Family Leeuwenhoekiidae Womersley 1945.
Genus Hannemania Ouds. 1911.

Hannemania vellae n.sp. (Figs. 1–3.)

Larva: Palpi angulate laterally. Palpal setae simple except three or four on the palpal thumb and one on the joint bearing the thumb. Palpal thumb extending to half length of claw. Claw bifurcate, inner prong much longer. Chelicerae with seven or eight large ventral teeth and about the same number of minute denticles on the mesal margin of a dorsal process near the tip of the chelicera. Capitulum roughened dorsally and with two feathered setae ventrally. Scutum transverse, shallowly bi-concave anteriorly with a slight median prominence, convex posteriorly with a swelling caudad of each sensilla base and a concavity between in the median line. Scutum beset with small asperities or pits. Two median or para-median setae anteriorly. Setae stout, not strongly plumose. Scutal measurements—based on nine specimens—(in microns) :—Aw, 186.3 ± 1.29; Pw, 167.5 ± 1.36; Sb, 55.25 ± 0.81; Asb, 55.25 ± 0.99; Psb, 16.25 ± 0.56; A-P, 41.16 ± 0.98; Am, 103.45 ± 1.69; Al, 71.86 ± 1.66; Pl, 117.0 ± 1.51; Sens, ?. The sensillae (lost in remounting) were filamentous and not clavate. Eyes 2,2, distant from scutum 0.10 mm., the two eyes on each side separated by one and a-half diameters.

Dorsal abdominal setae about 42, not strongly plumose, arranged as in figure. Legs: coxae I with two setae, coxae II and III each with one seta, coxae I with anterior lateral process; tarsal claws 3,3,3. Ventral setae: two para-median setae between and slightly anterior to coxae III; eight to ten setae in two rows of four or five cephalad

of coxae III; no setae in first one-third between coxae III and cauda; numerous setae irregularly arranged in posterior two-thirds. Colour (in life) yellowish. Size large, up to 1.80 mm. long. Body dorsoventrally flattened, and slightly constricted just caudad of coxae III.

Host: Nine larvae from an undetermined species of bat or flying fox caught in a cave, 11/1/44. The mites were mostly congregated at mid-length in the mid-dorsal line.

Locality: Joroveto, Vella Lavella Is.

Location of Type: Type and three paratypes deposited in South Australian Museum.

The two para-median setae on the transverse scutum and the absence of the anterior process of the scutum, place this species in the genus Hannemania Ouds. of which no species have been previously described from this area. The majority of the species described are from frogs or toads. The species is distinct, though perhaps nearest to hirsuta Ewing and ochotrona Radford. The coarse dentition, extending the full length of the chelicerae, is notable. No evidence of the presence of true spiracles can be seen in these mounts.