A new species of Pneumophionyssus from Argentina and new locality records of acarine parasites of reptiles in Mexico and Venezuela (Mesotigmata: Entonyssidae and Laelapidae).

Pnellmophionyssus jellisoni, n. sp., from the lungs of an unidentified snake in Azul, Argentina, is described. Ixodorhyn­ chus liporz.yssoides Ewing, 1922 is recorded for the first time from Mexico and Ixobioides butantanensis Fonseca, 1934, previously known only from Brazil and Chile, is recorded from Venezuela. In this paper we report new Central and South American records for 2 ixodorhynchine species (Lae1apidae) and describe a new species of Pneu­ mophionyssus Fonseca, 1934 (Entonyssidae). The latter was collected from the 1ungs of an unidentified snake by Dr W. L. Jellison during the course of a survey of Argentinian vertebrates for pu1monary pathogens. Fami1y LAELAPIDAE Berlese, 1892 Subfamily IXODORHYNCHINAE Ewing, 1922 Genus IXODORHYNCHUS Ewing, 1922 Ixodorhynchus liponyssoides Ewing, 1922 Two fema1es were collected 4.8 km (3 mi) N Chuhuichupa, Chihuahua, Mexico, 4.VII.1958, by W. W. Tanner (host not given). This species, the generotype, has previous1y been recorded on co1ubrid snakes from various loca1ities in Canada and the United States (Fain 1962). Ixodorhyn­ chine mites have not previous1y been reported for Mexico (Hoffmann 1969), although a collection of 1. liponyssoides from British Honduras has been recorded (Fain 1962). Genus IXOBIOIDES Fonseca, 1934 Ixobioides butantanensis Fonseca, 1934 A single fema1e was taken off Carollia sp., 1 km SW Altimira, Puente Ric6n, Barinas, Venezuela, 13.XII.1967, by N. E. Peterson. The host, a bat, is considered to be accidentally associated with the mite. Although wide1y distributed in Brazi1 and 'This work was supported in part by V.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command Contract No. DA­ 49-193-MD-2788 with the Smithsonian Institution (Ecology and Distribution of Mammalian Ectoparasites, Arboviruses and Their Hosts in Venezuela). 'Institut de Médecine tropicale Prince Léopold, Antwerpen, Belgium. ·V.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, Public Health Service, National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Rocky Mountain Laboratory, Hamilton, Montana 5984D, V.S.A. known a1so from Chi1e (Fain 1962), 1. butantanensis has not been previous1y reported for Venezuela. Fami1y ENTONYSSIDAE Ewing, 1923 Subfami1y PNEUMOPHIONYSSINAE Fonseca, 1940 Genus PNEUMOPHIONYSSUS Fonseca, 1940 Pneum.ophionyssus jellisoni, n. sp. FIG. 1-6 Diagnosis: Tritosternum well-developed, lacinate; stigma associated with a short, anterior peritreme; metasternal setae absent; sternal shield subrectangular. Differing from P. aristoterisi Fonseca 194D, the only other representative of the genus, in having a well-developed fixed chela, 2 rather than 3 pairs of setae on the sternal shield, and a greater number of dorsal shield setae. Description: Holotype 'i' (FIG. 1-6): Idiosoma broadly oval and 828 IL long by 560 IL wide. Total length, including gnathosoma, 1020 IL. Dorsum: (FIG. 2). An elong-ate shield on dorsum bears 15 setae (7 pairs and an unpaired submedian seta). Venter: (FIG. 1). Tritosternum ends in 2 short barbed lacinae which do not reach base of palps. Sternal shield sub­ rectangular and bears the 2 anterior pairs of sternal setae. Metasternal setae lacking. Genital shield long and narrow and bears 1 pair of setae. Soft cuticle of opisthosoma has 4 pairs of setae arranged 2-4-2. Anal shield oval, subterminally located, and bears 3 setae. Spiracles open ventrolaterally at level of coxae IV; anteriad of these is a short peritreme. Gnathosoma: (FIG. 3 and 4). Palps much longer (123 IL) than base of gnathoso­ ma (75 IL); well-developed bifurcate apotele on tarsus. Seven deutosternal teeth disposed in a single row. Chelicerae 168 IL long and at most 21 IL wide, movable digit is poorly sclerotized and triangular in shape, fixed digit is cylindrical and as long as movable one. Legs: (FIG. 5 and 6). Tarsal claws of legs 1 are less robust than those of other legs. Setae of most segments are short. Setal formula as follows: