnaeus, 1758 



2. Cyrtolaelaps Berlese 1887 (= Protolaelaps Traghardh, 1912, non 



Cyrtolaelaps Berlese, 1892) 

 Type. Gamasus mucronatus G. and R. Canestrini, 1881 

 (r= Gamasellus brevispinosus Tragardh, 1910 

 = Asca affinis Oudemans, 1902) 



3. Dendrolaelaps Halbert, 1915 



Type. Dendrolaelaps oudemansi Halbert, 1915 



4. Gamasellus Berlese, 1892 



Type. Gamasus falciger G. and R. Canestrini, 1882 



5. Laelogamasus Berlese, 1904 



Type. Gamasus {Laelogamasus) simplex Berlese, 1904 



6. Lobocephalus Kramer, 1898 



Type. Lobocephalus acuminatus Kramer, 1898 (poorly described, 

 position uncertain) 



Discussion: Ascaids are characteristically found in litter and other 

 accumulations of organic debris. They are fairly common, but little 

 information is available on their life cycle or habits. Wharton 1941 

 found specimens in debris from a boobie's nest, while Fox 1947 re- 

 ports a specimen from a rat in Puerto Rico. The record of Fox should 

 not be taken as demonstrating parasitism in this group. The chelicerae 



