oa Journal of the Entomological Society of Southern Africa - Gamasellevans, a new genus of Rhodacaridae (Acari) from South African soils

Abstract

The present paper deals with part of a collection of rhodacarid mites recovered from soil by means of Berlese funnels. Of the seven new species for which a new genus is created, two were found in pasture soil near Potchefstroom whereas the other five were collected from the floor of the evergreen indigenous montane forest at Magoebaskloof in the Northern Transvaal. The genus is referred to the Rhodacaridae mainly on account of the presence of a divided dorsal shield in the nymphal stages and the nature of the chaetotaxy of the legs (Evans, 1963) which is basically similar to that of the other known rhodacarid genera. The type material of the new species is deposited in the collection of the Institute for Zoological Research, Potchefstroom University.