Larvae of Leptus (Acarina: Erythraeidae), free-living or ectoparasitic on arachnids and lower insects of Australia and Papua New Guinea, with descriptions of reared post-larval instars

Abstract

Abstract Leptus larvae (Acarina: Erythraeidae) of Australia and New Guinea, collected either free-living or ectoparasitic on Arachnida or lower Insecta, are comprehensively reviewed. For Australia the following new species are described. From Scorpionida L. barmeedius , L. baudini , L. carduus , L. hitchcocki , L. korematus , L. pistoris , L. smithi and L. urodaci ; from Araneae L. minno ; from Insecta L. norrisi (Archaeognatha) L. flindersi (Blattodea) L. cheesmanae (Phasmatodea) L. bankensis , L. calcar , L. cultellus , L. foliatus , L. lighti , L. pincheni and L. tindalei (Orthoptera, Acridoidea) L. batjallus , L. clavatus , L. clelandi , L. elderi , L. fisheri (Hemiptera) L. grossi and L. puniceus (free-living only); some of the preceding species were also captured free-living. From Papua New Guinea the following new species are described L. calcar (Acridoidea) L. cheesmanae (Orthoptera: «cricket») (both of these species also from Australia) L. lorarius , L. scutellatus and L. triacanthus (free-living). Additional host and other records are given for previously described species, originally described as ectoparasites of Insecta: from Australia L. bathypogonus Womersley (Acridoidea) L. cerambycius Southcott (free-living) L. charon Southcott (Araneae, Scorpionida) L. faini Southcott (Araneae) L. orthrius Southcott (Hemiptera); from Papua New Guinea L. draco Southcott (Odonata, Acridoidea, Tettiginioidea, Phasmatodea, Hemiptera). Protonymphs are described of L. barmeedius , L. baudini , L. calcar , L. charon , L. flindersi , L. orthrius and L. smithi . Deutonymphs are described of L. calcar , L. charon , L. flindersi and L. smithi . A key is provided for the known larvae, protonymphs and deutonymphs of Leptus of Australia and Papua New Guinea. Teratological abnormalities are recorded for L. cultellus , L. fisheri , L. minno and L. urodaci.