Two New Mites (Acarina: Laelapinae) from Oriental 
Insectivores (Mammalia: Insectivora) 
E. W. Jameson, Jr. 1 
ABSTRACT: The two species described are closely allied parasites of shrews 
( Anourosorex squamipes and Soriculus fumidus) from Taiwan, and of a mole (Uro- 
trichus talpoides) from Japan (Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu). The similarity of 
these two species indicates a common geographic origin of the hosts, and suggests 
that there are probably allied species of these mites on the Chinese mainland. These 
two species of Haemolaelaps appear most 
species from Australian marsupials. 
A DISTINCTIVE MESOSTIGMATIC mite is a char- 
acteristic parasite of shrews of Taiwan, and 
another closely related species parasitizes shrew- 
moles- of Japan. These two species, which are 
described below, seem to be rather close to the 
ulysses group recently described and defined by 
Domrow (1964), but they differ in some fea- 
tures. Both have the following characters which, 
collectively, separate these mites from other 
species of Haemolaelaps, including those of the 
ulysses group: 
Small, delicate laelapine mites, with legs 
rather short and body subovoid. Epigynial plate 
slightly expanded posteriorly, bearing only the 
anteriormost pair of setae. Anal plate broader 
than epigynial plate, at least as broad as long 
and concave anteriorly. Gnathosoma and chela 
typical for laelapine mites; pilus dentilis broad- 
ened, and as long as fixed digit. Palpal trochan- 
teral seta not inflated. Dorsal plate covering most 
of dorsal body surface; with 35 or more pairs of 
minute setae. Setae on coxae II and III not ex- 
panded and hyaline. Femora and trochanters 
without apically notched setae. 
1 Department of Zoology, University of California, 
Davis, California. This investigation was supported in 
part by Public Health Service Research Grant AI 
05621-01, from the National Institute of Allergy and 
Infectious Diseases, and Department of the Army con- 
tract no. DA-49-007-MD-242, between the Regents of 
the University of California and the Medical Research 
and Development Board, Office of the Surgeon Gen- 
eral. Manuscript received July 7, 1964. 
closely related to the ulysses group, three 
Haemolaelaps soricinus , n. sp. 
DORSUM (Fig. 1 A): Dorsal plate ovoid 
(wider posteriorly), with 35 pairs of minute 
setae, only the caudalmost being distinctly longer 
than the others. Shoulders reduced. With several 
small pores as illustrated. Soft parts with about 
10 pairs of setae. 
VENTER (Fig. 1 E) : Sternal plate (Fig. IB) 
with the anteriormost pair of setae distinctly in 
front of the anterior margin; anterior margin 
rounded and convex. Sternal setae rather short 
and delicate, not extending beyond base of pos- 
teriorly adjacent setae. Epigynial plate expanded 
posteriorly to about the distance between coxae 
IV. Anal plate ( Fig. 1 D ) wider than epigynial 
plate, wider than long, and anterior margin con- 
cave and rounded; anus, anal and adanal setae 
on caudal half of anal plate. Coxae and legs 
rather stout; setae not heavy. Coxae without 
spurs; coxa II without anterior marginal spur. 
Peritremal plate not with a detached sclerite 
extended around coxa IV. 
GNATHOSOMA ( Fig. 1 C ) : Deutosternum 
with six or seven rows of teeth of one or two 
teeth each. Chela (Fig. IF) with a circlet of 
five or six hyaline hairs subtending the movable 
digit; a single curved hair at the base of the fixed 
digit. Fixed digit with a broad curved pilus den- 
tilis. Tectum apparently bilobed, with a longi- 
tudinal groove or grooves. 
100 
