A revision of the British species of the genus Phthiracarus Perty, 1841 (Cryptostigmata : Euptyctima) B. W. Parry Department of.Zoology, British Museum (Natural History), Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD Contents Synopsis ............. Introduction ............. Materials and methods ........... External morphology ........... Idiosoma Gnathosoma ............ Legs Review .............. Descriptions of species ........... Genus Phthiracarus Perty .......... Key to adults of the British species of the genus Phthiracarus .... Phthiracarus affinis (Hull) ......... Phthiracarus anonymum Grandjean ........ Phthiracarus clavatus sp. nov. ......... Phthiracarus flexisetosus sp. nov. ........ Phthiracarus globus sp. nov. ......... Phthiracarus juvenalis sp. nov. ......... Phthiracarus laevigatus (C. L. Koch). ....... Phthiracarus membranifer sp. nov. ........ Phthiracarus murphyi Harding ......... Phthiracarus nitens (Nicolet) ......... Phthiracarus rectisetosus sp. nov. ........ Phthiracarus serrulatus sp. nov. ........ Phthiracarus tardus Forsslund ......... 'Complete' and 'reduced' leg chaetotaxy -a possible basis for a subdivision of the genus Phthiracarus ........... Acknowledgements ............ References ............. Appendix 1. Species described between 1763 and 1977 currently classified in Phthiracarus. Synopsis A detailed account is presented of the external morphology of the British representatives of the genus Phthiracarus. The literature relating to the genus is reviewed and the status of certain of the older species considered. Thirteen British species, seven of which are considered to be new, are described, figured and keyed. Of these, only P. affinis (Hull), P. anonymum Grandjean and P. murphyi Harding were known previously from the British Isles, while P. laevigatus (C. L. Koch), P. nitens (Nicolet) and P. tardus Forsslund are recorded for the first time. A neotype for P. affinis is designated. On the basis of the chaeto-tactic pattern of the legs it is suggested that the genus could be divided into two species groups. Bull. Br. Mus. not. Hist. (Zool.) 35 (5) : 323-363. Issued 28 June 1979 323
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