Ayersacarus, an endemic mite genus from Zealandian seabird nest environments: revision, with four new species (Acari: Mesostigmata: Leptolaelapidae)

Abstract

Four new species of Ayersacarus Hunter (Acari: Mesostigmata: Leptolaelapidae) are described: A. hurleyi sp. n. from Stephens I./Takapourewa (Cook Strait, New Zealand); A. forsteri sp. n. from Pitt I./Rangiauria, Chatham Is.; A. knoxi sp. n. from Snares Is./Tini Heke; and A. savilli sp. n. from Stewart I./Rakiura (New Zealand). Prestacarus gen. n. is proposed with Ayersacarus tilbrooki Hunter, 1967 from South Georgia as the type species. This restores Hunter's original 1964 conception of the genus and leaves Ayersacarus with nine species confined to Zealandia. A key to the females of all nine Ayersacarus species is included. All Ayersacarus and Prestacarus species are restricted to seabird nests and their immediate environs.