39 70 Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy . 



Laelaps (Pseudoparasitus) meridionalis G. et E. Can. 



The Bill Bocks off Clare Island, in debris from nests of sea birds. I have 

 also found this mite in an ant's nest (Formica fusca) at the Scalp in county 

 Dublin, possibly an accidental occurrence. Oudemans suggests (74, p. 29) 

 that as in the male of this species the second legs are much stronger than 

 the others it should be referred to the family Gamasidae instead of to the 

 Laelaptidae, and proposes a new genus, Pseudoparasitus, for its reception. 



Distribution. — Berlese records this species from central and southern 

 Europe. 



Laelaps (Ololaelaps) tumidulus C. L. Koch. 



Females of this common species were found amongst moss on Clare Island 

 in August ; also on Achill Island in September. 

 Distribution. — A widespread European species. 



Laelaps (Ololaelaps) conflnis Berl. 



Found amongst moss on Achill Island in November. 



This species is briefly described by Beidese (6) as follows : " Facies L. placen- 

 tulae Berl. sed setis corporis, praecipue posticis, minimus. Foem. tan turn 

 nota. Ad 750ju. long, (maior quam L. venetus Berl.) " There is little doubt 

 that a female specimen collected in the above-mentioned locality is to be 

 referred here. Its length is 742ju, and the hairs on the upper surface of the 

 body are decidedly shorter than in L. placentulae : I may add that the outline 

 of the body is more spherical. This species may be easily overlooked as 

 L. tumidulus Koch. 



Distribution. — Collected by Thor in Norway. 



Laelaps (Hypoaspis) oblongus sp. nov. (PI. VI, fig. lb'.) 



The following is a short description of a Laelaps which was found under 

 bark of decayed trees in the Westport demesne during the month of July. It 

 is allied to L. liiyrmecopliilus Berlese, an ants' nest species, but differs in form, 

 in the presence of a prolonged peritrematic shield, as well as in other 

 characters. 



Female (fig. 16).— Shape oblong ovate (length 691^, breadth 384yu), 

 shoulders fairly well marked. Dorsal shield almost entirely covering the 

 upper surface, with scale-like markings, which are more distinct and tend to 

 become hexagonal towards the side margins ; the hair vestiture is scanty, 

 frontal bristles strong. The sternum is wide in front, hind margin straight 

 reaching a little beyond the middle of the second acetabula. The genito- 

 ventral plate is large and trapezoidal, much as in L. myrmccophitvs, it is 



