TAXONOMY OF TROMBICULIDS 
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The inference is that, being influenced by different organiser fields, the detailed 
differences between the AM-AL, the PL-DS, the humeral setae (HS), the caudal or postanal 
setae (CS), and the ventral setae (VS) are of taxonomic importance, and there is support from 
several sources for the plea made by Audy (1952) that the caudal setae be compared with and 
enumerated separately from the ventral setae. A further inference is that the PL setae virtually 
represent dorsal setae but are customarily placed on the scutum. The retraction of the scutum 
to isolate these setae, or its extension so as to include extra dorsal setae, may be reasonably 
anticipated ; and of course it does occur. 
World species. — Asia: coluberina , CORU. 35961 n. sp. Audy in MS. South America: ewingi, 
travassosi. 
Genus Tecomatlana Hoffman 1947 
including Sauriscus Lawrence 1949 
Trisetica Traub & Evans 1950 
Type . — Tecomatlana sandovali Hoffman 1947:452, An. Escusla nac Cienc. bio'l. , Mex., 4, 451-457. 
Diagnosis. — Species related to Trombicula, whose larvae have the PL setae displaced off the scutum. 
Remarks. — Sauriscus ewingi Law. is from lizards in Africa; it has a shallow scutum, finely 
barbed sensillae, single eyes, a 2-pronged palpal claw. Trisetica melvini Traub & Evans is 
from a bat-cave in North Burma ; it has a deeper scutum, a peculiar thickened sensilla, double 
eyes, slender elongated claws with 3 subequal prongs. Tecomatlana sandovali is from bats in 
Mexico ; it has a scutum like that of melvini , but normal sensillae with barbs in the distal half, 
a short axial prong and 3 short accessory prongs to the claws. The w r riter believes that it 
would be a mistake to assume that these three must be congeneric simply because they share a 
recurrent character (PLs off the scutum) which might have developed independently from 
unrelated progenitors. He therefore intends to preserve Sauriscus and Trisetica as subgenera 
until further studies clarify matters. 
Genus Myotrombicula Womersley & Heaslip 1943 
Type. — Myotrombicula vespertilionis Worn. & Heaslip 1943, Trans. R. Soc. S. Aust., 67, 68-142. 
From bats, Australia. 
Diagnosis. — Monotypic : Larva with broad shallow scutum but nature of sensillae not known ; cheliceral 
blade modified (short, stumpy, with two large blunt teeth) ; palpi somewhat modified (laterally angulate, 
strongly incurved). 
Remarks. — Wharton & Fuller (1952:84) state that “ if the type species has expanded 
sensillae, Myotrombicula might be a synonym of Oenoschongastia ,” but the present writer 
would not subscribe to this view because Myotrombicula has a completely different shape of 
scutum, no mastitarsala III, and the chelicers are differently modified: there are probably a 
number of other differences, e.g., in the leg chaetotaxy. 
Genus Heaslipia Womersley 1952 
Type. — Trombiculoides gateri Worn. & Heaslip 1943:101, Trans. R. Soc. S. Aust., 67, 68-142. From 
rats, highlands of Malaya. 
Diagnosis. — Monotypic : larva with scutum not extended posteriorly but including additional setae (4) ; 
mastitarsala III present. Nymph of typical Trombicula ( Neotrombicula of Womersley) facies, without 
eyes, and a large triangular tectum. 
Genus Novotrombicula Womersley & Kohls 1947 
Type. — Novotrombicula owiensis Worn. & Kohls 1946:4, Trans. R. Soc. S. Aust., 71, 2-12. From 
soil, island off New Guinea. 
Diagnosis. — Monotypic: larva with scutum extended posteriorly, with unexpanded sensillary bases 
anteriorly placed, and (2) additional posterior scutal setae (i.e., more than the usual 5) as in Schongastiella 
and Gahrliepia; mastitarsala III absent. 
MALAYA, No. 26 , 1953 
