| abstract | The present paper describes a new species of chigger mite parasitic on rats from Yunnan Province.
Schoengastia yunnanensis Liu, Hsu et Wen, sp. nov.
Idiosoma of partly-engorged specimen 284µ long and 219µ wide. Palpal setae B/B/NNB. Palpal claw 3-forked. Galeal setae nude. Setae on palpal femut, genu and tibia all with 3—4 branches, palpal tarsus with eight plumose setae, one subterminala and one tarsala. Cheliceral claw large, with 6—7 dorsal teeth and one ventral tooth. Scutum broad, hexagonal in shape, with dense punctation. Sensillae capitate, with dense barbs sparsely distributed all over the surface. Sensillary bases very close together, with distinct upper and lower ridges. Standard measurements of Holotype: AW-58, PW-82, SB-19, ASB-31, PSB-26, AP-27, AM-34, AL-82, PL-67, S-31 (with head 16/22). Eyes 2+2, with ocular plate. The distance between ocular plate and PL 6.5µ. Dorsal setae plumose, slender, arranged 2-11-8-6-6-4=37. Humeral setae 46 in length. Sternal setae 2-2, ventral setae 40. Leg segments 7-7-7, leg I with 4—5 genualae and two micro-genualae, one of which chisel in shape, leg III with two mastitarsalae, the basal one with 3—4 barbs near its base, the distal one with 4—5 long lateral branches at basal third.
Holotype and 1 paratype, larvae, collected from Rattus flavipectus in April, 1960, from Yunnan Province. |