156 



RECORDS OF THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM. 



Rhynciiolophus celeripes, sp. nov. 



(Fig. 34). 



Scarlet, elliptical ; above, the animal i* 

 densely pilose ; junction of cephalothorax 

 and abdomen indistinct. Crista. — Full 

 length of cephalothorax, deep, broadest at 

 anterior and posterior extremities ; at each 

 extremity there is a small tubercle, and in 

 front of the anterior one a tuft of long 

 bristles proceeds. Eyes. — Four, sessile, 

 arranged in pairs, one on each side of 

 cephalothorax. Underside similar in colour 

 and clothing to dorsal surface. Genital 

 Opening. — Between hind coxpe, distinct. 

 Anal Ojye^iing. — Below the latter, distinct. 

 Legs. — Exceedingly long, seven-jointed, 

 clothed with fine hairs and bristles, but not 

 nearly so densely as in i?. montamis. 

 Length of body, 3 '8 mm., width 1-8 mm. 



,,. „ , Host Plants. — Bushes (E. P. Ramsav). 



lig. 34. ^ - ' 



B. celeripes:. Rainb. ZTa^.— Enfield, at all seasons of the year. 



Family TROMBIDIID^ 



This is a family of considerable extent, and includes a 

 large number of genera. The family is an ancient one. 

 Gourret has described two forms from the Tertiaries at Aix, 

 France, namely, Megameropsis aqitensis and PsendopachynatJms 

 maculatus. Several species of Trombidiidje have been recorded 

 from New Guinea and islands close at hand, but only one from 

 Australia. It is quite obvious, though, that others must occur, 

 and when systematic collection has been effected it will pro- 

 bably be found that this branch of our native fauna will be 

 fairly extensive. 



Popularly these Acarids are known as " Harvest Mites " in the 

 United States. The body is divided into two parts, the first of 

 which, the cephalothorax, carries the first and second pairs of 

 legs and the abdomen the third and fourth pairs. Banks points 



