GENERIC VALIDITIES 
121 
the resultant placing of PL off the scutum we have a gradual process from the species malayensis 
with the scutum of almost normal form and size and PL only slightly off the posterior corners, 
to the more reduced forms like Sauriscus ewingi in which the scutum ends well in front of PL 
and this seta is far removed from the scutal margin. This process of reduction of the scutum 
is the converse of what is found in many species of Gahrliepiinae, as well the genus Novotrom- 
bicula of the Trombiculinae, in which the scutum has become expanded posteriorly to embrace 
more and more of the dorsal setae. 
Such being the case, the use of the number and position of the scutal setae does not appear 
to be generic value, and as pointed out by Womersley (1952) for the Gahrliepiinae, doubtfully 
of subgeneric value. 
In 1952, Womersley synonymised the genera Trisetica Traub and Evans, and Sauriscus 
Lawrence with Tecomatlana Hoffmann t. 
Now Anomalaspis Brennan also becomes a synonym. All these four genera have filamen- 
tous sensillae, and do not show features by which they can validly be separated from 
Tecomatlana. 
In the larvae Pseudoschongastia Lipovsky cannot be separated from Ascoschongastia , which 
genus however can only be accepted as valid if it can be shown that characters exist in the 
nymph and/or adult stages which can be correlated with the presence on or off the scutum 
of the PL seta. 
The genus Ascoschongastia was erected by Ewing (1946) with malayensis as type on the 
basis of the non-serrate chelicerae. He did not, however, stress the off-scutal position of PLs, 
and clearly included all the species placed by other workers erroneously in the genus Neoschon- 
gastia [which did not conform to the type Neoschongastia americana (Hirst, 1921)]. Wharton 
et al (1951), however, would restrict the use of Ascoschongastia to those species with PL off 
the scutum and use for the others the generic name of Euschongastia Ewing 1938, which was 
defined on having a 5-7 pronged palpal claw. In the interim the use of Euschongastia was 
largely confined to species from the New World, whereas Old World species were allocated to 
Ascoschongastia. However, more recent studies by Michener, Wharton 1948, and others 
have shown that the use of the furcation of the palpal claw as a generic character is not to be 
relied upon and have definitely synonymised Ascoschongastia with Euschongastia. This is at 
present sound, and can only be upset, and the use of Ascoschongastia be adopted for certain 
species, if it should become established that characters exist in the nymphs or adults which 
can be correlated with the off-scutal position of PL in the larvae. Such at present is not the 
case, indeed, no generic differences can be found between the nymphs of Ascoschongastia 
malayensis and A. lacunosa (Gater) with normal PL or of the species of Euschongastia described 
by Michener from America. The present writer indicated in a footnote (1952, p. 170) that 
he was in accord with the use of Euschongastia Ewing 1938 in place of Ascoschongastia Ewing 
1946, but circumstances at the time did not then permit the change to be made. 
The following therefore shows the correct synonymy, of the two genera considered to 
be valid : 
Euschongastia Ewing 1938 Ascoschongastia Ewing 1951 
Pseudoschongastia Lipovsky 1951 
Tecomatlana Hoffmann 1947 ... ... Sauriscus Lawrence 1949 
Trisetica Traub and Evans 1950 
Anomalaspis Brennan 1952 
t Opinions differ on this and some of the succeeding points, and alternative interpretations are discussed in the following 
paper by Audy, e.g. pp. 125 & 149 . — Ed. 
MALAYA , No. 26, 1953 
