138 Proceedings of the Roifal Irish Academy. 



Sub-Older TKOMBIDOIDEA. 

 Family EUPODIDAE. 

 Lasiotydaeus brevistylus sp. uov. (PI. XXIII, fig. a, b.) 



The genus Lasiotydaeus was fouuded by Berlese in (12), the type-species 

 being L. ijhjcjipluKjinus Beil. In a later paper (10) he establishes a new sub- 

 genus Melanotydaeus, in which the rostrum is well below, or iiidden by, the 

 cepiialothorax, and the body hairs are short. The present species belongs to 

 this sub-genus, of which Berlese describes five species as occurring amongst 

 mosses in Italy. 



In general structure L. hretidyhis is allied to Z. sti/liger, described and 

 figured in (10), so much so that with comparative notes and a figure a detailed 

 description is not necessary. A good structural difference occurs in the palpi ; 

 in L. stjiligrr the two terminal processes of the last segment are very long 

 and slender (see 10, fig. 12a), and are much longer than the basal part of the 

 segment. In the present species tliese processes are stouter and much 

 shorter (fig. 22b), about equalling the basal part in length. In some female 

 specimens the processes are even shorter than is figured. The lower process 

 is stouter than the upper one, which is curved. Cephalothora.x about a tliird 

 OS long as abdomen, and the rostrum is generally hidden, though in some 

 specimens the apex is visible. The legs are a little stouter. The colouring 

 appears to be a verj' dark olive, and the legs are red. Tlie size ranges from 

 about 250/i to 280^ in length, by l.">0;i in breadth. 



Habitat. — A fairly common species in the Orange Lichen and Pelvetia 

 zones on the rocky shore at Malahide, under flakes in from dry to moist 

 situations. The dates of r:apture are in May and June. 



Rhagidia halophila (I.,ab.) 



1851 Uamasiis halophilus Laboulbene 30, p. 295. 1889 Normria halophila 

 Moniez 38, p. 270. 1915 Halbert 25 p. 110. 1916 Hull 26, p. ;j5. 



This active, orange-coloured Acarid is one of the most characteristic 

 species of the intertidal area, occurnng from the Orange Liclieu down to the 

 Serratus zone at Malahide and Anlfry. Its favourite haunt^s are l>etween 

 rock flakes and under stones embedded in sandy mud in from moist to wet 

 places. During low water it may Ije -seen running with great speed on the 

 rock surfaces. The dat<?8 of capture range from March to November, and it 

 probably occurs throughout the winter months. 



