| abstract | A group of Australian Callidosomatinae (Acari: Erythraeidae) larvae is revised and comments are made on some extra-Australian taxa. Harpagella moxonae gen. nov., sp. nov., is described from south-eastern Australia, as an ectoparasite of Drosophila (Diptera). The genus Grandjeanella Southcott 1961 a is recorded from G. pangela sp. nov., and G. shepherdae sp. nov. (both from Victoria), G. charadrea sp. nov. from South Australia and G. westraliensis (Womersley, 1934) from Western Australia. A further, unnamed, species from South Australia is referred to in the text. Additional data are given for Pussardia mullewaensis (Womersley) from Western Australia. Hauptmannia Oudemans 1910b is recorded for H. tonsor sp. nov. from New South Wales.
Balaustioides Southcott, 1989, from Iceland, with type species B. tuxeni Southcott, 1989, is synonymized with Hauptmannia. Distinguishing characters are given for the genera and species, including a key to the genera of larval Callidosomatinae, and a key to the Australian larvae of Grandjeanella, and distinguishing characters for Hauptmannia tonsor, sp. nov., and H. tuxeni comb.nov. The status of the tribal names Callidosomatini and Charletoniini is discussed. |