178 



Acarology 



been described by Baker 1946, who at that time placed them in the 

 family Penthaleidae which in this paper is considered to be a part of 

 the Eupodidae. 



Rejerences: 



Baker, E. W. 1946. New species of North and Central American mites of 



the family Penthaleidae (Acarina). J. Wash. Acad. Sci. 36(12) :421- 



425. 

 Womersley, H. 1935. On some Australian and South African species of 



Acarina of the genus Stereotydeus (Penthalodidae). Proc. Linn. Soc. 



New South Wales 60(1-2) :79-82. 



Bdellidae Duges, 1834 



Figure 118 



Diagnosis: In general the bdellids are of reddish color, but owing to 

 gut contents the mites may appear greenish, brown, or flecked with vio- 

 let (seldom black as in Trachymolgus) . They are medium-sized to large 



mites measuring from 0.450 to 3.50 

 mm. long (excluding the gnatho- 

 soma). Elongated and pear-shaped 

 these mites possess a sharp rostrum 

 which gives them the name of 

 "Snout Mites." A suture is situated 

 between the propodosoma and hys- 

 terosoma. In general the integument 

 is thin and striated {Trachymolgus 

 is armoured and possesses round 

 tubercles); often a subcutaneous 

 shield is to be found on the pro- 

 podosoma. Four pseudostigmata 

 with sensory setae are present and 

 two pairs of separated eyes are lo- 

 cated on the lateral margins of the 

 propodosoma {Cyta and Mono- 

 trichobdella have an unpaired, an- 

 terior, median eye). The legs have six movable segments and all tarsi 

 are provided with short pretarsus, two claws, and pulvillus. The palpi 

 have five movable segments, the genu and tibia being very short, the 

 femur very long, the tarsus either cylindrical and long or short and 



Figure 118 Bdella willisi Baker and 

 Balock. Dorsum of female with left 

 half showing striae. 



