THE UNIVERSITY OP KANSAS SCIENCE BULLETIN Vol. XXXVI, Pt. II] July 15, 1954 [No. 13 A New Subgenus and Six New Species of Chigger Mites (Genus Trombicula) from the Central United States' ' By Richard B. Loomis Abstract: The following larval chigger mites of the genus Trombicula are described from the central United States. A new subgenus Euschongastoides is proposed with Trombicula hoplai sp. nov., as the type and only species. This chigger mite is known from south-central Kansas to northern Texas and west-ward to western Colorado. The other new species are Trombicula ( Lepto-trombidium ) twentei, known from south-central Kansas; T. crossletji from south-central Kansas and south-central Oklahoma; T. fitchi from south-central and eastern Kansas, southeastern Nebraska and central Illinois; the closely related T. kardosi taken in eastern Kansas and southwestern Utah; and T. arenicola from southwestern Kansas west to western Utah and north to Alberta, Canada. INTRODUCTION A study of the larval chigger mites from Kansas and other central states has revealed six species belonging to the genus Trombicula, which seem to be new and are described below. One of the new species is considered significantly different from other described species and subgenera of Trombicula and is placed in a new subgenus. I wish to express my appreciation to Mr. Louis J. Lipovsky for generously allowing access to his notes and sketches of Trombicula fitchi sp. nov. and T. hoplai sp. nov. Sincere thanks are extended to Dr. James M. Brennan of the Rocky Mountain Laboratory, U. S. Public Health Service, for examining several of the species and for the loan of specimens of T. fitchi and T. arenicola sp. nov. (listed below as RML). Dr. Brennan graciously sent these species which 1. The studies upon which this paper is based were conducted under a contract, N6 ori 220 Task Order 2, between the University of Kansas and the Office of Naval Research. 2. Contribution No. 872 of the Department of Entomology, University of Kansas. (919)
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