LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN 590.5 FI V.44 cop. 3 NArURAL HISTORY. SIJRVFY CA C7 c ..7 "F-^ FIELDIANA • ZOOLOGY Published by CHICAGO NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM Volume 44 December 27, 1961 No. 7 Tropilaelaps, a New Genus of Mite PYom the Philippines (Laelaptidae [s. lat] : Acarina) Mercedes D. Delfinado Division of Malaria, Bureau op Disease Control, Manila, Philippine Islands AND Edward W. Baker Entomology Research Division, Agriculture Research Servicb United States Department of Agriculture Specimens of the new mite here described were first found by Mr, G. Pangga, Entomologist, Bureau of Plant Industry, in a col- lection of dead honey bees from the Batangas Apiaries at Mataas- na-Kahoy, Lipa. Subsequently, the same mite was taken from field rats nesting near the beehives. The mite represents an undescribed genus of Laelaptidae {sens. lat.). TROPILAELAPS, new genus Characteristics of the new genus are: The setaceous appearance of the dorsal and ventral surfaces of both sexes; the fringed labrum of both sexes; the peritre- maUa surrounding coxa IV of the male; the modification of the movable chela of the male into a long, sinuous spermatodactyl; the simple palpal claw; and the separation of the holoventral plate from the anal plate in the male. Type species: Tropilaelaps clareae, new species. Monobasic. Tropilaelaps clareae, new species. Figures 15, 16. FEMALE: Gnathosoma almost completely hidden from above by body; tec- tum not seen; labrum fringed; corniculi small, inconspicuous; ventral setae of varying lengths, as figured; deutosternal groove with a row of seven teeth, but teeth may have from one to four divisions; chelae short, not strongly toothed, without pilus dentilus; palpus strongly reticulate, with long setae; palpal claw simple, not forked. Tritosternum stout, bifurcate, fringed distally. Sternal plate reticulate on anterior half only, longer than wide, with inner sclerotic thickening, giving the plate its characteristic appearance; presternal area only slightly delin- eated from sternal plate; sternal, metasternal, and genital setae long, subequal. Metasternal plates reduced. Epigynial plate long, narrow, blunt posteriorly, Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 62-1 2H8 FEB 15 i9d2 "i t Fig. 15. Tropilaelaps clareae, new gen. and sp. Female: A, venter of gnatho- soma; B, sternal plate and anterior portion of epigynial plate; C, venter; D, leg I; E, leg II. 64 //^5 Fig. 16. Tropilaelaps dareae, new gen. and sp. Female: A, leg III; B, leg IV. Male: C, venter of gnathosoma; D, venter. 65 56 FIELDIANA: ZOOLOGY, VOLUME 44 reticulate throughout, overlapping anal plate, with longitudinal inner sclerotic thickening; with a single pair of setae. Anal plate large, longer than wide, trun- cate anteriorly and posteriorly, reticulate, and with paired anal setae somewhat shorter than posterior anal seta. Metapodal plates small, narrow. Coxae, espe- cially I and IV, reticulate; all coxal setae long, those on coxae II and III strongest. Leg setae as figured; claws reduced. Peritreme extending anteriorly to coxa I; peritremalia extending posteriorly to edge of coxa IV. Ventral setae adjacent to epigynial and anal plates numerous and with elongate sclerotized bases. Dorsal plate 976 m long by 528 n wide, with numerous short, strong setae; posterior mar- ginal setae long and strong. MALE: Gnathosoma as figured; tectum rounded; labrum fringed; corniculi stronger than in female; deutosternal groove with seven rows of teeth, each row containing from two to six teeth. Chelicerae toothed, movable chela modified into a long, sinuous spermatodactyl; palpus strongly reticulate, with simple palpal claw. Holoventral and anal plates reticulate, separated; holo ventral plate narrowing posteriorly, with five pairs of setae; anal plate blunt posteriorly but narrowing anteriorly, the paired setae smaller than the posterior single seta. Metapodal plates small, elongate. Ventral body and coxal setae as in female. Dorsal plate 880 fi long by 512 n wide, covered with short setae; posterior marginal setae long and stronger. Holotype. — Female, ex field rats, Mataas-na-Kahoy, Lipa, Ba- tangas, Philippine Islands, collected by G. Pangga January 7, 1961 ; in Chicago Natural History Museum. Allotype. — Male, with the same data, in the same institution. Paratypes. — One female, one male with same data as holotype, in the United States National Museum; two females with data as above, in the Institute of Acarology, Agricultural Experiment Sta- tion, Wooster, Ohio; three females and one male with the same data, in the Division of Malaria, PhiHppine Department of Health, Manila. This species is dedicated to Dr. Clare R. Baltazar, Senior Re- search Scientist, Bureau of Plant Industry, Manila, in recognition of her leadership in Philippine systematic entomology.