86 
Psyche 
[June 
Ber. 3:123). His description of the genus was based on 
specimens purported to be the larvae of Trombidium niloti- 
cum by Tragardh, although Tragardh stated that the evi- 
dence associating these larvae with adults of Trombidium 
niloticum was circumstantial and therefore not conclusive. 
In fact, these larvae can now be recognized as belonging 
in a different family from the adults. However, according 
to the rules Blankaurtia must retain as genotype Trombi- 
dium niloticum Tragardh, 1904. 
Berlese, 1912, proposed the subgeneric name Trag dr dh- 
ula with the type T. nilotica (Trag.) (Redia 8:4). Since 
Blankaurtia and Trdgardhula are based on the same type 
species they are synonyms. 
Thor, 1936, proposed the generic name Pentagonella with 
Trombidium ardeae Tragardh, 1904, as type. On the basis 
of morphological characteristics and geographical consid- 
erations it is quite possible that T. ardeae and T. niloticum 
are synonyms. However, only rearing experiments will be 
able to establish their identity. The work of Michener, 1946, 
has demonstrated that T. niloticum and T. ardeae are con- 
generic if not conspecific. Therefore Pentagonella Thor, 
1936, is also a synonym of Blankaurtia. 
Michener, 1946, reports rearing specimens of Trombicula 
(Megatrombicula) alleei Ewing, 1926; Trombicula (Mega- 
trombicula) velas coi Boshell and Kerr, 1942; and Trombi- 
cula (Megatrombicula) attenuata Michener, 1946. These 
species he places in the subgenus Megatrombicula Michener, 
1946, with Trombicula alleei Ewing, 1926, as type. These 
three species are also congeneric with T. niloticum. 
Womersley, 1948, added to the confusion by trying to set- 
tle the problem in his own manner without proper regard 
for the International Rules on Zoological Nomenclature. He 
accepts as the genotype of Blankaurtia the species repre- 
sented by the larva thought to be Trombidium niloticum 
Tragardh by Oudemans. He refers to this species as Blanka- 
artia nilotica (Trag.) on page 83 and as Blankaurtia nilotica 
(Ouds.) on page 84. Actually the species represented by 
these larvae does not yet have a name. In the same paper 
Womersley used Trdgardhula nilotica as the valid name 
for Trombidium niloticum Tragardh. 
