| abstract | The subgenus Scapuscutala Vercammen-Grandjean, 1960, of the genus Microtrombicula Ewing, is redescribed on the the basis of the type species, Trombicula crossleyi Loomis, and other closely similar species from North and South America, including M. trisetica (Loomis & Crossley), M. aequalis n. sp. (host, Peromyscus boylii rowleyi from Sonora, México), M. fisheri n. sp. (host, Peromyscus truei lagunae from Baja California Sur, México), M. intermedia n. sp. (host, Peromyscus eremicus anthonyi from Sonora, México), M. mesoamericana n. sp. (host, Rattus rattus from Nayarit, México, and from Nicaragua), and M. arandiai (Yunker & Brennan) from Bolivia. Rodents are the major hosts although species of Scapuscutala also have been found on other hosts, such as reptiles and birds. A key to the larvae is included. |