THE UNIVEKSITY OF KANSAS SCIENCE BULLETIN Vol. XXXVI, Pt. II] July 15, 1954 [No. 16 A Revision of the Tarsonemidae of the Western Hemisphere (Order Acarina)*t By Robert E. Beer i Abstract. — The mite family Tarsonemidae was erected in 1877 by Kramer based upon the type genus Tarsonemus Canestrini and Fanzago, 1876. The family has been variously placed in the order Acarina by acarologists since that time, but evidence is offered for including the Tarsonemidae in the suborder Trombidiformes, a position recognized by some workers. The family, fonnerly represented by two recognized genera, has been further divided so as to include five genera, one of which has been es-tablished in this paper to include a species heretofore undescribed. The new genera are Steneotarsonemus, with ten included species two of which are new, Xenotarsonemus, which is monotypic and Rhtjnchotarsonemus which is also monotypic, this latter genus being established to include a single new species. The old genus, Tarsonemus Canestrini and Fanzago, includes seventeen West-em Hemisphere species, three of which are here described as new to science. The genus Hemitarsonemus Ewing includes three species one of which is new. Descriptions of mites included in this paper, with the single exception of T. truncatus, are presented in rather minute detail. The purpose of such a prolix dissertation is to place in the hands of acarologists in other parts of the world a useful tool for identification of tarsonemid mites, and hence characters not at present found to be significant in species differentiation are included with the hope of facilitating further investigations. An attempt is made to establish phylogenetic relationships of the various groups and species within the groups. Such infomiation as host correlation as well as morphological characteristics are considered in determining these relationships. Included also is a brief dissertation on morphology and termi-nology of tarsonemid mites as well as the bionomics of typical species. The most recent revision of the group by Ewing in 1939 has undergone considerable change in this paper. Re-evaluation of the family Tarsonemidae * Portions of this paper were submitted to the Division of Entomology and Parasitology and the Graduate School of the University of California in partial fulfillment of the require-ments for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. t Contribution number 851 from the Department of Entomology of the University of Kansas. Studies augmented by funds from General Research Project 62 of the University of Kansas. 1. Assistant Professor of Entomology, University of Kansas. (1091)
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