| abstract | The larvae of 28 species of Helenicula parasitic on birds and a variety of small mammals (especially rats) are known from the Old World. These include 9 new species which are described and illustrated here: H. ungkomari, H. longiPoda, H. edibakeri, H. discalis, H. wagamiya, H. lukshumiae, H. hirtipectoralis, H. amicula and H. nepalensis. The following species are re-described and illustrated: H. signata (Womersley, 1952), H. kohlsi (Philip & Woodward, 1946), H. lanius (Radford, 1946), H. miyagawai (Sasa et al., 1951), H. mutabilis (Gater, 1932), and H. sparsa (Schluger, 1955). The synonymy of 2 species is established: H. hongkongensis Womersley, 1957 with H. kohlsi (Philip & Woodward, 1946), and H. covelli (Radford, 1953) with H. lanius (Radford, 1946). New host and locality data are given for H. comata (Womersley, 1952), H. globularis (Walch, 1927), H. pilosa (Abonnenc & Taufflieb, 1957), and H. scanloni Domrow & Nadchatram, 1964. A key to the 28 species, and 2 tables [(1) summary of taxonomic characters and (2) country and principal host distribution of the 28 species] are included. The potential epidemiological importance of the genus is discussed. |