'n Taksonomiese studie van die familie Trombidiidae [Acari Parasitenini] van die Etiopiese

MSc, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus

A short synopsis is given about the Parasitenini, the prevalent theme being the distribution of the family Trombidiidae in time and space, and their association with other organisms, both vertebrate and invertebrate. This is followed by a brief discussion on the materials, methods and techniques employed in the inves= tigation. A short but comprehensive summary of the higher classification of the Acari in= eluding the vieWPoints of various authors, as well as brief descriptions of the various organs and features of the Trombidiformes is given. The study includes a brief discussion of the family Trombidiidae and its characteristics as well as a key to the different subfamilies. Four subfamilies are described, figured and keyed, viz. Allothrombiinae, Notothrombiinae, -Sericotrombidiinae and Microtrombidiinae. For the subfamily Allothrombiinae the species A.franzi is described as being a new Species and for the subfamily Notothrombiinae, N. longipodum. For the subfamily Sericotrombidiinae three new species are described, viz. A. furcula, A. lobosum and A. dentipalpum. Eleven new species, including two new genera, viz. Florotrombidium and Dentothrombium, are described, for the subfamily Microtrombidiinae viz. Anomalothrombium evansi, Camerotrombidium den heyeri, Camerotrombidium korythos, Coccothrombium africanum, Compsothrombium corallinum, Eutrichothrombium meyeri, Georgia rykei, , Microtrombidium africanum, Florotrombidium pulcherrimum, Dentothrombium taljanei and Valgothrombium candelabrum.

Masters