(adults). Idiosoma oblong and dorsoventrally flattened. Dorsal shield entire, holotrichous, having at most 30 pairs of setae; setae J1 and J5 absent. Sternal region with separate sternal and epigynal shields in female, sternitogenital shield in male, and five pairs of sternal setae in both sexes (st1–st5). Sternal shield reduced in size, but entire, with 1–3 pairs of sternal setae (normally two pairs); presternal platelets absent. Metasternal setae (st4) on soft integument or endopodal platelets. Epigynal shield with a pair of genital setae (st5); genital opening of male with presternal position. Peritremes well developed, long. Posterior ventral surface of adults with anal or ventrianal shield, and with at least four pairs of opisthogastric setae. Three circum-anal setae present. Cheliceral digits short; arthrodial membrane at base of movable digit smooth, without brush-like or filamentous processes. Palptarsal apotele with two or three tines. Hypostome with internal malae usually unmodified and lightly fringed. Tibia I with five dorsal setae; legs II of males without spur-like structures; tarsus II in female usually without enlarged spine-like distal setae; genu IV with normally nine setae, including one ventral (but aberrations exist). Mites with podospermal insemination, spermatodactyl of male present and placed on movable digit of chelicera. Female monogynaspid.

Dorsal shield weakly sclerotised, smooth medially and reticulate laterally, oblong, with 29 pairs of subequal setae. Dorsal setae including j1 short and needle-like, mostly smooth, sometimes delicately pilose to serrate. Setae st1 and st2 on sternal shield, st3 on small pseudo-metasternal platelets and st4 on soft integument. Sternal and epigynal shield relatively long and narrow, smooth and unornamented on surface. Epigynal shield with anterior hyaline portion produced into a prominent cusp reaching the level of st2; genital poroids on soft integument, outside the shield. Metapodal platelets absent. Anal shield relatively small, subcircular, bearing three circum-anal setae. Peritrematal shields or peritremes with anterior ends free, not fused to dorsal shield. Opisthogastric soft integument with six pairs of setae (JV1–JV5, ZV2). Soft striate integument smooth, not incrusted with sclerotic denticles or tubercles. Corniculi slender and convergent, surrounded by hyaline membranes, with undivided and pointed apex. Fixed digit of chelicera unidentate, having hyaline lobed appendage; movable digit edentate, well hooked distally. Epistome with curved and denticulate anterior margin. Palptarsal apotele two-tined. Femur II with two ventral setae, genua II–III and tibiae II–III each with one anterolateral and one posterolateral seta. Tarsi I–IV each with well developed empodium but reduced claws (the claws normal in males and developmental stages). Insemination apparatus with spermathecal ducts entering sacculus foemineus through a common neck-like process of the sacculus.

The genus Afrocypholaelaps is distributed in the tropical and subtropical areas of the Old World and Oceania (Australia, Papua New Guinea, Hawaii Islands, Japan, Taiwan, Saint Helena Island, Angola and Madagascar). Mites of this monobasic genus live on flowers of various plants where they probably feed on pollen and nectar. Phoresy of females is reported from European honey bee (Apis mellifera), bees and wasps of various apoid genera (Meliponula, Ceratina, Hylaeus and Chlorion), and other flower-visiting insects (Lepidoptera).

Of Neocypholaelaps africana – British Museum (Natural History), London, United Kingdom; of Neocypholaelaps lindquisti – Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum (Hawaii State Museum of Natural and Cultural History), Honolulu, Hawaii, USA; British Museum (Natural History), London, United Kingdom; Canadian National Collection of Insects, Arachnids and Nematodes, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; Institute of Acarology, Wooster, Ohio, USA; United States National Museum, Washington, D.C., USA; Entomology Department, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA; Zoological Survey of India, Calcutta, India; of Afrocypholaelaps ranomafanaensis – Museum of Natural History, Wrocław University, Poland; of Afrocypholaelaps analicullus – National Museum of Natural Science, Taichung, Taiwan.

Of Neocypholaelaps africana – Angola, Luanda, on an African stingless bee, Meliponula bocandei (as Trigona tomentosa) (Hymenoptera); of Neocypholaelaps lindquisti – Hawaii, Manoa, Oahu, on a noctuid moth, Achaea janata (Lepidoptera); of Afrocypholaelaps ranomafanaensis – Madagascar, Ranomafana, on unidentified butterfly (Lepidoptera); of Afrocypholaelaps analicullus – Taiwan, Chiayi, Fenchihu, on European honey bee, Apis mellifera (Hymenoptera).

Madagascar: 1 ♀ (MPUV: MP-1291, holotype by monotypy) – 19. 3. 1986, Ranomafana, Lepidoptera (labelled Afrocypholaelaps ranomafanae, holotype).

There are some contradictory statements on the leg chaetotaxy of this species in some available papers on the genus Afrocypholaelaps. The leg chaetotaxy for Afrocypholaelaps africanus in Evans (1963a) is incomplete. His figures (1–4, page 211) show the chaetotaxy of Neocypholaelaps, with three ventral setae on femur II, and two anterolateral setae on genu II, tibia II, genu III and tibia III. He then mentioned that A. africanus has only one anterolateral seta on genu III and tibia III (page 213, and 225). He did not mention the deficiency of a ventral seta on femur II, and one anterolateral seta on genu II and tibia II. Prasad (1968) misunderstood this. He thought A. africanus had three ventral setae on femur II and two anterolateral setae on genu II and tibia II. That is why he thought A. africanus had more leg setae than the species he then described as Afrocypholaelaps lindquisti. These two species actually have the same chaetotaxy, and they are here considered to be conspecific. Later, in his original generic diagnosis of Afrocypholaelaps, Elsen (1972b) re-examined the type species A. africanus, stating the correct number of two ventral setae on femur II, and one anterolateral and one posterolateral seta on genu II and tibia II. This chaetotactic pattern was confirmed also by Halliday (personal communication), who additionally checked his Australian specimens of A. africanus, although his previous chaetotactic data (Halliday 1997) showed the same misinterpretation of Prasad (1968) and Ho et al. (2010).

Afrocypholaelaps ranomafanaensis was quite briefly and inadequately described on the basis of the single female specimen by Haitlinger (1987b), and his description needs various amendments because it contains several morphological features inconsistent with Afrocypholaelaps (dorsal shield with 28 instead of 29 pairs of setae, soft integument with four instead of six pairs of opisthogastric setae, st3 on soft integument instead of on small shields). The only further differences to the other congeners of Afrocypholaelaps that he noted were the relatively larger dorsal shield (488 × 280 vs 350–436 × 216–279 μm respectively) and the shields situated on ventral surface (sternal shield 120 × 90 vs 68–84 × 68–78 μm, epigynal shield 134 × 86 vs 100–173 × 53–60 μm, and anal shield 84 × 92 vs 52–69 × 62–78 μm) in his own specimen from Madagascar. I examined the holotype specimens of A. ranomafanaensis and found no important morphological differences with specimens described by various authors under the name Afrocypholaelaps (Evans 1963a, Prasad 1968, Elsen 1972b, Domrow 1979, Ishikawa 1979, Seeman and Walter 1995, Halliday 1997, and Ho et al. 2010). Despite the fact that the holotype is not in perfect condition for observation, I could detect full complement of 29 pairs of dorsal shield setae typical of Afrocypholaelaps. Setae s1 and s2 are asymmetrically expressed in right side of the dorsal shield, as their bases are markedly adjacent each other. Dorsal setae are quite short and similar in length (anterior and marginal dorsal setae 12–14 μm, posteriormost dorsal setae 10–12 μm, Z5 11 μm), with otherwise position and relative length as in original illustration. Posteroventral region possesses the complete set of four pairs of slightly asymmetrically situated opisthogastric setae (JV1–JV3, ZV2) of which left JV2 displaced somewhat posteriorly and left JV3 abnormally placed on anal shield. Remaining two pairs of opisthogastric setae can be found on dorsal marginal surface, but I have detected only two of them (JV4, JV5) on the left side of the holotype. Ventrally placed setae clearly longer than those on dorsum (JV1 27–29 μm; JV2, JV3 and ZV2 16–23 μm). Setae st3 inserted on very small suboval pseudo-metasternal platelets. Anal shield not regularly rounded, but with posterior portion slightly expanded. I have checked the size of the all above mentioned shields, and can report holotype specimen with lower values for these measurements: dorsal shield 488 × 280 vs 428 × 248 μm respectively, sternal shield 120 × 90 vs 74 × 77,5 μm (at the level of st2), width of epigynal shield 86 vs 80 or 69 (at the level of genital setae), and anal shield 84 × 92 vs 78 × 89 μm. I believe that slight differences in size of scutal structures and setal length, found in different world populations of Afrocypholaelaps and documented by various above cited authors can be interpreted as variation within a widespread species. Seeman and Walter (1995) examined the holotype and paratype of Afrocypholaelaps africanus and a rich material of the specimens from Australia, finding no morphological differences between them. I believe that also A. ranomafanaensis and A. africanus cannot be distinguished morphologically, and are considered here to be conspecific.

Afrocypholaelaps analicullus was characterised by the features of hypostome, anal shield and adjacent soft integument (Ho et al. 2010), and introduced as a species closely related with Afrocypholaelaps lindquisti. The most important diagnostic characters of A. analicullus were mentioned to be (1) setae h2 and h3 similar in length; (2) ventral hypostome with five short rows of denticles on each side; (3) anal shield expanded posteriorly, with V-shaped cribrum; (4) setae JV4 and JV5 inserted close to the anal shield; in A. lindquisti, these characteristics were mentioned as (1) setae h2 longer than h3; (2) ventral hypostome with one short and two long rows of denticles; (3) anal shield rounded, with U-shaped cribrum; (4) setae JV4 and JV5 distant from the anal shield. Undoubtedly, Ho’s interpretation of A. lindquisti was based on the original descriptions and illustrations, and not on study of the type material. The above enumerated distinguishing characters do not provide a useful basis for establishment of a new species, so I relegate A. analicullus into synonymy with Afrocypholaelaps africanus. For example, the position of JV4 and JV5, and their distance from the anal shield, depends on an expansion of soft integument. The soft integument is well striated in Afrocypholaelaps, and it could conceivably increase its surface considerably in gravid females, as it is originally depicted in A. lindquisti by Prasad (1968). Also anal shield may vary in size and shape, as documented in A. africanus by illustrations of Evans (1963a) and Ishikawa (1979). Except for the leg chaetotaxy, the only reliable difference between A. africanus and other two species, A. lindquisti and A. analicullus, appeared the number of serrated setae on the posteriormost surface of the dorsal shield. Evans (1963a) stated three pairs of serrate setae in A. africanus, whereas Prasad (1968) and Ho et al. (2010) reported six pairs of such setae for A. lindquisti and A. analicullus, respectively. But according to Elsen (1972b), the former species actually has the same number of serrate posterior setae as the two latter ones.

Dorsal shield well sclerotised and coarsely ornamented, with 29 pairs of setae, including z6, similar in length and form, thickened, often flattened, with longitudinal vein and smooth or sparsely serrate lateral margins; setae j1 differently formed, leaf-like to fan-shaped, with distinctive longitudinal midrib and regularly denticulate anterolateral margin. In female, sternal setae on sternal shield (st1, st2), soft integument (st3, st4) and epigynal shield (st5); opisthogastric region with six pairs of setae (JV1–JV5, ZV2), all on soft integument (anal shield with only three circum-anal setae). In male, ventrianal shield with 3–4 pairs of opisthogastric setae (JV1 on or off the shield, JV5 always off the shield); setae JV4 absent. Opisthogastric setae mostly smooth, short and needle-like; setae JV4 pilose; setae JV5 modified and similar to those on dorsal shield. Corniculi normally sclerotised, relatively slender, with splitted apex; setae h1 markedly thickened. Cheliceral digits relatively large, fixed digit of chelicera with three well developed teeth on proximal masticatory area (two proximal teeth somewhat adjacent). Epistome with anterior margin produced into long and narrow central projection. Palptarsal apotele two-tined. Genu III, and tibiae III–IV with two anterolateral and two posterolateral setae. Tarsi of legs I with empodium and claws not developed, terminating with four conspicuously lengthened sensory setae and some shorter ones; tarsi II–IV each with normal empodium and claws.

The genus Ameroseiella Bregetova, 1977 was originally diagnosed from other ameroseiid genera by the absence of pretarsal empodium and claws on legs I. This genus was considered as a synonym of Ameroseius Berlese, 1904 (Karg 1993, 2005). In the meantime, Evans and Till (1979) and Halliday (1997) accepted Ameroseiella as a distinct genus, and their concept is adopted in the present paper because the genus exhibits some character states presented by Kleemannia and others by Ameroseius. For example, the presence of anal shield and three teeth on fixed cheliceral digit is not consistent with Kleemannia, whereas the presence of two posterolateral setae on genu III and tibiae III–IV, pointed epistome, thickened h1 are the features not consistent with those found in Ameroseius.

The concept of Ameroseiella is based especially on the following combination of characters: (1) leg I without ambulacrum and terminating in lengthened setae; (2) dorsal shield with 29 pairs of setae; (3) setae j1 fan-shaped and with longitudinal midrib; (4) in female, st3 on soft integument; (5) in female, anal shield only with three circum-anal setae; (6) setae JV5 similar to those on dorsum; (7) cheliceral digits robust, fixed digit with three large teeth; (8) epistome with pointed medial process; (9) setae h1 thickened; (10) palptarsal apotele two-tined.

Ameroseiella is distributed exclusively throughout the Palaearctic region, and it currently comprises two species reported from Europe and Asia. They occur in various decomposing organic materials like compost and dung, and in the nests of mammals and birds (Westerboer and Bernhard 1963, Karg 1971a, Bregetova 1977).

Of Ameroseius macrochelae – Zoologischen Staatssammlung München, Germany (originally not stated; holotype not designated); of Ameroseius apodius – Museum für Naturkunde, Berlin, Germany.

Of Ameroseius macrochelae – France, Nimes, in compost; of Ameroseius apodius – Germany, Frankfurt/Oder, Manschnow (holticulture), in compost soil.

Germany: 1 ♀ (ZMB: 39868, holotype) – Sept. 1962, Manschnow/Oderbruch, 2981 (labelled Ameroseius apodius); 3 ♀♀ (ZMB: 42520) – Kleinmachnow, 1034 (labelled Ameroseius macrochelae). United Kingdom: 1 ♀ (BMNH) – 6. 3. 1963, Sutton Bonington, Nottingham County, oak-beech forest, „Scotland plantation“, leg. D. J. L. Harding.

Borská Nížina Lowland: Rohožník Village (Ambros et al. 1992, cited as Ameroseiella apodius). Bukovské Vrchy Hills: Nová Sedlica Village, Zakasárenský Potok Brook (Fenďa et al. 1998, Fenďa and Mašán 2003; cited as Ameroseius apodius). Cerová Vrchovina Highland: Šurice Village (Fenďa and Mašán 2009, cited as Ameroseius apodius). Laborecká Vrchovina Highland: Stakčín Village, Starina Dam, Gazdoráň Forest (Fenďa et al. 1998, Fenďa and Mašán 2003; cited as Ameroseius apodius). Malá Fatra Mts.: Turčianske Kľačany Village, Kľačianska Magura Mt. (Kalúz and Žuffa 1988, cited as Ameroseiella apodius). Podunajská Rovina Flatland: Dobrohošť Village, Dunajské Kriviny Forest (Fenďa et al. 1998, cited as Ameroseius apodius). Gabčíkovo Town, Ercséd Forest; Gabčíkovo Town, Ostrov Orliaka Morského Forest; Vojka Nad Dunajom Village, Hajóšok Forest (Fenďa and Lengyel 2007, cited as Ameroseius apodius). Svätý Jur Town, Šúr Forest (Fenďa et al. 2011, cited as Ameroseius apodius).

borská Nížina Lowland: 1 ♀ – 2. 8. 1993, Bratislava Capital, Devínska Nová Ves Settlement, Devínske Jazero Lake, willow-poplar flood-plain forest (Salici-Populetum), nest of Falco tinnunculus (Aves), altitude 140 m, leg. J. Krištofík and A. Darolová. Malé Karpaty Mts.: 1 ♀ – 5. 5. 2004, Bratislava Capital, Patrónka Settlement, ruderal with hornbeams (Carpinus betulus), strongly decaying seedy sunflowers, altitude 180 m, leg. P. Mašán. Podunajská Rovina Flatland: 8 ♀♀ – 5. 4. 1989, Kráľovičove Kračany Village, nest of Corvus frugilegus (Aves), altitude 120 m, leg. J. Krištofík and A. Darolová; 14 ♀♀ – 26. 7. 1991, Dunajská Streda Town, nest of Accipiter gentilis (Aves), altitude 110 m, leg. J. Krištofík and A. Darolová; 2 ♀♀ – 12. 5. 1998, Medveďov Village, shore reed stand (Phragmition), strongly decaying compost (maize), altitude 120 m, leg. P. Mašán; 1 ♀ – 1. 5. 2008, Číčov Village, willow-poplar flood-plain forest (Salici-Populetum), nest of Haliaeetus albicilla (Aves), altitude 115 m, leg. J. Krištofík and A. Darolová. Trnavská Pahorkatina Highland: 2 ♀♀ – 1. 7. 2001, Horná Streda Village, garden, accumulation of dung and plant refuse, decaying organic detritus, altitude 170 m, leg. P. Mašán; 4 ♀♀ – 28. 4. 2002, Horná Streda Village, garden, accumulation of dung and plant refuse, decaying organic detritus, altitude 170 m, leg. P. Mašán; 12 ♀♀, 5 ♂♂ – 26. 5. 2005, Šenkvice Village, Šenkvický Háj Forest, oak forest (Quercetum), decaying straw and soil detritus, altitude 210 m, leg. P. Mašán.

Ameroseius macrochelae had been originally described based on specimens from France. There are three females on two slides in the Hirschmann/Willmann Collection in Munich labelled „Ameros. macrochelae n. sp.” and „Ameroseius macrochelae n. sp.”, all in relatively good condition. Unfortunately, none of available specimens (slides) bears a type designation and specific collection data, but without doubt the two slides belong to the original series of Westerboer because the original illustrations of the dorsum and ventrum given by Westerboer and Bernhard (1963) match perfectly one of the three available mounted specimens. All of these females lack ambulacral apparatus on legs I, being conspecific with examined holotype female described by Karg (1971a) as Ameroseius apodius Karg, 1971 (see comparative material above).

Zoological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Saint Petersburg, Russia.

Kazakhstan, Yanvartsevo, in nest of common vole, Microtus arvalis (Mammalia, Rodentia).

Dorsal shield strongly sclerotised and coarsely sculptured, rugose, callous or ornamented with a series of depressions or interconnecting ridges, and normally with 29 pairs of setae (in magnisetosus group, the shield delicately reticulated and with only 26–27 pairs of setae). Dorsal setae similar or differently formed, variously modified, thickened and lengthened, lanceolate or oblanceolate to slightly claviform (plumose, pilose, serrate or spinate on surface), rarely short, smooth and needle-like, and not sexually dimorphic (except fungicola group). In female, st1 and st2 on sternal shield, st3 on small pseudo-metasternal platelets or soft integument and st4 on soft integument; ventral shields usually well reticulate on surface; genital poroids outside the epigynal shield. Anal shield having three circum-anal setae in female, only rarely bearing an extra pair of opisthogastric setae (JV3) close to its anterolateral edges; male with expanded ventrianal shield having usually three pairs of opisthogastric setae: JV2, JV3, ZV2 (in Ameroseius dendrovagans, the shield less expanded to capture only two pairs of opisthogastric setae: JV2, JV3). Peritrematal shields with anterior ends connected to dorsal shield. Opisthogastric soft integument with five or six pairs of setae in female (JV4 sometimes absent); male never with JV4 developed, with five pairs of opisthogastric setae (JV1–JV3, JV5, ZV2). Corniculi normally horn-like, relatively broad and parallel, with splitted and pointed apex (in fungicola group, corniculi membranous, hyaline, undivided and directed laterally). In female, fixed digit of chelicera normally tridentate on proximal masticatory area (bidentate in fungicola group); movable digit edentate, at most with subapical denticle, and provided with short spermatodactyl in male. Epistome usually subtriangular, with curved apex, with smooth or denticulate anterior margin. Palptarsal apotele usually three-tined. Genu III and tibiae III–IV with two anterolateral and one posterolateral setae. Tarsi I–IV each with well developed empodium and claws. Insemination apparatus with barely discernible structures.

Ameroseius is the most speciose genus of Ameroseiidae. In this paper, it comprises 50 valid species having their type specimens reported from almost all continents: 13 species each from Africa and Asia, 12 species from Europe, five species each from North and South America, and two species from Australia. In Slovakia, this genus is represented by 13 recorded species. Mites of this genus are apparently fungivorous living in a wide variety of habitats such as wood substrates, wood-destroying fungi, decomposing plant material and humic soils. Most of them belong to highly specialised species, each adapted to a particular environment. There are species associated with bark beetle galleries, or wood-boring beetle galleries, in subcorticolous habitats, and feeding on a specific diet of ambrosia fungi, and phoretically active on xylophagous insects (mostly Cerambycidae). Some African species are phoretically associated with wasps and bees. In Slovakia, most species can be easily found on bracket fungi, especially on a lower fertile surface of the sporocarp (fruiting body).

Some authors (Bregetova 1977, Evans and Till 1979) attempted to clarify the general concept of Ameroseius by removing some species that obviously belong to other genera (Ameroseiella, Kleemannia). In this paper I refine the concept of the genus further, by establishing a new genus based on Ameroseius michaelangeli Moraza, 2006, removing all species that belong to Kleemannia and Asperolaelaps and that were previously placed in Ameroseius, and introducing two species groups based on Ameroseius magnisetosus and Ameroseius fungicola (see below). The process of clarifying the genus should continue, especially with regard to some characters inconsistent with Ameroseius in the species from Africa described by Elsen (1973). His African species show some atypical characters for Ameroseius, for example: (1) cheliceral digits distally curved, fixed digit with five proximal denticles in Amerosieus megatritosternum, or with only one very robust medial tooth in Ameroseius bembix, Ameroseius gabonensis and Ameroseius leclercqi; (2) peritremes and peritrematal shields densely spinate, especially the outer posterior margin of peritrematal shields with large spines; (3) dorsal shield setae relatively short and stout, brush-shaped; (4) anterior margin of epistome deeply dentate; (5) setae JV5 similar to those on dorsal shield, brush-shaped; (6) strong sclerotic incrustation of soft integument on opisthogastric surface. Generally, the border between Ameroseius and Neocypholaelaps is weak, based on a few diagnostic features of gnathosoma. The species of Elsen (1973) appear to have an intermediate position between these two genera because, in some respects, they exhibit certain similarities with Neocypholaelaps, whose members are also associated with bees and wasps (form of cheliceral digits and dorsal setae, and additional sclerotization of soft integument).

There are three Asian Ameroseius species (denticulatus, magnisetosus and submagnisetosus) representing a specific group of closely related (if not identical) congeners characterised especially by a combination of the following character states: (1) dorsum with deficient chaetotaxy, having only 26–27 pairs of setae; (2) dorsal shield lacking coarse sculpture, with only delicate reticulate pattern; (3) in female, st3 on soft integument due to the absence of pseudo-metasternal platelets; (4) in male, st4 on soft integument, outside the sternogenital shield (5) five pairs of opisthogastric setae present (JV4 absent), of which JV3 on (ventri)anal shield, and JV5 similar to other setae on ventral surface. The above enumerated species are here referred to as the Ameroseius magnisetosus group. Unfortunately, I have examined no representative of this peculiar group to confirm reduced number of dorsal setae and other features as stated above.

There is a combination of diagnostic characters to recognise the newly designated Ameroseius fungicola species group, namely (1) fixed digit of chelicera bidentate, the two teeth small and similar in size; (2) corniculi unsclerotised, membranous, hyaline, medially curved, with tapered and undivided apex directed anterolaterally; (3) conspicuous dimorphism of dorsal chaetotaxy: in males, centrally situated setae strongly reduced in length when compared with those in females; (4) male with anal shield bearing only three circum-anal setae; (5) setae z5 minute; (6) absence of postgenital slit-like sclerites; (7) anus close to anterior margin of anal shield; (8) cheliceral digits relatively small; (9) legs I relatively short and thick (especially tarsi); (10) in male, legs I and palptrochanters with some setae thicker and spiniform when compared with those in female; and (11) empodium and claws of tarsi I–IV well developed, relativelly large; (12) in males, tarsal claws of legs II apparently larger than in other legs. This group contains only two described species (fungicola, callosus), and it can be characterised by several peculiar characters (see points 1–4, 12), unique or rarely expressed in Ameroseiidae. From a phylogenetic point of view, presence of these characters might support the idea of the justified existence of a separate ameroseiid taxon based on A. fungicola and A. callosus.

Narita et al. (2015) constituted a separate species group for 21 species of Ameroseius, referred to as the sculptilis group, with the following character states: (1) dorsal shield with ridges and pit-like depressions combined with a reticulate pattern of simple lines; (2) dorsal shield with 29 pairs of mostly stout and serrate setae; (3) posterior ventral surface with five or six pairs of opisthogastric setae; (4) ventrianal shield with 0–2 pairs of setae (in addition to three circum-anal setae). However, all these character-state arguments are weak, based on greatly variant and vague features, and not suitable for correct separation of the species, even at least at the level of Ameroseius/Kleemannia species as understood in this paper. So, I here did not follow Narita et al. (2015) in their concept of sculptilis as a separate and reasonably derived species group of Ameroseius.

European species of Ameroseius can be identified using keys from Westerboer and Bernhard (1963), Karg (1971a, 1993) and Bregetova (1977). In their keys, these authors included six, eight or nine species, respectively. A smaller part of the world species of Ameroseius (17 species) can be identified using keys of Narita et al. (2015), but better portion of congeners should be exclusively identified using the primary species descriptions. A new key presented here contains 13 species considered to be of the European origin, including recently described species (Ameroseius callosus, Ameroseius fungicola and Ameroseius lehtineni), and a new species described in this study.

Not stated.

Egypt, Giza Governorate, Dokki, Ministry of Agriculture, decayed debris under wild-sage, Lantana camara (Verbenaceae).

A species closely related with Ameroseius lidiae Bregetova, 1977, if not identical. I have seen a series of photos displaying a specimen of this species from Egypt (kindly sent by R. Abo-Shnaf). Some differential characters for separating Ameroseius aegypticus and A. lidiae could be based on dorsal chaetotaxy (in A. aegypticus, dorsal setae slightly longer and more slender when compared with A. lidiae, the distance between left and right base in setal pairs j5, J2 and J4 relatively shorter; setae Z2 only slightly longer than Z1 and Z3).

Museum für Naturkunde, Berlin, Germany.

Ecuador, Galápagos Islands, Floreana, littoral zone of lagoon, humid and rotting leaf litter.

Ecuador: 2 ♀♀ (ZMB: 45134, holotype; ZMB: 45135, paratype) – 6. 4. 1985, Galapagos I., Floreana, Uferzone, 85-335, 6612-6613.

In the holotype, fixed digit of chelicerae with normal set of three denticles on proximal masticatory area (originally stated five to six teeth on fixed digit).

Museum für Naturkunde, Berlin, Germany; Hungarian Natural History Museum, Budapest, Hungary.

Chile, Tarapaca Region, Azapa, edge of marsh habitat, under rocks.

Chile: 1 ♀ (HNHM: Meso-636, holotype) – 23. 11. 1965, Azapa (Prov. Tarapaca), unter Steinen, am Bach und am völlig ausgetrockneten Bachbett; 2 ♀♀ (ZMB: 39921, 39922, paratypes) – 23. 11. 1965, Azapa (Prov. Tarapaca), unter Steinen, am Bach und am völlig ausgetrockneten Bachbett, 2998, 2999; 1 ♀ (ZMB: 39923, paratype) – 30. 10. 1965, El Manzano (Prov. Santiago), unter blühenden Sträuchern im Tal, 3000.

I examined the holotype (♀) and three paratype females of the original series of Karg (1976) who has not specified the number of type specimens. All specimens examined are in poor condition for study, and only dorsal shield in those specimens can be examined with some difficulty. I was unable to check most of the characters on the venter of the idiosoma satisfactorily, especially the posterior margin of the sternal shield and the placement of st3. This species is very similar to those in the genus Sinoseius in that it has pinnate dorsal setae, curved epistome, oblong and anteriorly bilobed sternal shield, five pairs of opisthogastric setae, enlarged cheliceral digits and subcircular anal shield. Therefore, the systematic placement of Ameroseius avium in Ameroseius should be considered provisional and questionable. Karg (1976) did not state the number of dorsal shield setae; 26 pairs of setae were depicted in the original illustration, but I observed the normal complement of 29 pairs of the setae in the holotype. Karg overlooked some marginally inserted setae in medial part of the dorsal shield, and also overestimated the length of some very short setae inserted in the marginal region.

Of Ameroseius bembix – Musée Royal de l’Afrique Centrale, Tervuren Belgium; of Ameroseius bembix subspec. ealensis – Musée Royal de l’Afrique Centrale, Tervuren Belgium.

Of Ameroseius bembix – Democratic Republic of Congo (as Zaire), l’Equateur Province, Bokuma, on sand wasp, Bembix braunsii (Hymenoptera); of Ameroseius bembix subspec. ealensis – Democratic Republic of Congo (as Zaire), Eala, on carpenter bee, Xylocopa varipes (as Mesotrichia varipes atritarsis) (Hymenoptera).

Democratic Republic of Congo: 1 ♀ (MRAC: 142500, holotype) – Dec. 1935, Eala, Mesotrichia varipes var. atritarsis, leg. J. Ghesquière; 1 ♀ (MRAC: 142509, paratype) – 14. 11. 1931, Eala, Sphex tuberculatus, leg. J. Brédo; 1 ♀ (MRAC: 170345, paratype) – March 1935, Eala, Sphex haemorrhoidalis var. volubis, leg. A. Corbisier; 1 ♀ (MRAC: 142510, paratype; published as 142501) – July 1952, Equateur, Bokuma, Sphex haemorrhoidalis var. pulchripennis, leg. R. P. Lootens (all type specimens labelled Ameroseius bembix ealensis).

I consider both subspecies to be identical although no type material of Ameroseius bembix bembix was examined for the purpose of this study. Given that the characteristics of the type specimens of Ameroseius bembix ealensis are within the range of variability found in Ameroseius leclercqi Elsen, 1973, I suspect A. bembix ealensis to be a synonym of A. leclercqi.

Musée Royal de l'Afrique Centrale, Tervuren Belgium.

Democratic Republic of Congo (as Zaire), Katompi, Katanga, on carpenter bee, Xylocopa lepeletieri (as Mesotrichia lepeletieri) (Hymenoptera).

Democratic Republic of Congo: 1 ♀ (MRAC: 136509, holotype) – Oct. 1920, Katanga, Katompi, Mesotrichia lepeletieri, leg. Ch. Seydel; 1 ♀ (MRAC: 142506, paratype) – Kasaï, Kondue, Chlorion ciliatum var. maxillae, leg. E. Luja; 1 ♀ (MRAC: 170379, paratype; published as 142507) – Dec. 1932, Kapanga, Chlorion incomptum, leg. G. F. Overlaet; 1 ♀ (MRAC: 142507, paratype) – Nov. 1932, Lulua, Kapanga, Chlorion ciliatum var. instabile, leg. G. F. Overlaet.

No fundamental differences could be found between the type specimens of the four species described by Elsen (1973), namely Ameroseius benoiti, Ameroseius gillardinae and Ameroseius longitarsis. These species were erected in my opinion on untenable characters. For example, I could not detect any of the illustrated structures of sperm induction system as they were presented in original figures 1–18 given by Elsen (1973).

Los Angeles County Museum, California, USA.

USA, California, Stanton, on citrus tree (Rutaceae).

U.S.A.: 1 ♀ (LACM: ENT 160784, holotype) – 17. 3. 1955, near Stanton, California, citrus, No. 3-31-55.

Garman and McGregor (1956) did not comment on the number of setae on the dorsal shield in their description of Ameroseius californicus, although their illustration shows 26 pairs of setae. I detected the usual complement of 29 pairs in the holotype.

Institute of Zoology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia.

Slovakia, Podunajská Nížina Lowland, Brunovce, in floodplain forest, on fruiting body of willow bracket fungus, Phellinus igniarius (Basidiomycota, Hymenochaetaceae).

Trnavská Pahorkatina Wold: Brunovce Village (Mašán 1998).

Ipeľská Kotlina Basin: 1 ♀ – 23. 6. 1997, Ipeľské Predmostie Village, Ryžovisko Forest, willow-poplar flood-plain forest (Salici-Populetum), wood-destroying fungus Trametes sp., altitude 130 m, leg. P. Mašán. Podunajská Rovina Flatland: 4 ♀♀ – 5. 10. 2004, Bratislava Capital, Mlynské Nivy Settlement, park with willows and poplars, individual collecting on fresh wood-destroying fungi, altitude 135 m, leg. P. Mašán; 3 ♀♀ – 14. 6. 2015, Bratislava Capital, Čunovo Settlement, wood-destroying fungus (Phellinus sp.) growing on old walnut tree (Juglans regia), altitude 130 m, leg. P. Mašán. Považský Inovec Mts.: 1 ♀ – 17. 5. 1997, Hrádok Village, Hrádocká Dolina Valley, broad-leaved deciduous forest, individual collecting on wood-destroying fungi, altitude 450 m, leg. P. Mašán. Trnavská Pahorkatina Wold: 1 ♀ – 18. 5. 1997, Brunovce Village, Váh River (alluvium), degraded willow-poplar flood-plain forest (Salici-Populetum), individual collecting on wood-destroying fungus Trametes sp., altitude 170 m, leg. P. Mašán.

Ameroseius callosus shows a close resemblance to Ameroseius fungicola, except for some characters of the dorsal shield (sculpture and relative length of setae). Although A. callosus may be easy and reliably separated from A. fungicola, several pieces of evidence show that this species could be only a polymorphic form and synonym of A. fungicola. This hypothesis should be confirmed by further comparative studies, based also on laboratory rearing and molecular analyses, to establish their correct systematic status. Polymorphism has been mentioned in a few mesostigmatic mites of the families Ascidae, Laelapidae, Macrochelidae and Parasitidae.

Not stated.

Spain, Monte Montera Mt. (altitude 850 m), mixed forest predominated by beech and growing on clay slate, in humid leaf litter and humus.

Hronská Pahorkatina Wold: 2 ♀♀ – 12. 11. 2015, Vieska Nad Žitavou Village, Mlyňany Arboretum, deciduous forest, soil with raw humus and wood detritus, altitude 210 m, leg. P. Mašán. Ipeľská Pahorkatina Wold: 1 ♀ – 13. 11. 2015, Horša Village, Horšianska Dolina Valley, hornbeam forest (Carpinion betuli) with oak (Quercus sp.) and elm (Ulmus sp.), leaf litter and soil detritus, altitude 200 m, leg. P. Mašán. Zemplínske Vrchy Hills: 2 ♀♀ – 10. 11. 2006, Ladmovce Village, Kašvár Mt., steppe with small groups of acacia-trees (Robinia pseudoacacia) and oaks (Quercus sp.), leaf litter and soil detritus, altitude 160 m, leg. P. Mašán.

The illustration of the original description shows only 26–27 pairs of dorsal shield setae. I detected the usual complement of 29 pairs in the specimens from Slovakia.

Of Acarus corbicula – not stated; of Seius echinatus – not stated; of Seius hirsutus – not stated; of Cornubia ornata – not stated; of Ameroseius crassisetosus – Xinjiang Institute for Endemic Disease Control and Research, Urumqi, China; of Ameroseius qinghaiensis – Qinghai Institute for Endemic Disease Prevention and Control, Qinghai, China; of Ameroseius norvegicus – Departamento de Entomologia e Acarologia, Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz, Universidade de São Paulo, Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil.

Of Acarus corbicula – British Isles, in mollusc ctenidium moss, Ctenidium molluscum (as Hypnum molluscum) (Bryophyta); of Seius echinatus – Germany, in unspecified substrate (orchard); of Seius hirsutus – Germany, in unspecified substrate (shore zone of a pond, in humid soil); of Cornubia ornata – United Kingdom, England, Camborne, garden of Rosewarne Farm, in dead leaves; of Ameroseius crassisetosus – China, Xinjiang Region, Nilka County, on wood mouse, Apodemus sylvaticus (Mammalia, Rodentia); of Ameroseius qinghaiensis – China, Qinghai Province, Huangzhong County, Zongzhai Area, in humus; of Ameroseius norvegicus – Norway, Buskerud County, Sylling, strawberry field, in litter.

Belgium: 1 ♂ (MRAC: 170354) – 6. 10. 1967, Anvers, zoological garden, litière de cobaye (Cavia porcellus), leg. P. Elsen (labelled Ameroseiidae). Germany: 1 ♂, 1 ♂ (ZMB: 40082, 40083) – July 1957, Brandenburg, Potsdam-Mittelmark, Stahnsdorf bei Berlin, 2969, 2970; 1 ♂ (ZMB: 40084) – 31. 7. 1958, Brandenburg, Potsdam-Mittelmark, Stahnsdorf bei Berlin, Bodenfall, 2971. Iran: 1 ♀ (CJH) – Guilan Province, olive garden, soil sample, leg. and det. J. Hajizadeh. Italy: 1 ♀, 1 DN (ISZA: 3/31) – Cison di Valmarino, Treviso, musco; 3 ♀♀ (ISZA: 27/8, 169/13) – Castions di Strada, Udine, foglie marce (all labelled Ameroseius hirsutus). Netherlands: 1 ♀ (RMNH: ACA.P.4055) – 28. 1. 1923, Arnhem, in de steelgroeve van een appel, leg. Oudemans; 1 ♀ (RMNH: ACA.P.4056) – 7. 5. 1916, Valkeveen (Gooi), rotte bladeren, leg. Mac Gillavry. Norway: 2 ♀♀ (ESALQ: T-MZLQ 3342 C=7766, holotype and paratype), 1 ♀ (ESALQ: T-MZLQ 3344 C=7766, paratype) – 27. 4. 2011, Silling, strawberry field (tunel), Ex: litter, leg. I. Kling (labelled Ameroseius norvegicus). United Kingdom: 1 ♀ (BMNH) – 12. 4. 1934, Rednal, nest, leg. T. Warwick, det. G. O. Evans.

Borská Nížina Lowland: Bratislava Capital, Devín Settlement, Devínske Jazero Lake (Kalúz 2006). Jakubov Village, Jakubovské Rybníky Fishponds (Fenďa 2005, Fenďa and Schniererová 2005). Malacky Town, Vinohrádok Area (Krištofík et al. 2005). Závod Village, Abrod Meadow (Kalúz and Čarnogurský 2000, Kalúz 2003). Bukovské Vrchy Hills: Nová Sedlica Village, Vrch Hrbu Mt.; Ulič Village (Fenďa and Mašán 2003). Cerová Vrchovina Highland: Chrámec Village, Vinohrady Area; Gemerský Jablonec Village, Petrovce Reservoir; Šurice Village; Šurice Village, Soví Hrad Mt.; Tachty Village (Fenďa and Mašán 2009). Ipeľská Pahorkatina Wold: Žemberovce Village (Kalúz 1994a). Košická Kotlina Basin: Haniska Village, Grajciar Area (Várfalvyová et al. 2010). Kechnec Village (Mašán and Stanko 2005). Laborecká Vrchovina Highland: Stakčín Village, Starina Dam, Kremenica Forest (Fenďa and Mašán 2003). Malé Karpaty Mts.: Borinka Village (Mašán et al. 1994). Bratislava Capital, Devín Settlement, Devínska Kobyla Mt.; Bratislava Capital, Devín Settlement, Devínska Lesostep Forest (Kalúz 2005, cited as Ameroseius corbicula). Podunajská Rovina Flatland: Bodíky Village, Bodícka Brána Forest (Kalúz 1997). Dobrohošť Village, Dunajské Kriviny Forest; Veľké Blahovo Village (Krištofík et al. 1993). Gabčíkovo Town, Istragov Forest (Kalúz 1995b). Ivanka Pri Dunaji Village (Mašán and Krištofík 1993). Svätý Jur Town, Šúr Forest, Šúrsky Rybník Pond (Fenďa et al. 1998). Slovenský Kras Karst: Silica Village, Pod Fabiankou Forest (Kalúz 1992). Silica Village, Jašteričie Jazierko Lake (Kalúz 1995a, cited as Ameroseius corbicula). Trnavská Pahorkatina Wold: Pezinok Town, Gánok Area (Kalúz 1994b). Východoslovenská Pahorkatina Wold: Egreš Village, Zadné Hony Area (Kováč et al. 1999). Východoslovenská Rovina Flatland: Čičarovce Village (Kováč et al. 1999). Svätuše Village (Várfalvyová et al. 2010).

Borská Nížina Lowland: 1 ♀ – 24. 7. 1998, Stupava Town, littoral reed stand (Phragmition), leaf litter and soil detritus, altitude 180 m, leg. P. Mašán; 1 ♀, 1 ♂ – 25. 4. 2000, Suchohrad Village, reed stand (Phragmition), leaf litter and soil detritus, altitude 150 m, leg. P. Mašán; 1 ♀, 1 ♂ – 27. 6. 2002, Malé Leváre Village, grassy dike of Morava River nearly wet willow-poplar flood-plain forest (Salici-Populetum), nest of unidentified small mammal, altitude 150 m, leg. P. Mašán; 1 ♀ – 8. 1. 2006, Borský Svätý Jur Village, village residence, subterraneous night-cellar, decaying potatoes, altitude 170 m, leg. P. Mašán. Burda Hills: 1 ♀ – 9. 11. 1997, Kamenica Nad Hronom Village, Kováčovské Kopce-juh Forest, oak forest (Quercetum cerris), leaf litter and soil detritus, altitude 330 m, leg. P. Mašán. Horehronské Podolie Basin: 1 ♀ – 22. 5. 2002, Zlatno Village, Zlatnianske Skalky Forest, pine forest (Pinus sp.), soil and detritus from ant-hill of Formica sp. (Hymenoptera, Formicidae), altitude 755 m, leg. P. Mašán. Ipeľská Kotlina Basin: 4 ♀♀, 5 ♂♂, 2 DNs – 23. 6. 1997, Ipeľské Predmostie Village, Ryžovisko Forest, willow-poplar flood-plain forest (Salici-Populetum), growth of Carex sp., leaf litter and soil detritus, altitude 130 m, leg. P. Mašán; 1 ♀ – 23. 6. 1997, Ipeľské Predmostie Village, Ryžovisko Forest, willow-poplar flood-plain forest (Salici-Populetum), wood-destroying fungus Trametes sp., altitude 130 m, leg. P. Mašán. Malé Karpaty Mts.: 1 ♀ – 25. 6. 1990, Bratislava Capital, Železná Studienka Forest, broad-leaved deciduous forest, nest of Motacilla cinerea (Aves), altitude 250 m, leg. J. Krištofík and A. Darolová; 2 ♀♀ – 30. 5. 1991, Bratislava Capital, Železná Studienka Forest, broad-leaved deciduous forest, individual collecting under bark, stones and pieces of wood, altitude 350 m, leg. P. Mašán; 3 ♀♀ – 3. 5. 1998, Bratislava Capital, zoological garden, oak-hornbeam forest (Querco-Carpinetum), individual collecting under bark, stones and pieces of wood, altitude 180 m, leg. P. Mašán. Podunajská Rovina Flatland: 2 ♀♀, 1 ♂ – 28. 6. 1989, Veľké Blahovo Village, fish-ponds, shore reed stand (Phragmition), nest of Circus aeruginosus (Aves), altitude 120 m, leg. J. Krištofík and A. Darolová; 2 ♀♀ – 5. 6. 1990, Dobrohošť Village, willow-poplar flood-plain forest (Salici-Populetum), nest of Sylvia atricapila (Aves), altitude 120 m, leg. J. Krištofík and A. Darolová; 3 ♀♀ – 24. 7. 1990, Veľké Blahovo Village, fish-ponds, shore reed stand (Phragmition), nest of Circus aeruginosus (Aves), altitude 120 m, leg. J. Krištofík and A. Darolová; 3 ♀♀, 1 ♂ – 25. 6. 1991, Veľké Blahovo Village, fish-ponds, shore reed stand (Phragmition), nest of Aythya ferina (Aves), altitude 120 m, leg. J. Krištofík and A. Darolová; 1 ♀ – 18. 6. 1994, Dolný Štál, shore reed stand (Phragmition), nest of Emberiza schoeniclus (Aves), altitude 120 m, leg. J. Krištofík and A. Darolová; 4 ♀♀, 1 ♂ – 28. 6. 1996, Gabčíkovo Town, Istragov Forest, willow-poplar flood-plain forest (Salici-Populetum), leaf litter and soil detritus, altitude 120 m, leg. P. Mašán; 1 ♀ – 21. 4. 1998, Veľký Meder Town, ruderal, nest of Clethrionomys glareolus (Mammalia), altitude 110 m, leg. P. Mašán; 1 ♀ – 8. 9. 1998, Veľké Kosihy Village, littoral reed stand (Phragmition), leaf litter and soil detritus, altitude 120 m, leg. P. Mašán; 1 ♀ – 28. 4. 1999, Medveďov Village, reed stand (Phragmition), leaf litter and soil detritus, altitude 120 m, leg. P. Mašán; 3 ♀♀ – 3. 5. 2006, Bratislava Capital, air-port, meadow, burrow entry of Spermophilus citellus (Mammalia), rotting leaves and vegetation rests, altitude 150 m, leg. P. Mašán. Považský Inovec Mts.: 1 ♂ – 23. 8. 1992, Hrádok Village, Hrádocká Dolina Valley, pasture, dunghill substrate, altitude 350 m, leg. P. Mašán; 8 ♀♀ – 10. 5. 1998, Lúka Village, steppe, straw and miscellaneous organic detritus, altitude 250 m, leg. P. Mašán; 2 ♀♀ – 7. 6. 1998, Lúka Village, field, sample of old and drier dung, altitude 300 m, leg. P. Mašán. Turčianska Kotlina Basin: 11 ♀♀, 4 ♂♂ – 11. 6. 2000, Turčianske Teplice Town, Diviaky Settlement, nest of Motacilla flava (Aves), altitude 490 m, leg. M. Dobrotka. Žilinská Kotlina Basin: 4 ♀♀ – 14. 9. 1994, Stráňavy Village, ruderal with willow (Salix sp.), leaf litter and soil detritus, altitude 350 m, leg. I. Országh.

Berlese (1892, 1916a) considered Seius echinatus C. L. Koch, 1839 to be identical to Seius hirsutus C. L. Koch, 1839. Later, Vitzthum (1942) stated that these two species are synonymous with Acarus corbicula Sowerby, 1806. Moreover, Vitzthum (1942) added another species under the synonymy with A. corbicula, namely Seius muricatus C. L. Koch, 1839, but his interpretation is not accepted in this paper because S. muricatus is the type species of Aceoseius Sellnick, 1941 (now relegated into synonymy with Lasioseius Berlese, 1916).

The dorsal shield of Ameroseius corbiculus was illustrated by Westerboer and Bernhard (1963) as having 30 pairs of quite slim setae instead of 29 pairs of apparently stout and robust setae. In addition, Karg (1971a) erroneously illustrated a male specimen of this species with six instead of five pairs of opisthogastric setae (see his page 15). These facts could lead to misinterpretation of the morphological characters resulting in an incorrect identification of this easily recognizable species.

I have examined three type specimens of Ameroseius norvegicus, a species decribed by Narita et al. (2015) from Norway. However, the slide labelled „Holotype“ contains two individuals. They are both females, and are clearly conspecific, in a perfect agreement with the primary description and original illustrations. I here designate as lectotype the specimen nearer to the left-hand edge of the slide when the labels are in the upright position. I have ringed this specimen with black ink and labelled the slide with the words „Lectotype ringed“. There is no doubt that these type specimens from Norway are conspecific with those widely distributed in Slovakia and other European countries (including those from Asia, Iran), and known under the name Ameroseius corbiculus. Narita et al. (2015) added complete leg chaetotaxy to the description of A. norvegicus. According to their original data, genu I and femur IV would have respectively 11 and 5 setae, but in the type specimens I found typical 12 and 6 setae instead (including two anterolateral setae on genu I, and a ventral seta on femur IV).

I have not examined type specimens of Ameroseius corbiculus (no type material exists for this species), Ameroseius crassisetosus and Ameroseius qinghaiensis, but the distinctions made in the original descriptions are based on characteristics that vary considerably, and I do not hesitate to propose the above synonymy.

Museum für Naturkunde, Berlin, Germany.

Germany, Magdeburg Area, Holtemme (labelled: Mahndorf) at Halberstadt, river bank (labelled: meadow), in humus.

Germany: 1 ♀ (ZMB: 40091, holotype) – 5. 9. 1963, Mahndorf b. Halberstadt, Wiese a. d. Holt., 2983.

Cerová Vrchovina Highland: Šiatorská Bukovinka Village, Dolina Bukovinského Potoka Valley (Fenďa and Mašán 2009).

Borská Nížina Lowland: 1 ♀ – 26. 8. 1997, Plavecký Štvrtok Village, pine forest (Pinus sylvestris), individual collecting under bark, stones and pieces of wood, altitude 170 m, leg. P. Mašán. Burda Hills: 1 ♀ – 9. 11. 1997, Kamenica Nad Hronom Village, Kováčovské Kopce-juh Forest, oak forest (Quercetum cerris), leaf litter and soil detritus, altitude 330 m, leg. P. Mašán. Hronská Pahorkatina Wold: 3 ♀♀ – 12. 11. 2015, Vieska Nad Žitavou Village, Mlyňany Arboretum, deciduous forest, soil with wood detritus, altitude 210 m, leg. P. Mašán. Ipeľská Pahorkatina Wold: 1 ♀ – 25. 5. 2004, Horša Village, Horšianska Dolina Valley, hornbeam forest (Carpinion betuli) with oak (Quercus sp.) and elm (Ulmus sp.), leaf litter and decaying plant remnants, altitude 200 m, leg. P. Mašán; 9 ♀♀ – 13. 11. 2015, Santovka Village, park, growth of horse-chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum), on unidentified wood-destroying fungi, altitude 155 m, leg. P. Mašán. Malé Karpaty Mts.: 1 ♀ – 30. 5. 1991, Bratislava Capital, Železná Studienka Forest, broad-leaved deciduous forest, individual collecting under bark, stones and pieces of wood, altitude 350 m, leg. P. Mašán. Podunajská Rovina Flatland: 1 ♀ – 8. 5. 2004, Bratislava Capital, Čuňovo Settlement, Ostrovné Lúčky Forest, forest steppe, moss and wood detritus, altitude 135 m, leg. P. Mašán; 10 ♀♀, 5 ♂♂ – 6. 10. 2012, Svätý Jur Town, Šúr Forest, forest steppe with oak (Quercus sp.), unidentified decaying wood-destroying fungi on oak stem in soil detritus, altitude 130 m, leg. P. Mašán. Považský Inovec Mts.: 6 ♀♀ – 13. 10. 2012, Hrádok Village, Hrádocká Dolina Valley, edge of broad-leaved deciduous forest, decaying wood-destroying fungi, altitude 290 m, leg. P. Mašán. Trnavská Pahorkatina Highland: 5 ♀♀, 1 ♂ – 21. 7. 2002, Častkovce Village, park with lime (Tilia sp.), plane Platanus orientalis, poplar (Populus sp.) and maple (Acer sp.), leaf litter and soil detritus, altitude 180 m, leg. P. Mašán. Veľká Fatra Mts.: 4 ♀♀ – 21. 7. 2004, Liptovské Revúce Village, Veľká Rakytová Dolina Valley, deciduous forest, individual collecting under bark and on wood-destroying fungi, altitude 780 m, leg. P. Mašán; 1 ♂ – 21. 7. 2004, Liptovské Revúce Village, Veľká Rakytová Dolina Valley, beech forest (Fagion sylvaticae), rocky canyon, moss, altitude 780 m, leg. P. Mašán. Vihorlatské Vrchy Hills: 1 ♂ – 7. 9. 2005, Humenné Town, Humenský Sokol Forest, Červená Skala Mt., oak-hornbeam forest (Querco-Carpinetum) with cherry (Cerasus avium), leaf litter and soil detritus, altitude 400 m, leg. P. Mašán. Vtáčnik Mts.: 1 ♀ – 4. 11. 2003, Ostrý Grúň Village, Hlboká Dolina Valley, Pokuty, alluvium of brook with Petasites sp., mixed forest (Ulmus sp., Fagus sylvatica and Abies alba), moist soil detritus and moss, altitude 650 m, leg. P. Mašán.

„Author’s collection“.

USA, Tennessee, Erwin, under bark of dead oak limb.

A species closely related with Ameroseius ulmi Hirschmann, 1963, if not identical. I have seen several specimens of this species from Ohio, the United States (from J. C. Moser Mite Collection), labelled Ameroseius ulmi. A Moser’s specimen from Utah, labelled as A. ulmi, belonged to an undescribed species.

National Base of Plague and Brucellosis Control, Baicheng, China.

China, Jilin Province, Baicheng, under decomposed bark of poplar tree.

Zoological Museum, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland.

Vietnam, Cha-Pa, SW from Lao-Kay (at Geophysical Station), in mould under wood trunk.

Setor de Zoologia, Departamento de Entomologia e Acarologia (cited as Departamento de Zoologia), Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz, Universidade de São Paulo, Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil.

Brazil, Minas Gerais State, Sacramento, in galleries of unidentified bark beetles (Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Scolytinae), in Pinus sp. (Pinaceae).

Although Flechtmann and Flechtmann (1985) stated 28 pairs of setae in the original description of this species, 29 pairs of asymmetrically situated setae can be seen in their illustration.

Department of Parasitology, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China.

China, Yunnan Province, Xiaguan, on Yunnan red-backed vole, Eothenomys miletus (Mammalia, Rodentia, Cricetidae).

Biological Laboratory, Matsuyama Shinonome Junior College, Matsuyama, Japan.

Japan, Ehime Prefecture, Kamiukena-gun, Oda-chô, on yellow-spotted longicorn beetle, Psacothea hilaris (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae).

Institute of Zoology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia.

Slovakia, Podunajská Nížina Lowland, Brunovce, in floodplain forest, on fruiting body of willow bracket fungus, Phellinus igniarius (Basidiomycota, Hymenochaetaceae).

Cerová Vrchovina Highland: Teplý Vrch Village, Hikóriový Porast Forest (Fenďa and Mašán 2009). Malé Karpaty Mts.: Bratislava Capital, Železná Studienka Forest (Mašán 1998). Trnavská Pahorkatina Wold: Brunovce Village; Horná Streda Village (Mašán 1998).

Ipeľská Kotlina Basin: 141 ♀♀ – 23. 6. 1997, Ipeľské Predmostie Village, Ryžovisko Forest, willow-poplar flood-plain forest (Salici-Populetum), wood-destroying fungus Trametes sp., altitude 130 m, leg. P. Mašán; 5 ♀♀ – 24. 6. 1997, Ipeľské Predmostie Village, pasture in degraded willow-poplar flood-plain forest (Salici-Populetum), wood-destroying fungus Trametes sp., altitude 130 m, leg. P. Mašán; 17 ♀♀ – 13. 11. 2015, Santovka Village, park, growth of horse-chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum), on unidentified wood-destroying fungi, altitude 155 m, leg. P. Mašán. Malé Karpaty Mts.: 36 ♀♀ – 7. 4. 1995, Bratislava Capital, Železná Studienka Forest, broad-leaved deciduous forest, individual collecting on wood-destroying fungus (Trametes sp.), altitude 350 m, leg. P. Mašán. Považský Inovec Mts.: 20 ♀♀ – 17. 5. 1997, Hrádok Village, Hrádocká Dolina Valley, broad-leaved deciduous forest, individual collecting on wood-destroying fungi, altitude 450 m, leg. P. Mašán; 32 ♀♀, 11 ♂♂ – 26. 5. 2013, Lúka Village, Srnia Dolina Valley, alluvium of brook, wood-destroying fungus (Phellinus sp.) growing on old walnut tree (Juglans regia), altitude 175 m, leg. P. Mašán; 136 ♀♀, 41 ♂♂ – 1. 11. 2013, Lúka Village, garden, wood-destroying fungus (Phellinus sp.) growing on old walnut tree (Juglans regia), altitude 175 m, leg. P. Mašán. Trnavská Pahorkatina Wold: 49 ♀♀ – 15. 4. 1995, Horná Streda Village, Váh River (alluvium), degraded willow-poplar flood-plain forest (Salici-Populetum), individual collecting on wood-destroying fungus Trametes sp., altitude 170 m, leg. P. Mašán; 7 ♀♀ – 18. 5. 1997, Brunovce Village, Váh River (alluvium), degraded willow-poplar flood-plain forest (Salici-Populetum), individual collecting on wood-destroying fungus Trametes sp., altitude 170 m, leg. P. Mašán.

Ameroseius fungicola appears to be a specialised mycetobiont primarily colonising the fruiting bodies of the willow bracket fungus, Phellinus igniarius, where it occurs on the active hymenophore. This polypore fungus is common mostly throughout the temperate Northern Hemisphere, where it grows mainly on living willow, poplar and aspen. A. fungicola is a very common and abundant species, often with several hundred mites in a single fungus, occasionally including all post-embryonic stages.

Of Ameroseius furcatus – Museum für Naturkunde, Berlin, Germany; of Ameroseius pseudofurcatus – Nikita Botanical Gardens, National Scientific Center, Yalta, Crimea, Russia (the type specimens not found and probably lost, based on personal communication from Alex Khaustov).

Of Ameroseius furcatus – Germany, Naturschutzgebiet Kalktuffmiedermoor at Oechsen (Rhön), in tussocks of grass with roots; of Ameroseius pseudofurcatus – Russia, Crimea, Nikita Botanical Gardens, in leaf litter under common hazel (Corylus avellana) from a park.

Germany: 2 ♀♀ (ZMB: 40199, holotype; ZMB: 40200, paratype) – 17. 8. 1967, Kalktuffniedermoor, südw. von Oechsen/Rhön, Gras m. Wurzeln am Westhang, 2979, 2980. Iran: 2 ♀♀ (CJH) – Guilan Province, soil sample, leg. J. Hajizadeh. Russia: 10 ♀♀, 4 ♂♂ (IZSAV) – 9. 1. 1973, Crimea, Nikita Botanical Gardens, litter under Quercus pubescens (labelled Ameroseius pseudofurcatus).

Cerová Vrchovina Highland: Šiatorská Bukovinka Village, Šomoška Castle (Fenďa and Mašán 2009).

Podunajská Rovina Flatland: 1 ♀ – 30. 11. 1994, Bodíky Village (labelled as Ameroseius pseudoplumosus – leg. et det. S. Kalúz, unpublished but registered by the ‘Databank of Slovak Fauna’ at former http://zoology.fns.uniba.sk/dfs/system300.htm).

Horehronské Podolie Basin: 2 ♀♀, 1 ♂ – 20. 6. 2006, Zlatno Village, Zlatnianske Skalky Forest, pine forest (Pinus sylvestris), soil and detritus from ant-hill of Formica sp. (Hymenoptera, Formicidae), altitude 755 m, leg. P. Mašán. Malé Karpaty Mts.: 2 ♀♀ – 1. 5. 2005, Bratislava Capital, Karlova Ves Settlement, Mokrý Jarok Valley, oak forest (Quercetum) with ash (Fraxinus sp.), hornbeam (Carpinus betulus) and maple (Acer sp.), moss and tinder from decaying ash stump, altitude 230 m, leg. P. Mašán; 85 ♀♀, 9 ♂♂ – 8. 6. 2013, Plavecký Mikuláš Village, Deravá Skala Cave, broad-leaved deciduous forest, rocky shelter (crepuscular cave), soil detritus, altitude 380 m, leg. P. Mašán. Nitrianska Pahorkatina Wold: 1 ♀, 1 ♂ – 28. 6. 2004, Nemečky Village, Kulháň Forest, oak-beech forest (Querco-Fagetum), leaf litter and soil detritus, altitude 320 m, leg. J. Čarnogurský. Volovské Vrchy Hills: 2 ♀♀ – 7. 8. 2016, Kojšov Village, Turniská Forest, beech forest (Fagion sylvaticae), rocky shelter (crepuscular cave), leaf litter and soil detritus deposited in rocky cervices, altitude 720 m, leg. P. Mašán.

Ameroseius furcatus was originally described from Germany, where it was collected in a tussock of grass with roots (Karg 1971a). Karg included this species to an identification key, without adequate morphological description. The species was only very briefly diagnosed by him, and based only on two accompanying illustrations, the epistome and dorsal shield. These illustrations were partly confusing because Karg drew the epistome as a flat structure having smooth anterior margin, and the dorsal shield bearing only 24 pairs of setae. The examination of the type material of A. furcatus showed that the epistome is elongate and marginally serrate, and the dorsal shield possesses the normal 29 pairs of setae. Distinctive features of A. furcatus females include the peculiar presence of a pair of small rounded platelets between pseudo-metasternal platelets, short and rounded hyaline appendage on distal apex of movable cheliceral digit, and the insertion of JV3 on (ventri)anal shield, but they were neglected by Karg (1971a).

I believe that the inconsistent original description of Ameroseius furcatus, especially the absence of comments on specific ventral features and a misinterpretation of the dorsal chaetotaxy (Karg 1971a), led to description of the same species under the name Ameroseius pseudofurcatus. The latter has been thoroughly described and illustrated by Livshits and Mitrofanov (1975) from specimens from the Nikita Botanical Gardens, Crimea, from leaf litter under common hazel. I have not examined type specimens of that species, but I have a slide with numerous specimens (ten females, four males) from a mite collection of the Nikita Botanical Gardens, National Scientific Center, Yalta, Crimea (received from Alex Khaustov), collected in the type locality, and labelled as follows: Ameroseius pseudofurcatus, дуб пушистый, подстилка, гнбс (госудaрсенный никитский ботанический сaд), 9. 1. 1973 (leaf litter under downy oak, Quercus pubescens, State Nikita Botanical Gardens). From previously published descriptions (Karg 1971a, Livshits and Mitrofanov 1975), observations of the primary type of A. furcatus, and examination of conspecific material from Germany, Crimea and Slovakia I have concluded that the both above mentioned species are identical and should be considered as synonymous.

Musée Royal de l'Afrique Centrale, Tervuren Belgium.

Democratic Republic of Congo (as Zaire), Lemba, Mayumbe, on longhorn beetle, Ancylonotus tribulus (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae). Cameroon and Gabon (paratypes).

Democratic Republic of Congo: 2 ♀♀ (MRAC: 142495, holotype; MRAC: 170349, paratype) – 5. 5. 1970, Lemba, Ancylonotus tribulus, leg. P. Elsen. Gabon: 2 ♀♀ (MRAC: 142504, 170348, paratypes) – Oct. 1913, Libreville, Crocisa meripes, leg. G. Babault.

Given that the characteristics of the type specimens of Ameroseius gabonensis are within the range of variability found in Ameroseius leclercqi Elsen, 1973, I suspect A. gabonensis to be a synonym of A. leclercqi.

Of Cornubia georgei – not stated; of Ameroseius imparsetosus – not stated.

Of Cornubia georgei – United Kingdom, England, Cornwall, habitat not stated; of Ameroseius imparsetosus – Spain, Sierra de Ancares Mountains, moss and bark of fallen and standing old oaks.

United Kingdom: 2 ♀♀ (BMNH: E010147155, E010147156) – 1882, Ranmore, A. D. Michael Coll., R.z. 106–107, 1930.8.25.2204–2205 (originally labelled Acarina, Gamasidae, Epicrius; secondary added: Cornubia georgii).

Malé Karpaty Mts.: Častá Village, Červený Kameň Castle (Mašán 2001b, cited as Ameroseius imparsetosus).

Malé Karpaty Mts.: 2 ♀♀ – 10. 6. 2002, Bratislava Capital, zoological garden, oak-hornbeam forest (Querco-Carpinetum), individual collecting on wood-destroying fungus Trametes sp., altitude 180 m, leg. P. Mašán; 1 ♀ – 22. 5. 2013, Bratislava Capital, Železná Studienka Forest, broad-leaved deciduous forest, individual collecting on unidentified wood-decaying fungi, altitude 270 m, leg. P. Mašán; 10 ♀♀ – 20. 9. 2014, Borinka Village, broad-leaved deciduous forest, individual collecting on unidentified wood-decaying fungi, altitude 420 m, leg. P. Mašán. Podunajská Rovina Flatland: 1 ♀ – 21. 5. 1996, Bodíky Village, Kráľovská Lúka Forest, willow-poplar flood-plain forest (Salici-Populetum), leaf litter and soil detritus, altitude 120 m, leg. P. Mašán; 123 ♀♀, 48 ♂♂ – 5. 5. 2013, Svätý Jur Town, Panónsky Háj Forest, oak forest (Quercus spp.), rotting wood-destroying fungi Meripilus giganteus growing at base of old oak, altitude 130 m, leg. P. Mašán.

In his paper on the genus Epicrius from Lincolnshire in England, George (1906) re-described and illustrated three species of which two are now regarded to be members of Ameroseiidae. According to Evans (1955a), the species George believed to be Epicrius mollis (Kramer, 1876) is actually Epicriopsis horridus and what George identified as Epicrius canestrinii Haller, 1881 has formerly been given the new name Cornubia georgei by Turk (1943). Moreover, Turk (1943) proposed the new genus Cornubia with his new species Cornubia ornata as type species. Later, Turk (1953) regarded Cornubia as being synonymous with Ameroseius. At the same time, he synonymised the two apparently different species, originally included in Cornubia (C. ornata and C. georgei), with Ameroseius corbiculus. This interpretation is accepted here only in part because C. georgei is considered to be a distinct and reliably distinguishable species. Therefore, it is removed from a synonymy with A. corbiculus. George‘s original illustration in his paper (1906) is sufficiently detailed for the recognition of C. georgei. This species can be characterised as having dorsal setae extremely long (for example, j6 almost reaching posterior margin of idiosoma, and J2 reaching apparently beyond posterior margin of idiosoma). Ameroseius imparsetosus, based on a female from Spain and described by Westerboer (in Westerboer and Bernhard 1963), is in perfect agreement with what is reported by George (1906). A. georgei resembles also Ameroseius elegantissimus by Ishikawa (1984) from Japan. These two species can be easily distinguished by the number of elongate setae (11 pairs in A. georgei, only eight pairs in A. elegantissimus).

I examined three slides (BMNH.E.010147154–56) of Michael Collection deposited at the Natural History Museum, London, each bearing a specimen originally labelled Epicrius and additionally specified as Cornubia georgii (sic). The specimen from Port Garrah (on the slide BMNH.E.010147154) labelled „nymph” is unsuitable for adequate study, and definitely not conspecific with those on the remaining two slides. Other two female specimens from Ranmore are identical to one another, in very good condition to be easily recognised as Ameroseius imparsetosus. Unfortunately, none of available slides bears a type designation and more specific collection data, but I believe that one female belongs to the authentic specimen of George (1906) because the original illustration of the dorsum with legs given by George (1906), for his Epicrius canistrinii (sic), match perfectly one of the two available mounted specimens (on slide E010147156). Based on the above mentioned circumstances, a new synonymy is established between C. georgei and A. imparsetosus in present study.

Musée Royal de l'Afrique Centrale, Tervuren Belgium.

Democratic Republic of Congo (as Zaire), Luluabourg, on digger wasp, Sphex fumicatus (as Sphex umbrosus metallicus) (Hymenoptera).

Democratic Republic of Congo: 4 ♀♀ (MRAC: 142496, holotype; MRAC: 142508, 170343, paratypes) – 7–18. 3. 1935, Luluabourg, Sphex umbrosus var. metallicus, leg. Gillardin.

Given that the characteristics of the type specimens of Ameroseius gillardinae are within the range of variability found in Ameroseius benoiti Elsen, 1973, I suspect A. gillardinae to be a synonym of A. benoiti.

Museum of Natural History, Wrocław University, Poland.

Vietnam, Hongai, Halong, on unidentified butterfly (Lepidoptera).

Vietnam: 1 ♀ (MPUV: MP-1289, syntype) – 25. 2. 1985, Halong n. Hongai, z ćmy (labelled Kleemannia halongica, holotyp).

The epistome of Ameroseius halongicus illustrated by Haitlinger (1987a) is actually a labrum. The epistome is subtriangular, with wide and obtuse central cusp, ornamented with two rows of denticles on proximal surface. Fixed digit of chelicara tridentate, teeth similar in size (two proximal teeth somewhat separate from the most distal tooth). Palptarsal claw not well observable. Genu III with nine setae (2-2/1, 2/1-1).

Musée Royal de l'Afrique Centrale, Tervuren Belgium.

Democratic Republic of Congo (as Zaire), Kasaï, Kondue, on digger wasp, Chlorion maxillosum ciliatum (as Chlorion ciliatum maxillae) (Hymenoptera).

Democratic Republic of Congo: 1 ♀ (MRAC: 142494, holotype; published as 142498) – Kasaï, Kondue, Chlorion ciliatum var. maxillae, leg. E. Luja; 1 ♀ (MRAC: 170344, paratype) – 7–18. 3. 1935, Luluabourg, Sphex umbrosus var. metallicus, leg. Gillardin.

Museum für Naturkunde, Berlin, Germany; Hungarian Natural History Museum, Budapest, Hungary.

Chile, Santiago Province, Cuesta La Dormida, at Tiltil, meadow habitat with loamy-sandy soil, on grass roots.

Chile: 1 ♀ (HNHM: Meso-715, holotype) – 5. 11. 1965, Tiltil, Cuesta La Dormida (Prov. Santiago), von lehmiger Erde im Dickicht in einem feucht. Tal; 1 ♀ (ZMB: 40404, paratype) – 5. 11. 1965, Tiltil, Cuesta La Dormida (Prov. Santiago), Nematodenproben von Graswurzeln von einer Wiese nahe Wald, 3001.

A species closely related to Ameroseius lidiae Bregetova, 1977.

Institute of Plant Protection, Fujian Academy of Agricultural Science, Fuzhou, China.

China, Hebei Province, Changli Town, from a tree.

Museum für Naturkunde, Berlin, Germany.

Ecuador, between Pifo and Papallacta, jumble of dicotyledon creeping to 2 m height on a tree (labelled litter).

Ecuador: 1 ♀ (ZMB: 46150, holotype) – 1989, near Pifo-Papallacta, litter, 70152.

The dorsal chaetotaxy shown in the original description is partly confused by depicting a non existing setae next to vertex (see depicted s1), and by omitting two pairs of setae on mediolateral and marginal surface (z5, r4). What was shown as s1 is apparently part of the palps, strongly pressed under the vertex. Thus, I could detect the normal set of 29 pairs of the dorsal shield setae for this species.

Musée Royal des Sciences Naturelles de Belgique, Bruxelles, Belgium; Musée Royal de l'Afrique Centrale, Tervuren Belgium (cited as „author’s collection“).

Philippines, Butuan, Mindanao, on wasp, Lestica constricta (Hymenoptera).

Philippines: 1 ♀ (MRAC: 170346, paratype) – Mindanao, Butuan, Lestica constricta, leg. J. Leclercq.

Zoological Museum, University of Turku, Finland.

Finland, Kuusisto, Ylitalo, in old pile of sawdust under barn.

Finland: 1 ♀ (ZMT: ACA.MES.FIN.4.151, holotype) – 6. 5. 1983, Kuusisto, Ylitalo, pile of sawdust, leg. P. T. Lehtinen.

Zoological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Saint Petersburg, Russia.

Ukraine, estuary of Dnieper River, hollow of willow tree (paratype: Tajikistan).

Iran: 1 ♀ (CJH) – Guilan Province, olive garden, soil sample, leg. and det. J. Hajizadeh.

Borská Nížina Lowland: Jakubov Village, Jakubovské Rybníky Fishponds (Fenďa 2005, Fenďa and Schniererová 2005). Podunajská Rovina Flatland: Číčov Village, Číčovské Mŕtve Rameno Arm (Fenďa et al. 1998, Fenďa and Schniererová 2010). Dolný Štál Village, Boheľovský Rybník Fishpond (Mašán and Krištofík 1995). Svätý Jur Town, Šúr Forest (Fenďa 2005, Švaňa et al. 2006, Fenďa and Schniererová 2010, Fenďa et al. 2011). Veľké Blahovo Village (Krištofík et al. 1993, Krištofík et al. 2001).

Borská Nížina Lowland: 2 ♀♀ – 23. 7. 1991, Jakubov Village, nest of Serinus serinus (Aves), altitude 145 m, leg. J. Krištofík and A. Darolová; 1 ♀ – 4. 6. 1992, Malé Leváre Village, littoral reed stand (Phragmition), nest of Cygnus olor (Aves), altitude 150 m, leg. J. Krištofík and A. Darolová; 2 ♀♀ – 27. 6. 2002, Moravský Svätý Ján Village, wet reed stand (Phragmition), leaf litter, altitude 150 m, leg. P. Mašán. Malé Karpaty Mts.: 1 ♂ – 24. 6. 1991, Bratislava Capital, Železná Studienka Forest, broad-leaved deciduous forest, nest of Turdus philomelos (Aves), altitude 250 m, leg. J. Krištofík and A. Darolová. Podunajská Rovina Flatland: 10 ♀♀ – 28. 6. 1989, Veľké Blahovo Village, fish-ponds, shore reed stand (Phragmition), nest of Circus aeruginosus (Aves), altitude 120 m, leg. J. Krištofík and A. Darolová; 16 ♀♀ – 28. 6. 1989, Veľké Blahovo Village, fish-ponds, shore reed stand (Phragmition), nest of Fulica atra (Aves), altitude 120 m, leg. J. Krištofík and A. Darolová; 14 ♀♀ – 24. 7. 1990, Veľké Blahovo Village, fish-ponds, shore reed stand (Phragmition), nest of Circus aeruginosus (Aves), altitude 120 m, leg. J. Krištofík and A. Darolová; 10 ♀♀ – 25. 6. 1991, Veľké Blahovo Village, fish-ponds, shore reed stand (Phragmition), nest of Aythya ferina (Aves), altitude 120 m, leg. J. Krištofík and A. Darolová; 8 ♀♀ – 25. 6. 1991, Veľké Blahovo Village, fish-ponds, shore reed stand (Phragmition), nest of Fulica atra (Aves), altitude 120 m, leg. J. Krištofík and A. Darolová; 4 ♀♀ – 16. 7. 1993, Veľké Blahovo Village, fish-ponds, shore reed stand (Phragmition), nest of Circus aeruginosus (Aves), altitude 120 m, leg. J. Krištofík and A. Darolová; 3 ♀♀ – 15. 8. 2000, Veľké Kosihy Village, littoral reed stand (Phragmition), leaf litter and soil detritus, altitude 120 m, leg. P. Mašán.

Musée Royal de l'Afrique Centrale, Tervuren Belgium.

Democratic Republic of Congo (as Zaire), Ganda Sundi, Mayumbe, on fungus weevil, Mecocerus rhombeus (Coleoptera, Anthribidae).

Democratic Republic of Congo: 1 ♀ (MRAC: 142498, holotype) – 11. 2. 1970, Ganda Sundi, Mecocerus rhombeus, leg. P. Elsen.

Given that the characteristics of the type specimen of Ameroseius longitarsis are within the range of variability found in Ameroseius benoiti Elsen, 1973, I suspect A. longitarsis to be a synonym of A. benoiti.

Not stated (holotype not designated).

Germany (from several localities, in wood detritus of spruces and firs, and in galleries of various scolytine bark beetles).

Podunajská Rovina Flatland: Šuľany Village (not Šurany Village as originally cited) (Mašán 2001a).

Borská Nížina Lowland: 2 ♀♀ – 30. 3. 2002, Borský Svätý Jur Village, edge of mixed forest (Pinus sylvestris, Robinia pseudoacacia), sandy soil and wood detritus from colony of Formica sp. (Hymenoptera) situated under pine stem, altitude 170 m, leg. P. Mašán; 1 ♀ – 10. 4. 2004, Borský Svätý Jur Village, Šaštínsky Les Forest, mixed forest (Pinus sylvestris and Betula sp.), individual collecting under bark of fallen and dead birches, altitude 195 m, leg. P. Mašán; 1 ♀ – 3. 4. 2005, Tomky Village, Šaštínsky Les Forest, pine forest, individual collecting under bark of old pines (Pinus sylvestris), altitude 180 m, leg. P. Mašán. Burda Hills: 1 ♀ – 9. 11. 1997, Kamenica Nad Hronom Village, Kováčovské Kopce-juh Forest, oak forest (Quercetum cerris), leaf litter and soil detritus, altitude 330 m, leg. P. Mašán. Malé Karpaty Mts.: 2 ♂♂ – 18. 6. 1997, Častá Village, Červený Kameň Castle, beech forest (Fagion sylvaticae) with oak (Quercus sp.), individual collecting under bark, stones and pieces of wood, altitude 360 m, leg. P. Mašán; 1 ♀ – 28. 7. 1997, Bratislava Capital, Železná Studienka Forest, broad-leaved deciduous forest, individual collecting under bark, stones and pieces of wood, altitude 380 m, leg. P. Mašán. Muránska Planina Plateau: 1 ♀ – 23. 6. 2003, Muráň Village, Javorníková Dolina Valley, maple-beech forest (Aceri-Fagetum) with ash (Fraxinus sp.), rocky canyon, on wood-destroying fungus (Daedalea quercina), altitude 500 m, leg. P. Mašán. Podunajská Rovina Flatland: 1 ♀ – 24. 4. 1997, Šuľany Village, willow-poplar flood plain forest (Salici-Populetum), individual collecting under bark of old poplar trunks, altitude 120 m, leg. P. Mašán. Trnavská Pahorkatina Wold: 1 ♀ – 18. 5. 1997, Brunovce Village, Váh River (alluvium), degraded willow-poplar flood-plain forest (Salici-Populetum), individual collecting on wood-destroying fungus Trametes sp., altitude 170 m, leg. P. Mašán. Zvolenská Kotlina Basin: 1 ♀ – 19. 8. 2014, Čačín Village, oak forest with Quercus cerris, on wood-destroying fungus (Daedalea quercina), altitude 420 m, leg. P. Mašán.

The female of Ameroseius longitrichus was originally illustrated by Hirschmann (in Westerboer and Bernhard 1963) as having only 28 pairs instead of 29 pairs of dorsal shield setae. My examination of the specimens from various parts of the North America, identified as A. longitrichus by Malcolm M. Furniss, Evert E. Lindquist, or John C. Moser, and published in part by Moser and Roton (1971), Furniss et al. (1972) and Moser (1975), has revealed that these specimens represents at least two species different from A. longitrichus, including Ameroseius peniophorae De Leon, 1964, previously described from Tennessee. These two species seem to be very similar to A. longitrichus, but can be distinguished by some characters of dorsal and leg chaetotaxy (in A. peniophorae, all legs are notably thickened and shortend, and femur I and genu I bear a robust and smooth seta on medial ventral surface).

„Author’s collection“.

USA, Tennessee, Erwin, on dead strawberry plant.

U.S.A.: 2 ♀♀ (LACM: ENT 198896) – Fall-1947, Ohio, Bowling Green, Red clover, Ray Everly & P. E. Telford (additionally labelled Ameroseius corbicula).

Ameroseius macropilis is very similar to Ameroseius corbiculus (Sowerby, 1806), but they can be easily distinguished by the number of opisthogastric setae expressed on soft integument (six pairs in A. macropilis; five pairs in A. corbiculus, having its JV4 absent). The reports of A. corbiculus given by Oatman (1971), Freitag and Ryder (1973), and Goh and Lange (1989) seem to be a misidentification of A. macropilis, and they should be revised.

Biological Laboratory, Matsuyama Shinonome Junior College, Matsuyama, Japan.

Japan, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Hagi, habitat stated.

„Author’s collection“.

USA, Washington, Lewis County, White Pass, from duff.

Biological Laboratory, Matsuyama Shinonome Junior College, Matsuyama, Japan.

Japan, Ehime Prefecture, ôzu, Sugeta, on Japanese pine sawyer, Monochamus alternatus (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae).

Musée Royal de l'Afrique Centrale, Tervuren Belgium.

Democratic Republic of Congo (as Zaire), Stanleyville, on digger wasp, Isodontia stanleyi [as Chlorion (Isodontia) stanleyi)] (Hymenoptera).

Democratic Republic of Congo: 1 ♀ (MRAC: 142492, holotype) – April 1915, Stanleyville, Chlorion (Isodontia) stanleyi, leg. J. Bequaert.

Musée Royal de l’Afrique Centrale, Tervuren Belgium.

Democratic Republic of Congo (as Zaire), Luluabourg, on digger wasp, Sphex fumicatus (as Sphex umbrosus metallicus) (Hymenoptera).

Democratic Republic of Congo: 4 ♀♀ (MRAC: 142493, holotype; MRAC: 142505, 170342, paratypes) – 7–18. 3. 1935, Luluabourg, Sphex umbrosus var. metallicus, leg. Gillardin.

Musée Royal de l'Afrique Centrale, Tervuren Belgium.

Democratic Republic of Congo (as Zaire), Kasaï, Kondue, on digger wasp, Chlorion maxillosum ciliatum (as Chlorion ciliatum maxillae) (Hymenoptera).

Democratic Republic of Congo: 1 ♀ (MRAC: 142497, holotype) – Kasaï, Kondue, Chlorion ciliatum var. maxillae, leg. Léonard.

„Author’s collection“.

USA, Tennessee, Erwin, on hyphae of white-rot fungus, Phlebiopsis gigantea (as Peniophora gigantea), on bark of log of white pine, Pinus strobus (Pinaceae).

U.S.A.: 2 ♀♀ (IZSAV) – 14. 6. 1965, Elizabeth, inner bark, Dendroctonus frontalis, J. Moser Collection (No. 4814, 4840).

This species has been occasionally misidentified as Ameroseius longitrichus Hirschmann, 1963 in North America (Pielou and Verma 1968, Moser and Roton 1971, Furniss et al. 1972, Moser 1975; see also remarks under A. longitrichus). There are 29 pairs of setae on dorsal shield of Ameroseius peniophorae, not 27 pairs as stated in the original description.

Institute for Zoological Research, Potchefstroom University, Potchefstroom, South Africa.

South Africa, Grabouw, on dry flower of sugarbush, Protea repens (as Protea mellifera) (Proteaceae).

Slovakia, Považský Inovec Mts.: 1 ♀ (IZSAV, holotype) – 13. 10. 2012, Hrádok Village, Hrádocká Dolina Valley, edge of broad-leaved deciduous forest, decaying wood-destroying fungi, altitude 290 m, leg. P. Mašán; 4 ♀♀ (IZSAV, paratypes), with the same collection data as in holotype.

Figure 2. 

Ameroseius renatae sp. n., female. A Dorsal idiosoma B Ventral idiosoma. Not scaled.

Dorsal shield strongly sculptured, scrobiculate, with a series of interconnecting ridges. Dorsal setae of different length, relatively thin and variously curved; setae J2 long, with tips reaching clearly beyond bases of following setae J4; setae Z2 notably longer than Z1 and Z3. Pseudo-metasternal platelets relatively well developed, subequal or slightly larger than metapodal platelets. Opisthogastric soft integument with six pairs of setae; setae JV5 lengthened, with tips reaching anal aperture.

Female. Idiosoma oval to egg-shaped, narrowed anteriorly, 405–460 μm long and 270–325 μm wide. Dorsal shield strongly sclerotised and coarsely ornamented, scrobiculate, covering whole dorsal surface, and bearing 29 pairs of setae; vertex with anterior margin denticulated. Dorsal setae well differing in length, relatively thin, curved, sparsely covered by very minute spines, inserted in small basal papilla-like tubercles; setae j1–j4, z5, z6, Z1, Z3, s1, s2, S2, S3, and r3–r5 notably shorter than other dorsal shield setae; setae j1 lanceolate and conspicuosly spinate; posterior dorsocentral setae long, J2 and J4 with tips reaching beyond bases of J4 and Z5, respectively. The length of some selected dorsal setae as follows: j5 83–92 μm, j6 92–102 μm, J2 105–118 μm, z5 25–30 μm, z6 29–40 μm, Z1 38–46 μm, Z2 78–92 μm, Z3 45–55 μm. Sternal shield subquadrate, 62–70 μm in length and width (at level of st2), reticulate on surface, with two pairs of setae (st1, st2). Pseudo-metasternal platelets relatively large, rounded, bearing a pair of sternal setae (st3). Metasternal setae (st4) on soft integument. Epigynal shield 70 μm wide, oblong, with reticulate pattern and a pair of genital setae (st5). Postgenital sclerites present, partly fused behind posterior margin of epigynal shield. Metapodal platelets small, suboval. Peritremes and peritrematal shields normally developed. Ventrianal shield 125–140 μm wide and 100–115 μm long, almost hexagonal, well reticulate, having three circum-anal setae and anus in its posteromedial portion. Ventrally situated setae smooth, needle-like, about 25 μm long, except JV5, markedly elongated, 60–67 μm in length. Epistome subtriangular, with rounded apex. Fixed digit of chelicera with three small teeth on proximal masticatory area. Other gnathosomal structures and leg chaetotaxy typical of genus.

The new species is named in honour of my dear older sister.

Of Ameroseius sculptilis – Istituto Sperimentale per la Zoologia Agraria, Firenze, Italy; of Ameroseius pulcher – Zoologischen Staatssammlung München, Germany (originally not stated; holotype not designated).

Of Ameroseius sculptilis – Italy, Vallombrosa, in moss; of Ameroseius pulcher – Germany, Erlangen, in rotting grass.

Germany: 3 ♀♀ (ZMB: 41124–41126) – Jan. 1986, Einsendung, LPG(P), Frühgemüse-zentrum Dresden, Gutkenpflanz. (Strohballen Kult.), 2990–2991, 2993 (labelled Ameroseius pulcher). Italy: 1 ex. (ISZA: 169/3, holotype) – Vallombrosa, musco; 1 ♀ (ISZA: 190/19) – Firenze, Giardino R. Stazione.

Borská Nížina Lowland: Láb Village (Ambros 1989). Hronská Pahorkatina Wold: Malá Mužla Village (Várfalvyová et al. 2010).

Podunajská Rovina Flatland: 1 ♀ – 24. 7. 1990, Veľké Blahovo Village, fish-ponds, shore reed stand (Phragmition), nest of Circus aeruginosus (Aves), altitude 120 m, leg. J. Krištofík and A. Darolová.

There are two slides of this species in the Berlese Collection in Florence, only one of them (169/3) is labelled „tipico”. Unfortunately, the holotype specimen is wholly unsuitable for study, and practically the same can be stated for the female mounted onto the second slide (190/19), reported from Florence. Bregetova (1977) considered Ameroseius sculptilis to be identical to Ameroseius pulcher Westerboer, 1963, and her interpretation is accepted in this paper. I examined one quite well preserved female on a slide in the Hirschmann/Willmann Collection in Munich labelled „Ameroseius pulcher n. sp.”. Unfortunately, this available specimen (slide) bears no type designation and specific collection data, but without doubt it belongs to the original series of Westerboer (see remarks under Ameroseiella macrochelae).

Department of Zoology, Y. S. Palpara Mahavidyalaya, Palpara, Midnapore, West Bengal, India; National Zoological Collection, Zoological Survey of India, Calcutta, India.

India, West Bengal, Sitala, nest of lesser banded hornet, Vespa affinis (Hymenoptera).

Museum für Naturkunde, Berlin, Germany.

Pacific Ocean Region, New Caledonia, Isle of Pines, habitat and substrate unspecified.

New Caledonia: 1 ♀ (ZMB: 45236, holotype) – 24. 2. 1977, Ile de Pins, 6696, leg. J. Balogh.

Karg (1996) illustrated this species as having only 28 pairs of dorsal setae on the dorsal shield. I could detect 29 setal pairs (including r4, missing in the illustration of the original description), leg chaetotaxy typical of the genus, a prominent poroid structure on each peritrematal shield, and slightly smaller sternal shield than depicted in the original description.

Institute of Plant Protection, Fujian Academy of Agricultural Science, Fuzhou, China.

China, Henan Province, Luanchuan County, Longgu Bend, under fallen leaves.

National Base of Plague and Brucellosis Control, Baicheng, China.

China, Jilin Province, Baicheng, under decomposed bark of pine tree.

A species closely related with Ameroseius longitrichus Hirschmann, 1963, if not identical.

Not stated.

Germany, München, Englischer Garten, in gallery of bark beetle, Scolytus scolytus (Coleoptera, Curculionidae), on elm tree (Ulmus sp.).

Malé Karpaty Mts.: 1 ♀ – 7. 4. 1995, Bratislava Capital, Železná Studienka Forest, broad-leaved deciduous forest, individual collecting on wood-destroying fungus (Trametes sp.), altitude 350 m, leg. P. Mašán. Podunajská Rovina Flatland: 1 ♀ – 6. 10. 2012, Svätý Jur Town, Šúr Forest, forest steppe with oak (Quercus sp.), unidentified decaying wood-destroying fungi on oak stem in soil detritus, altitude 130 m, leg. P. Mašán. Považský Inovec Mts.: 1 ♀ – 12. 7. 1997, Hrádok Village, Hrádocká Dolina Valley, oak forest (Quercetum) with beech (Fagus sylvatica), individual collecting under bark, stones and pieces of wood, altitude 370 m, leg. P. Mašán; 3 ♀♀ – 13. 10. 2012, Hrádok Village, Hrádocká Dolina Valley, edge of broad-leaved deciduous forest, decaying wood-destroying fungi, altitude 290 m, leg. P. Mašán.

Hirschmann (in Westerboer and Bernhard, 1963) described and illustrated the opisthogastric surface of this species as having only five instead of six pairs of setae (JV4 were erroneously omitted).

Biological Laboratory, Matsuyama Shinonome Junior College, Matsuyama, Japan.

Japan, Tokushima Prefecture, Ishii, habitat stated.

Japan: 1 ♀ (CKI, paratype) – 12. 4. 1969, Tokushima, leg. M. Sakai.

Zoological Museum, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland; Zoological Department, University of Hanoi, Vietnam.

Vietnam, Cha-Pa, SW from Lao-Kay (at Geophysical Station), habitat not specified (mould in rocky cavity, leaf litter, dry and moist moss).

South Australian Museum, Adelaide, Australia.

Australia, Tasmania, from strawberry plants.

Australia: 1 ♀ (SAMA: ARA73140, holotype) – June 1952, Burnley, Victoria, on strawberry leaves ex Tasmania, det. H. Womersley.

Ameroseius ornatus Womersley, 1956 is a junior secondary homonym of Cornubia ornata Turk, 1943, Cornubia being a junior synonym of Ameroseius. Turk (1953) synonymised Cornubia ornata Turk, 1943, under Ameroseius corbiculus (Sowerby, 1806). Since C. ornata is the type species of Cornubia Turk, 1943, and A. corbiculus is the type species of Ameroseius Berlese, 1904, the above arrangement naturally follows. I hereby rename Ameroseius ornatus Womersley, 1956 Ameroseius womersleyi nom. n. in recognition of Herbert Womersley and his work on the taxonomy of the mites, including Ameroseiidae.

I examined the holotype female of this species and could detect the normal complement of 29 pairs of setae on dorsal shield (not stated in original description), including j1 which are missing in the holotype (together with a small part of vertex). In Ameroseius womersleyi, st3 are on soft integument, opisthogastric soft integument presumably has six pairs of setae (JV4 present), and fixed digit of chelicera possesses three well observable teeth on proximal masticatory area of which two proximal are slightly smaller and somewhat separate from the most distal tooth. The recent diagnosis given by Halliday (1997) does not require additional amendment.

Soft striate integument delicately incrusted with sclerotic tubercles. Dorsal shield widely oval, not completely covering dorsal surface, reticulate or striate, with 6–7 pairs of distinct protuberances (each bearing a seta), and 29 pairs of setae differing in length and form; setae mounted on protuberances (z4, z5, s5, Z1, Z3, S5, and sometimes z2) markedly longer, thicker, and more heavily pilose than the other setae on the shield. Dorsal shield setae needle-like to lanceolate, smooth, pilose or serrate, the thicker setae densely plumose; sexual dimorphism of dorsal chaetotaxy not developed. In female, sternal setae on sternal shield (st1, st2), soft integument (st3, st4) and epigynal shield (st5). Female with anal shield bearing only three circum-anal setae, male with expanded ventrianal shield capturing some opisthogastric setae. Peritrematal shields and peritremes well developed: anterior end of peritremes reaching or overlapping bases of j1; in male, peritrematal shields well expanded beyond coxae IV and abutting the ventrianal shield. Opisthogastric soft integument with six pairs of setae in female. Corniculi stout, weakly sclerotised, well separate and parallel, with undivided apex having one or two denticles. In female, cheliceral shafts relatively elongate, slender; fixed digit with three prominent sharp teeth (two proximal teeth slightly separated from the other, medial tooth), and a special bilobed tooth close to terminal hook (Plate 76F); movable digit only with tiny subapical denticle; cheliceral digits almost straight, not conspicuously hooked distally, without hyaline petal-like appendages. Male spermatodactyl relatively short, directed forward. Palptarsal apotele three-tined. Tibia IV with two posterolateral setae. Tarsi I–IV each with well developed empodium and claws. Insemination apparatus with spermathecal ducts separated.

The genus Asperolaelaps was proposed by Womersley (1956a), with Asperolaelaps rotundus as its type species, but it has been considered a synonym of Neocypholaelaps Vitzthum, 1942, for example by Domrow (1979), Halliday (1997), and Moraes and Narita (2010). Womersley (1956) originally placed it in the family Neoparasitidae but Domrow (1979) re-examined the type species observing the normal complement of 29 pairs of dorsal shield setae instead of the reduced number illustrated by Domrow, and some further features typical of ameroseiid species.

In this paper, the genus is removed from synonymy with Neocypholaelaps, re-diagnosed, and ressurected to accommodate one further species from Australasian Region, namely Asperolaelaps sextuberculi (Karg, 1996). None of these species have been found in association with flowers and their pollinators, as opposed to species of Neocypholaelaps, the closest genus. Separate systematic position of Asperolaelaps species can better clarify the concept of Neocypholaelaps. Asperolaelaps rotundus and A. sextuberculi are considered not to belong to Neocypholaelaps because their diagnostic character states are based on the features inconsistent with Neocypholaelaps: (1) fixed digit of chelicera with three sharp teeth in proximal-medial part and a wide bilobed subapical tooth (edentate in Neocypholaelaps); (2) chelicera without hyaline appendages (appendages developed in Neocypholaelaps); (3) corniculi well separate and parallel to each other (adjacent and convergent in Neocypholaelaps); (4) palptarsal claw three-tined (two-tined in Neocypholaelaps); (5) some dorsal setae mounted on protuberances, and some with unusual position on the dorsal shield: e.g., Z-series setae with insertions well separate from those in central J-rows and more adjacent to those in marginal S-rows (dorsal shield smooth, with dorsal setae otherwise situated in Neocypholaelaps); (6) sexual dimorphism of dorsal setation absent (present in Neocypholaelaps); (7) tibia IV with two posterolateral setae (only one posterolateral seta in Neocypholaelaps). The dentation of cheliceral digits (together with other characters of gnathosoma) shows important generic difference between Asperolaelaps and Neocypholaelaps, probably due to their specific mode of life and different feeding habits. On the contrary, except for items 1, 5 and 7, the above mentioned character states are well consistent with the genus Ameroseius. Asperolaelaps represents a group of species with Neocypholaelaps-like venter, Ameroseius-like gnathosoma, and specific dorsal chaetotaxy, cheliceral dentation and tibial setation of legs IV.

Examination of the type specimens of Asperolaelaps rotundus and Asperolaelaps sextuberculi confirmed their validity and specific features. They are quite similar species originally reported from the same biogeographic realm, namely from Australia and New Caledonia, respectively. Female of A. rotundus differs from A. sextuberculi by having three setae on femur of leg I conspicuously thickened and shortened, conical (pl2, pv1 and pv2; pl2 unusually displaced close to pv2), and by the peritremes with anterior tips touching each other. In A. sextuberculi, femur I is relatively narrower and shorter than in previous species, having only normally formed setae, and anterior ends of peritremes separated by insertions of j1.

South Australian Museum, Adelaide, Australia; Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Brisbane, Australia.

Australia, Queensland, Brisbane, Brookfield, on cards.

Australia: 1 ♀ (SAMA: ARA73140, holotype) – 19. 1. 1951, Brookfield, Brisbane, coll. on card, leg. E. H. Derrick.

Genu and tibia of legs III bear one posterolateral seta, but tibia IV has two posterolateral setae.

Museum für Naturkunde, Berlin, Germany.

Pacific Ocean Region, New Caledonia, Koumac, in a cave.

New Caledonia: 4 ♀♀, 1 ♂ (ZMB: 45259, female holotype; ZMB: 45260, paratype; ZMB: 45261, allotype; ZMB: 45267, paratypes) – 15. 2. 1977, Koumac, höhle, 6731–6733, 2653, leg. J. Balogh.

In the original description, Karg (1996) did not comment the number of the dorsal shield setae. There are 29 pairs of the dorsal shield setae on his quite detailed illustration of the dorsum. Examination of the type specimens showed that the dorsal chaetotaxy is partly confused by depicting a non existing pair between r3 and r4, and by omitting one setal pair on medial surface (z6). In addition, I could find six pairs of opisthogastric setae (only five pairs shown in the original illustration). Genu III with one posterolateral seta (as in Ameroseius), but tibiae III and IV with two posterolateral setae (as in Kleemannia).

Dorsal shield well sclerotised and ornamented, with 27–29 pairs of setae. Dorsal setae not conspicuously thickened or otherwise modified. In female, sternal setae on sternal shield (st1, st2, st3), complex metasternal-endopodal platelet (st4), and epigynal shield (st5). Epigynal shield relatively large, well oblong, and with posterior margin widely abutting ventrianal shield. In both sexes, posteroventral region with reduced number of four pairs of opisthogastric setae on ventrianal shield (JV2, JV3, ZV2) or on soft integument (JV5); setae JV1 and JV4 absent. Ventrally inserted setae including JV5 short, smooth and needle-like. Corniculi apically bifid. Fixed digit of chelicera with eight subequal denticles on masticatory area; spermatodactyl relatively long, apparently longer than movable digit. Epistome subtriangular, with one or two sharply pointed cusps. Palptarsal apotele three-tined. Genua II–III without ventral setae, genu III with two anterolateral and one posterolateral setae, tibia IV with two anterolateral and two posterolateral setae. Tarsi I–IV each with normal empodium and claws.

The genus comprises only two described species. They are reported from the Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Australia (Queensland) and Thailand (Womersley 1956a, Halliday 1997, Silva et al. 2014), as phoretic associates of phytophagous insects (see below).

South Australian Museum, Adelaide, Australia.

Pacific Ocean Region, Solomon Islands, Guadalcanal, Tenaru, on coconut leaf beetle, Brontispa longissima (as Brontispa froggatti) (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae), found in coconut leaves.

Some important amendments to the original description of Brontispalaelaps leveri were carried out by Halliday (1997) and Silva et al. (2014). This species was described from specimens associated with the chrysomelid beetle Brontispa froggatti Sharp, 1904 [= Brontispa longissima (Gestro, 1885)] from the Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea. It is remarkable that the type specimens of Ameroseius crassipes were collected from the same host beetle in Australia. For that reason there may be some speculation about conspecificity of A. crassipes and B. leveri, the type species of the genus Brontispalaelaps. The conspecificity of both species should be carefully checked by further study once more, despite of the fact that Lindquist’s examination of the type specimens has shown that A. crassipes belongs to an unspecified genus of Ologamasidae (Halliday 1997).

Australian National Insect Collection, CSIRO, Canberra, Australia.

Australia, Queensland, McIlwraith Range, Golden Nugget Creek, on wings of undescribed species of phycitine pyralid moth (Lepidoptera).

Dorsal shield heavily sclerotised and ornamented, with a pattern of conspicuous tubercles; these tubercles star-like, polygonal, sometimes reduced in size (in Epicriopsis walteri) or modified into small spines arranged into a rows (in Epicriopsis atuberculatus). Some dorsal shield setae (6–9 pairs) conspicuous, thickened, extremely long, pilose, and much longer than some of the shortest setae; dorsal shield with 22–28 pairs of setae. In female, sternal setae on sternal shield (st1, st2), soft integument (st3, st4), and epigynal shield (st5); setae st3 rarely on small and rounded pseudo-metasternal platelets (in E. atuberculatus). Female with anal shield, male with ventrianal shield bearing 3–4 pairs of opisthogastric setae (JV1 on or off the shield). Opisthogastric soft integument with 5–6 pairs of setae in female (JV1–JV3, JV5, ZV2; JV4 present or absent), and five pairs of setae in male (JV4 always absent). Corniculi unsclerotised, undivided, stout, with distal extension and obtuse apex; the apex sometimes with denticles. Fixed digit of chelicera with 3–5 teeth on proximal masticatory area (normally with three teeth, but with 4–5 teeth in species with sharply pointed epistome); at least one of cheliceral digits (fixed digit) with membranous structures. Palptarsal apotele usually three-tined. Genu III, and tibiae III–IV with two anterolateral and one posterolateral setae. Tarsi I–IV each with empodium and claws.

The genus Epicriopsis was previously known from 14 named species (atuberculatus, baloghi, berlesei, horridus, hungaricus, jilinensis, langei, linzhiensis, mirabilis, palustris, rivus, stellata, suedus and walteri), occurring mostly in leaf litter, soil detritus, raw humus, fungi and moss, in humid habitats in Europe (Karg 1971a, 1971b, 1993; Kandil 1978), Asia (Ishikawa 1972, Iavorschi 1995, Ma 2002, Hajizadeh et al. 2013b, Ma and Lin 2016), North America (Farrier and Hennessey 1993), South America (Marticorena and Berrío 2014, Narita and Moraes 2016) and Australia (Halliday 1997). The genus often comprises strongly hygrophilous species found in swamp areas, inundation zones, river beds and floodplain forests.

In the checklist below, ten species of this genus are recognised as valid. Among them, now I recognise five species occurring in Europe (horridus = berlesei, hungaricus, mirabilis = rivus syn. n., palustris = baloghi syn. n. and langei syn. n., and suedus), with the new synonymies proposed after my examination of the type specimens and specimens collected in Slovakia. For specific remarks to the individual Epicriopsis species and their synonyms see the checklist below.

The dorsal chaetotaxy of individual species occurring in Europe is not adequately described up to now. The two species (rivus and suedus) described by Karg (1971a) are known only on the base of illustrations and very short description as a part of an identification key. The dorsal shield bears an uncomplete set of setae in the illustrations of Epicriopsis horridus, Epicriopsis rivus and Epicriopsis suedus by Karg (1971a). Therefore, I carefully checked the number of dorsal shield setae in available Epicriopsis species. Epicriopsis hungaricus, Epicriopsis palustris and Epicriopsis mirabilis (= E. rivus) possess 24 pairs of setae (j1–j6, J2, J4, z2, z4, z5, Z1, Z3, Z5, s1, s2, s4–s6, S3–S5), E. horridus 23 pairs of setae (j6 absent in comparison with previous three species), and E. suedus 28 pairs of setae (s6 absent in comparison with normal complement of dorsal setae found in most of Ameroseiidae).

Partial keys to species of Epicriopsis may be found in Karg (1971a, 1971b, 1993), Bregetova (1977), and Kandil (1978). The most complete key is that of Narita and Moraes (2016), based on adult females of the world species (not including Epicriopsis mirabilis). A new key to the genus is needed to introduce new differential characters and include only valid species and those exclusively reported from Europe. I found that the setation of several leg segments is unstable and relatively highly variable in studied species from Europe, namely Epicriopsis horridus, Epicriopsis hungaricus, E. mirabilis, Epicriopsis palustris and Epicriopsis suedus. All these mentioned species can be reliably separated only with the help of leg chaetotaxy (see Table 1 and 2).