| abstract | The present paper reports two new species and two other species which are recorded for the first time from China.
Genus Laelaps Koch, 1836
Diagnosis: Body oval or oblong; from 0.4 to 1.9 mm in length; yellowish or brownish in color; dorsal plate undivided, usually with 30-40 pairs of setae having definite pattern. In the female, size and shape of genito-ventral plate vary greatly, 4 pairs of setae on the plate; metapodal plate present; peritremalia narrow; coxae, especially coxa II and III with 1-2 spines; usually bearing two long setae at the femora; setae of body and legs needle, or spine-like. In the male, holoventral plate undivided or with anal plate separated.
Parasitic mites of Rodentia, especially Myomorph; Ovoviviparous; life cycle including larva, protonymph, deutonymph and adult.
Laelaps cheni, sp. nov. Female: Body oval, 1148-1377µ in length, 903-979µ in width. Dorsal plate 1040-1056µ long, 765-811µ wide, with 39 pairs of setae. Sternal plate somewhat rectangular, 275µ long, 244-260µ wide; posterior median projection narrowed; sternal and metasternal setae subequal in length. Genito-ventral plate expanded posteriorly behind coxae IV, posterior margin slightly straight, 321-324µ long, 352-398µ wide; the distance between VL1 same as that between VL4. Anal plate longer than wide; adanal setae short not reaching to the base of postanal seta. Metapodal plate elongate oblong. Peritreme extending to before posterior margin of coxa I. Venter with 4 pairs of long setae and about 20 pairs of short spine-like setae. External setae of coxa I spine-like. Chelae toothed; pilus dentilis slender. Male: Body oblong, 918-964µ long, 627-637µ wide. Dorsal plate 872-903µ in length, 581-612µ in width, with 38 pairs of setae, I3 absent, M8-11 bent. Holoventral plate 734-750µ long, 398-474µ in maximum width, with 23 setae and 3 pairs of slit-like organs, ST1 short. Peritreme reaching coxa II. Posterior setae of coxa III spine-like; tarsus II with 6 stout spurs, tarsus III with 4 stout spurs.
Holotype (♀) and paratypes (16♀♀ 10♂♂) collected from Rattus edwardsi edwardsi in Kwangtung province. Holotype deposited in Chung-shan Medical College, Department of Parasitology.
Laelaps hsui, sp. nov. Female: Body oblong, 719µ long, 505µ wide. Dorsal plate 683µ long, 398µ wide, with 38 pairs of setae. Sternal plate rectangular, anterior and posterior margins slightly straight, 103µ in length, 149µ in width; sternal and metasternal setae subequal in length. Genito-ventral plate with rounded tip, 196µ long, 135µ wide, the distance between VL1 same as that between VL4. Anal plate 100µ long, 107µ wide; adanal setae stouter, longer than postanal seta, the former 53µ long, the latter 36µ long. Metapodal plate oblong. Peritreme reaching middle of coxa I. External setae of coxa I spine-like. Chelae toothed; pilus dentilis inflated.
Holotype (♀) collected from Rattus confucianus lotipes in Kwangtung Province, deposited in Chung-shan Medical College, Department of Parasitology.
The two species recorded for the first time are: L. hongaiensis and L. tainguem. |