40 Psyche [February 



In wild grass. Collected at Fort Collins, Colorado by S. A. 

 Johnson, from whom I received an abundance of live material. 

 This is the first species of this rare genus which has been recorded 

 from America. These mites are of very slow movement, and 

 their long drawn out body causes their gait to appear ludicrous. 



Gen. Tarsonemus Canestrini and Fanzago. (Tarsonemidse.) 

 Tarsonemus chionaspivorus sp. nov. 



Male. General appearance almost hyaline. Mouth-parts and posterior 

 pair of legs more chitinized than the other parts. 



Beak, or cephalic papilla, rather prominent; extending for three-fourths the 

 length of the first pair of legs. 



Cephalothorax as broad as long. Epimera of the first pair of legs united 

 to a median piece so as to form a Y; those of the second pair of legs similarly 

 united. The base of the Y formed by the epimera of the first pair of legs 

 is joined to the fork of the Y formed by the epimera of the second pair of legs 

 so that the two stem pieces of these Y's make a median longitudinal sternum. 



Abdomen longer and broader than the cephalothorax. Genital papilla 

 about as long, but broader than the cephalic papilla with its sides almost 

 straight and parallel. 



Anterior group of legs subequal and sparsely clothed with moderate, simple 

 bristles; the second pair extending forward for one-half the length of the 

 anterior pair. Third pair of legs similar but slightly longer than the second 

 pair. Fourth pair of legs very stout, twice as thick as the third pair, strongly 

 curved and ending in a stout, sharp claw about equal in length to the segment 

 next to it. Near the base of this claw is situated a very long bristle slightly 

 longer than the fourth leg itself. 



Length, 0.15 mm.; breadth, 0.09 mm. 



Female. Legs almost hyaline; body and beak, which have the integument 

 more chitinized, brownish yellow. 



Cephalic papilla two-thirds as broad as long; broadest at the base. Epimera 

 of the first pair of legs united at the median line so as to form a Y; epimera 

 of the second pair of legs not united. Cephalothorax broadest at its base 

 where it joins the abdomen. 



Sides of abdomen straight and approaching each other as you pass from the 

 anterior to the posterior end. A pair of shoulder bristles present, about as 

 long as the femur of leg III. Posterior margin of abdomen with but two 

 minute bristles. 



Legs of the anterior group subequal; those of the second pair extending for- 

 ward for two-thirds of the length of the first legs. Tibia of third pair of legs 

 about twice as long as tarsus. Last segment of leg IV about one-third as 

 long as penultimate segment, and bearing at its free end two large bristles, 

 the shortest of which is about twice as long as the segment itself; the longer 

 bristle is fully twice as long as the shorter. 



Length, 0.16 mm.; breadth, 0.08 mm. 



