2 Hewitt, On a new PJiytophagons Mite. 



scale-leaves. A number of the bulbs were kept, and 

 when they were examined six months later not a single 

 specimen of this species could be found, but I found large 

 numbers of Rliizoglyphus ccJiinopus to which I shall refer 

 later. Mr. Michael, to whom I submitted some specimens, 

 pointed out to me its similarity to L. insignis, Berl., 

 remarking that the length of the hairs differed. Professor 

 Berlese very kindly sent me his type specimen of that 

 species to examine and compare. As a result of this 

 comparison I found a number of distinct and striking 

 differences between L. insignis and my specimens, but 

 although these differences might be considered of specific 

 value by those acarologists who, unfortunately, make new 

 species upon very small differences, I think it is preferable 

 to regard the mite as a variety of Z. insignis. 



This variety [PL figs, i & 2) resembles L. insignis in 

 several major characters. It is similar in colour, being a 

 dull brown with darker legs. It is also similar in size, its 

 average length being imm. The abdomen is also very 

 similar in shape. The differences however, are well 

 marked. The cephalothorax is not pointed as in L. 

 insignis, but is more rounded at the rostral extremity ; in 

 this character it is somewhat intermediate between L. 

 insignis and L. cylindrica Berl. The arrangement and 

 number of hairs on the cephalothorax is quite different. 

 In L. insignis var. dissiniilis there are two fairly long 

 median hairs, and a very small pair, slightly more posterior. 

 There is a pair of long inter-stigmatic hairs ; anterior to 

 these there is a pair of shorter hairs. In the anterior 

 lateral region of the notogaster, there are three pairs of 

 hairs which are absent in L. insignis. This variety has 

 also a few other additional abdominal hairs, but there are 

 fewer hairs on the legs. These differences are constant, 

 so that they do not constitute a sexual difference. On 



