244 



Acarology 



Calyptostomidae Oudemans, 1923 



Figures 180,181 



Diagnosis: These are land-dwelling 

 mites usually to be found in very wet 

 places. Their body is square, plump, 

 and truncate posteriorly with a dull 

 or blunt point anteriorly. No suture 

 separates the propodosoma and hys- 

 terosoma. The dorsal body surface is 

 flat with numerous depressions, lack- 

 ing setae, which are places of muscle 

 attachment. No crista metopica or 

 area sensilligerae are present, but on 

 the anterior portion of the propodo- 

 soma there is a pair of pseudostigmata 

 in the shape of a roundish cup from 

 the bottom of which arise the short 

 sensory setae. A pair of lenslike eyes 

 are located on each side of the propo- 

 dosoma. The dorsal setal bases are 

 connected by sclerotized stripes in 

 such a manner that the integument 

 presents a design of stars, usually 

 with a slender, leaf-shaped seta in the 

 center of each star. The legs are 

 slender, proportionately long, and have six movable segments. All 

 tarsi lack pretarsus and empodium but have two claws. The palpi have 

 five movable segments and the palpal tibia has a very short, weak tibial 

 claw. The palpal tarsus is joined distally and directed anteriorly. The 



chelicerae are unsegmented, very long, 

 and needle-like. The gnathosoma is 

 highly projectile, and when in a state 

 of rest it is retracted into the body. 

 There are two pairs of genital suckers. 

 The larvae are homomorphic, do not 



^'^'"Mf^u ^''^yP^^'^y ''["- have urstigma, and probably are para- 

 rmw5 (Muller). Propodosomal . -. , , 



sensory setae. Sites of arthropods. 



Figure 180 Calyptostoma vehiti- 

 niis (Miiller). Dorsum of female; 

 legs not shown. 



