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Genus Trombicula Berlese 1905.
Trombicula naultini n.sp. (Fig. 11.)
Larva: Palpi rounded laterally, Palpal hairs 1, 2, and 3 simple. Palpal thumb small. Palpal claw trifid. A single (ventral?) cheliceral tooth. Scutum transverse, anterior margin straight with slight median convexity, posterior margin rounded, lateral margins converging anteriorly and slightly concave between Al and Pl setae. Scutum beset with asperities or pits, except anterior margin and behind sensilla bases. Al and Pl setae stout, Al strongly fringed on convex side, Pl less strongly fringed on both sides. Anterior median seta missing. Sensillae long, filamentous, feathered on distal one-third. Sensilla bases behind line joining Pl setae. Ridge behind sensilla bases. Scutal measurements (in microns) :—
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| Aw | Pw | Sb | Asb | Psb | A–P | Am | Al | Pl | Sens | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type | 82 | 99 | 40 | 26 | 20 | 16 | ? | 23 | 49 | 69 |
| paratype | 81 | 91 | 36 | 30 | 20 | 16 | ? | 26 | 49 | ? |
Eyes 2,2, in line with Pl, distant two and a-half diameters from scutum, indistinct. Dorsal abdominal setae stout, arranged 2,8,6,4,2. Leg length (microns). I, 264; II, 231; III, 264. Coxal setae 1,1,1; tarsal claws 3,3,3. Ventral setae; two on head capsule; two between coxae II; two between coxae III; thereafter 2,4,2 pre-anal; 4 paraanal; 2 caudal. Body length (microns) 760, width 561. Colour (in life) reddish.
Host: Naultinus elegans Gray. Coll. B. B. Given.
Locality: Invercargill, N.Z.
Location of Type: Entomology Division Collection, Nelson, N.Z.
The type and paratype are mounted separately on the same slide. This species comes nearest T. quadriense Wom. but differs in the shape and proportions of the scutum and in the arrangement of the dorsal setae. Six larvae on a slide mount in the Cawthron Collection, labelled “Parasite on a Gecko, Big Hill, 18/3/12, G. Garrow,” belong to this species. A notes states that the colour is “normally red.”
Trombicula nissani n.sp. (Fig. 12.)
Larva: Palpi rounded laterally; 1st. and 2nd. palpal setae plumose, 3rd. simple. Palpal thumb half length of palpal claw, latter bifid. Cheliceral teeth not discernible. Scutum transverse, sub-rectangular, beset with sparse asperities except for a V-shaped area including
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anterior margin and extending back to between sensilla bases: Anterior angles rounded, posterior angles slightly more acute, anterior margin slightly concave, lateral margin slightly concave opposite anterior eye, posterior margin evenly and shallowly convex, sensilla bases with a short ridge anteriorly. Scutal measurements (in microns) :—
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| Aw | Pw | Sb | Asb | Psb | A–P | Am | Al | Pl | Sens | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type | 66 | 69 | 23 | 26 | 13 | 29 | 26 | 36 | 46 | 36 |
| Paratype | 66 | 69 | 23 | 26 | 13 | 29 | 26 | 33 | 43 | ? |
Eyes 2,2, continguous, anterior larger, distant half diameter from scutum. Dorsal abdominal setae arranged 2,8,6,6,4,2. Leg length (microns): I, 274; II, 204; III, 264. Coxal setae 1,1,1; tarsal claws 3,3,3. Ventral setae: 2 between coxae II, 2 closer together between coxae III, row of 6 midway between coxae II and anus, 4 behind this and before anus, 2 on each side of anus, two rows of 2 behind anus. Body length (microns) 330, width 274.
Host: Two specimens from “Cuscus,” 28/4/44.
Locality: Nissan Is. (Green Is.), Territory of New Guinea.
Location of Type: Deposited in collection of South Australian Museum.
The type is mounted on a slide with three specimens of Acomatacarus nova-guinea Wom. The species comes nearest to T. gliricolens Hirst, from which it differs in the number and arrangement of the dorsal setae, and T. walchi Wom., from which it differs in the proportions of the scutum.
Trombicula hirsti Sambon.
Host: Pig, 26/1/44; Man, 28/2/44. Coll. G. L. Clarke.
Locality: Nissan Is. (Green Is.), Territory of New Guinea.
This species, of which T. minor Berlese and T. minor var. deliensis Walch are synonyms (teste H.W.), was abundant on pigs on Nissan Is. The mites were mainly on the shoulders in the mid-dorsal line, where their reddish clusters were prominent at hair-bases and in wrinkles and depressions. Pigs were notably abundant on this island and some annoyance was caused by the mites on man.
Trombicula densipiliata Walch (Fig. 13.)
Host: Rat, 23/3/44.
Locality: Nissan Is (Green Is.), Territory of New Guinea.
This species is recorded here on the basis of a single specimen with a damaged abdomen.
Schöngastia vandersandei Ouds.
Host: Man. Coll. R. D. Dick.
Locality: Stirling Is. (Treasury Group), B.S.I.
This species, of which S. blestowei Gunther is a synonym (teste II. W.), was the cause of much scrub-itch on Stirling Is., where the association was first noted by G. L. Clarke.