184 

 Genus: 



Acarology 



Cryptognathus Kramer, 1878 



Type: Cryptognathus lagena Kramer, 1878 



Figure 123 Cryptognathus cucurbitae 

 Berlese. Dorsum of female. 



Discussion: These mites live in 

 moss and under stones. Sig Thor 

 1931 lists only two species and one 

 variety. Cryptognathus lagena Kra- 

 mer is known from Germany, Hol- 

 land, Switzerland, Italy, France, 

 England, Ireland, and Norway and 

 is to be found under stones and in 

 moss. C. cucurbita Berlese was 

 taken in Italy and specimens have 

 been found in Sciurus n. niger nest 

 in Florida. C. cucurbita var. sub- 

 nitida Berlese was described from 

 Somaliland, Africa. Nothing is 

 known of their habits other than 

 that they appear to be predaceous. 



Reference: 



Thor, Sig. 1931. Bdellidae, Nicoletiellidae, Cryptognathidae. Das Tierreich 



56:78-81. 



Labidostommidae Oudemans, 1904 



Figures 124-126 



Diagnosis: These mites are free-living, completely armored, yellow- 

 ish predators measuring from 0.57 to 1.5 mm. in length and are egg- 

 shaped. Their propodosoma is divided into two sections, the posterior 

 portion shading into the hysterosoma but without a clear line of de- 

 marcation. There are two pairs of pseudostigmatic organs, one on each 

 of the propodosomal plates. One lenslike eye is located on each side of 

 propodosoma and at times an unpaired eye is placed in the middle 

 of the propodosoma on the anterior margin. A large lenslike organ 

 on lateral margins behind eyes may be present. The palpus has four 

 segments and the chelicerae have large, strong, opposed chelae. The 



