Revision of the African chigger genus Austracarus (Acariformes: Trombiculidae: Leeuwenhoekiinae)

Stekolnikov A.A.

Systematic & Applied Acarology, 27 (8): 1596–1617 (2022).

S U M M A R Y

The African genus Austracarus Lawrence, 1949 was revised based on type specimens and literature data. Two species were transferred to this genus from Acomatacarus Ewing, 1942 — A. gateri (Radford, 1942) and A. theileri Radford, 1947. Re-descriptions of these species based on their holotypes and one topotypic specimen were prepared. Two species were re-described based on their paratypes — Austracarus procaviae Lawrence, 1949 and A. dendrohyracis (Vercammen-Grandjean, 1957). The monotypic genus Austrombicula Lawrence, 1949 was synonymized with Austracarus. An updated diagnosis and a key to species of Austracarus are provided.