TAXONOMY OF TROMBICULIDS 
163 
Old World species. — Africa: Schongastiella coeca; Gahrliepia lazvrencei, nana, ? n. sp. CORU 36695 sent 
by Dr. Lawrence from South Africa ; Giroudia brennani, longiscutullata. Gateria philipi , N. g. n. sp. 
Vercammen, 1953 in press N. Asia &c.: Walchia brennani N, disparunguis N, enode N, lazvrencei N, 
morobensis N , ogati , pingue N, rioi, n. sp. nr. rioi, rustica N, turmalis N. Schongastiella arona T. &. E. N, 
bengalensis N, birella T. & E., brevis, ceylonica N , erula T. & E., gammonsi T. & E., helata T. & E., 
hipposideros, kalrata T. & E., ligula N, liota T. & E ., punctata N., SIN n. sp. (Varma in litt.), n. sp. CORU 
in MS. Gahrliepia cetrata N, decora , insigne, ornata N, 4 n. spp. in MS. Gateria romeri, rutila N , 
spinulosa. Also Sch. zvansoni Wolfs & Verc. 1953 from Africa. 
Family LEEUWENHOEKIIDAE Womersley 
or SubfamiHes Leeuwenhoekiinae Womersley 
and Apoloniinae Wharton 
Provisional Diagnosis of Tentative Family (after Womersley, 1945; Wharton & Fuller 1952:90, 96; 
Baker & Wharton, 1952; Womersley, 1953, this Study p. 108; also Brennan, Wharton, and Womersley, 
personal communications), for comparison with diagnoses of Trombiculidae & Trombidiidae, pp. 137, 166 
Larvae so far known with only one dorsal plate (the scutum) usually carrying an anterior median process 
(nasus) : always with only one pair of sensillae, usually filiform sometimes expanded (when filiform usually 
nude). Six scutal setae, 2 antero-submedian (except in 2 new genera Worn., 1953), 2 anterolateral, and 
2 posterolateral; seta on pedipalpal coxa posterior to base of palpal femur; cheliceral blade frequently 
modified (toothed, with or without modification of the blade); femora of all legs, or of legs II and III 
undivided (except in Apoloniinae) and these legs therefore 6-segmented; coxa I 2-setose (except in Chatia 
& Womersia), coxa III i-setose (multisetose in Chatia ); parasitic on arthropods and vertebrates. Stigmata 
and tracheae may be present ( Acomatacarus , Whartonia ). Nymphs and Adults mostly small (1-2 mm or 
less), body cordate or pyriform, not constricted (except in Hannemania ). Scutum with one pair of 
filamentous sensillae arising from a subposterior sensillary area; scutum ending anteriorly in a triangular 
tectum usually bearing a pair of setae. Eyes if present 2+2, sessile, away from scutum. Dorsal setae 
frequently of two kinds. 
Remarks. — Few leeuwenhoekiids have been encountered in India and Malaysia and the 
present writer is not familiar with the group. He is not prepared to offer any opinions as to 
the familial or other status of the Leeuwenhoekiidae or its components. An attempt is here 
made to tabulate the known facts and to present a tentative diagnosis of the families 
Trombiculidae, Leeuwenhoekiidae, and Trombidiidae partly for reasons already noted but 
largely for the writer’s own edification. 
Most species of this family are known from the larvae. Of the 88 known species (including 
some of the undescribed species, Womersley in MS, personal communication), 50 are of 
species of Acomatacarus parasitising vertebrates and 16 are species of Hannemania from 
batrachians. Of the ?I2 known nymphs and adults 8 are of Acomatacarus. The adults so 
far known are therefore not representative. Womersley is completing a monograph of this 
family. In the species-lists which follow Wharton & Fuller are followed but the Apoloniinae 
are provisionally extended after Womersley’s revision (1953). 
Subfamily Leeuwenhoekiinae Womersley 
Provisional Diagnosis (Wharton & Fuller, 1952:96, verbatim). — “ Trombiculids whose larvae have 
two setae on coxae I, all legs composed of six segments and attenuated sensillae. ” 
Remarks. — Three genera are not represented in the Old World ; they are however included 
in the Table. Chatia Brennan in monotypic. Dr. Brennan has very kindly allowed his 
comments on the nymphs to be quoted (letter of March 1953) : they have “no constriction 
between proterosoma and hysterosoma... pyriform rather than cor date... they have very long 
legs and are quite similar to Acomatacarus nymphs.” The nymphs are being described by 
Lipovsky. Odontacarus Ewing, according to Wharton & Fuller (1952 : 103) is probably a 
synonym of the subgenus Acomatacarus : the specimens in existence are too badly damaged 
to be studied satisfactorily. Leeuwenhoekia Ouds. s. str. is represented by two species from 
mammals in the Americas : L. (L) verduni (Ouds), and L. ( Comatacarus ) americanus (Ew). 
MALAYA , No. 26, 1953 
