1938 ] 
Free-living Mites 
123 
Trombiculoides scaber (Say) 1821, p. 69 
(Figures 1 and 2) 
Diagnostic characters: Superficially resembling a Trom- 
bicula, but with the characters of this genus. Pseudostig- 
matic organs long, fine, simple ; palps with simple bristles on 
dorsal face, and unilaterally ciliate bristles on sides, espe- 
cially the lateral sides, the three spines of palptibia closely 
approximated (figure 2) ; palptarsus nearly three times as 
long as broad. 
Description: Size fairly large, ovigerous females 1.36 mm. 
, long ; tarsi I oval, 0.246 mm. long and 0.09 mm. high ; color 
rose red ; abdomen broadly oval, constriction strong, lateral 
lobes of “thorax” large, bulby (figure 1) ; prothorax low, 
extending considerably beyond lobes of metathorax, anterior 
edge notched (figure 1), covered with bristles (only the 
anterior three of one side are figured) ; all bristles of ab- 
domen and thorax typical of Trombicula, with about sixteen 
cilia along the bristle but irregularly disposed, so that the 
bristle is ciliate all about ; base of sensiligerous area with a 
few bristles (insertions only indicated in figure 2), anterior 
edge with a median crest or ridge, another such ridge at 
lateral angles; pseudostigmata widely separated, close to 
lateral angles, sides of area ribbed ; the “eyes” much larger 
than pseudostigmata; legs rather short (figure 1) ; legs I as 
long as body; tarsi I not much larger than tibiae I, but 
longer, with small hooks; tarsi II to IV with distal end 
tapering conspicuously. 
Material obtained: Nine specimens from under the bark 
of a large prone oak; outskirts south of Savannah, slides 
36S3, 36S5. Five specimens from under bark of prone pine 
trees, outskirts north of Darien; slide 36S6-1. 
In the same niche with these mites were many mollusks, 
some pseudoscorpions, and the blue-tailed skink [ Eumeces 
fasciatus (L.) ]. Would this lizard be the host of the larvae 
of this Trombiculoid ? 
Smaris sericea (Say) 1821, p. 70 
(Figures 3 to 6) 
Diagnostic characters: Body elongate, ovate, with rather 
