JO 



SOME BRITISH EARTHMITES. 



{Tiombidiidae.) 



C. F. GEORGE, 

 Kirton-in-Lindsey . 



This family contains some of the most beautiful microscopic 

 creatures we possess. Of these, the type, Tromhidiiim holoseri- 

 ceum is the largest, most common, and perhaps the hand- 

 somest of our Earth mites. It is found not infrequently in our 

 gardens in the Spring, especially during May. Its fine scarlet 



Trombidium holosericeum. 



a Dorsal surface. Length 2.80 mm. Breadth 2.40 mm. 

 b Palpi X 45. 



c Hairs from a mounted specimen. 

 d ,, „ an unmounted specimen. 

 e Eye x 22. Dorsal surface. 



/ Hairs from Posterior portion on Dorsal surface. 

 g „ „ Anterior „ „ „ „ 

 h „ „ Palpi. 



Length of Mandible 0.56 mm. 



colour makes it very conspicuous, especially when the sun 

 shines upon it, it glitters from the peculiar structure of its hairs 

 or papillae, which give it the appearance of silk velvet, hence 

 its name ' holosericeum ' (entirely of silk). It has been observed 

 and recorded by very eminent naturalists from Martin Lister, 

 in 1678, to the present time. Professor Sig Thor of Chris- 

 tiania in his pamphlet on ' Norges Trombidiidae,' 1900, gives 



5908 September i. 



