MITES OF FAMILY CHEYLETIDAE — BAKER 271 



The foregoing description was taken from mites collected on rabbits 

 at Albany, K Y., May 7, 1942, by R. D. Glasgow. 



This is a well-lmown species which appears to be universally dis- 

 tributed on rabbits. It has been stated that it preys on species of 

 Listrophorus, Psorergates, Myobia, and Notoedtms which inhabit the 

 fur. Pillars (1925) states that he found this mite causing lesions on 

 a rabbit, and also mentions a mange of man attributed to this species. 

 Vail and Agustson (1943) report lesions being found on a rabbit 

 infested with this mite. Cooper (1946) , in a review of the literature 

 on the mite, states that he can find no satisfactory evidence that 

 Cheyletiella parasitivorax attacks its mammalian hosts or causes mange 

 in rabbits and man. Hirst (1917) , Pillars (1925) , and Cooper ( 1946) 

 report finding this species on cat. Cooper (1946) also discusses the 

 synonymy of Ewingella americana Vail and Augustson with 

 CheyletielJa parasitivorax (Megnin) . 



H. E. Ewing (Illinois Univ. Studies, vol. 3, No. 6, p. 77, pi. 3, fig. 15, 

 1909) described a mite as Cheyletiella americana. Examination of 

 the type reveals that the original placement is incorrect; it belongs 

 to the genus Pseudocheylus in the family Pseudocheylidae. 



NEOCHEYLETIELLA, new genus 



Palpal tarsus without comblike setae ; all tarsi with claws. With 

 at least a rudimentary dorsal shield. 



Type, Neocheyletiella rohweri^ new species. 



This genus has been erected to include the species formerly placed 

 with Cheyletiella which possess claws on tarsus I. Biologically this 

 group differs from Cheyletiella in being found on birds rather than 

 on rabbits or cats. 



KEY TO THE SPECIES OF NEOCHEYLETIELLA 



1. Empodium split into 2 sections between daws 2 



Empodium with 2 small combs 3 



2. Epimera I separated macronycha (Megnin) 



Epimera I joined microrhyncha (Berlese and Trouessart) 



3. Large protuberance on dorsal distal surface of tarsus I ; smaller on tarsus II_. 4 

 Tarsi I and II more normal, no protuberance 7 



4. One dorsal shield 5 



Two dorsal shields; dorsal marginal setae about as long as body is wide. 



canadensis (Banlcs) 



5. First three pairs of propodosomal setae of approximately equal length 6 



First 2 pairs of propodosomal setae much shorter than third pair. 



heteropalpus (Megnin) 



6. Posterior marginal setae about one-third longer than anterior marginal setae; 



1 pair posterior setae serrate smallwoodae, new species 



Posterior marginal setae about twice as long as anterior marginal setae ; all 

 posterior setae simple rohweri, new species 



7. One dorsal shield ; palpal claw very small— chanayi (Berlese and Trouessart) 

 Two dorsal shields; palpal claw moderately large pinguis (Berlese) 



