136 
J. R. AUDY 
APOLONIINAE S.l. 
Apolonia NW. 
Sauracarella OW. 
Womersia NW. 
?Womersleyia OW. n. 
?Grossia OW. 
PNeotrombidium a. ... 
PNothotrombicula OW. 
PCockingsia OW. ... 
PMackerrasiella OW. 
APOLONIINAE. 
Apolonia 
Sauracarella 
Womersia 
? ? a TROMBIDIID 
* 
? ? a TROMBIDIID 
? ? a TROMBIDIID 
* 
* 
APOLONIINAE. 
Apolonia 
Sauracarella 
Womersia 
Womersleyia 
Grossia 
PNeotrombidium 
Nothotrombicula 
Cockingsia 
Mackerrasiella 
The scheme of classification which follows is essentially provisional. Circumstances have 
precluded writing this prehminary account in collaboration. It has also been necessary to 
postpone publication of a paper (Audy, 1955) describing certain species of special taxonomic 
interest : this paper will be published in the following Study of this series, while only the essential 
references to it will be made here. In drawing up the present scheme, the diagnoses of the 
taxonomic units are generally those of Womersley and of Wharton & Fuller, with any existing 
anomalies between them resolved as far as possible, often by compromise. The origin of the 
diagnoses is acknowledged where necessary, with a note as to whether they are unchanged or 
have been modified; but the term “ amended ” is not used here as the writer believes it should 
be reserved for considered decisions and not provisional amendments. In making decisions 
as to the generic or subgeneric rank of a number of units the following tenets have been accepted : 
(<3) valid genera and subgenera may be based on larval morphological characters alone; 
( b ) biological features such as host-preferences or peculiar habitat-preferences should be 
included in the consideration of natural relationships and may guide one in according 
independent status to groups of species; and (c) special care should be exercised in dealing 
with recurrent polyphyletic characters. In defining these units, the principle has been adopted 
that at this stage it is advisable to expand them whenever this leads to a better organisation of 
the known species into the scheme of classification. In a few cases (e.g., Schongastia) concepts 
of genera have however been restricted. 
The Malaysian material comprises some 130 species of larvae and 73 nymphs, descriptions 
of a number of which are yet unpublished. This material has been scrutinised to see what 
fight it can throw on the many taxonomic problems, but because a good deal remains to be 
studied carefully the opinions expressed are only tentative. They are nevertheless likely to be 
useful to other workers. The writer believes that the greatest need now is for all groups of 
two or more closely related species to be recognised and fisted preparatory to detailed study; 
for exhaustive descriptions or redescriptions to be made of all genotypes and representatives 
of species-groups, so that proper standards are set for comparative studies and descriptions; 
for geographically local exhaustive studies of genera, subgenera, and species-groups to be made 
and to be followed by world- wide comparative studies; for the postlarval stages to be explored 
for more characters of taxonomic importance, and for more extensive breeding of these stages 
to be undertaken. These needs are guiding the work of this research team, particular 
importance being attached to the akamushi -, wichmanni -, indica -, lacunosa -, and oudemansi- 
groups, each of which includes a dominant species in Malaysia (although T. wichmanni is not 
dominant in our particular collections in Selangor, it is dominant elsewhere, and the group is 
represented in the Americas). 
Family TROMBICULIDAE Ewing 
Diagnosis . — (1) Sensu stricto after Womersley (1952:13, verbatim ): Larvae with only 1 AM seta, or 
none, on scutum and no antero-median scutal process. Stigmata and tracheae absent ( ? rarely present). 
Nymphs and Adults figure-eight shaped, with a distinct medial constriction, and propodosoma not wider 
than hysterosoma. Crista anteriorly ending in a hyaline dentate epistome (tectum) furnished with a 
single ciliated seta. Eyes 1 — 1 or absent, when present either closely adjacent to sensillary area, or away 
from and in front of this area. 
STUD. INST. MED. RES. 
