PROCEEDINGS OF THE UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



issued ft^?{VvV.O?Mi ^y '^« 



SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION 



U. S. NATIONAL MUSEUM 



Vol. 101 Washington : 1951 No. 3275 



THE MITES OF THE SUBFAMILY HAEMOGAMASINAE 

 (ACARI: LAELAPTIDAE) 



By Hugh L, Keegan ^ 



This paper comprises a general review of the distribution, classi- 

 fication, and external morphology of the parasitic mites of the sub- 

 family Haemogamasinae Oudemans, 1926. It is based largely on 

 material in the United States National Museum, although numerous 

 specimens from other sources were also examined. In the descriptions 

 that follow, all specimens examined are in the National Museum unless 

 otherwise indicated. 



None of the Haemogamasinae has been reported as a vector of 

 disease, although several species of related subfamilies of Laelaptidae 

 serve as vectors of virus and rickettsial disease agents, as well as of 

 nematode and protozoan parasites of mammals, birds, and reptiles. 

 Many laelaptid mites, normally parasites of rodents and birds, have 

 been reported to attack man, causing dermatitis. Hill and Gordon 

 (1945) reported that Euhaemogamasus oudemansi, along with several 

 other species of mites, may have been responsible for an outbreak of 



^ I am under obligation to many persons who contributed specimens, supplied collecting 

 data, and extended other courtesies that were of great value in preparing this paper. 

 Officials of the United States National Museum furnished facilities for study during the 

 spring of 1946 and in addition lent me its entire collection of Haemogamasinae for nearly 

 2 years. I am especially indebted to Dr. L. O. Nolf, State University of Iowa, under whose 

 direction this study was made ; Dr. E. W. Baker, U. S. Bureau of Entomology and riant 

 Quarantine, who gave valuable advice, supplied numerous specimens, and obtained photostat 

 copies of several otherwise inaccessible references ; Dr. H. E. Ewing, Washington, D. C. ; 

 E. W. Jameson, Jr., University of California, Davis, Calif. ; Dr. C. L. Remington, Harvard 

 University Biological Laboratories, Cambridge, Mass. ; Dr. R. W. Strandtmann, Jr., Uni- 

 versity of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Tex. ; Dr. J. M. Linsdale, Museum of Vertebrate 

 Zoology, University of California ; H. B. Morlan, U. S. Public Health Service, Thomasville, 

 Ga. ; Dr. F. A. Turk, Camborne, England ; Dr. C. D. Radford, British Museum, London ; 

 and Dr. Arve H. Dahl, State of California Department of Health. 



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