S. Mahunka szerk.: Folia Entomologica Hungarica 44/1. (Budapest, 1983)

Some new Oribatids from Madagascar (Acari) By S. MAHUNKA (Received December 1, 1982) Abstract: Three new species are described from Madagascar, one of them representing a new genus (

Caveremulus gen.n.), also a new subgenus (

Phyllorchestes subgen. n.) is erected. Dr. D. BALÁZS during his research trip to Madagascar collected and extracted two soil samples. These samples yielded some interesting Oribatids, among them three new taxa. The descriptions follow hereunder. Hoplophorella balazsi sp.n. Measurements: Length of aspis: 170-178 urn, length of notogaster: 308-316 urn, height of notogaster: 206-218 urn. Aspis (Fig. 4): Median ridge well developed and well separated in lateral view. Behind ridge a concave part present. All prodorsal setae minute. Surface with large foveolae. Sensillus very long, ensiform with a serrated velum marginally. Notogaster (Fig. 1): With some large tubercles, a complicated cavity {Fig. 3) anteriorly and a sharp crest existing medially. Surface ornamented also with large foveolae. Fifteen pairs simple notogastral setae present, some of them'arising on the tubercles. Ventral side (Fig. 2): Ano-adanal and genital plates ornamented with foveoiae, all setae minute. Three pairs of ana}, and two pairs of adanal setae present, ad. standing very near to anal ones. Legs: All legs with one claw. Material examined: Holotypus (816-HO-83): Afr. 310: Madagascar, Is. Nosy Be, soil samples from litter and moss of tropical rain forest. 29-30.November, 1979., leg. D. BALÁZS; 1 paratype: from the same sample. Holotypus deposited in the Zoological Department of the Hungarian Natural History Museum, Budapest, paratype in the Museum d'Histoire Naturelle, Geneva. Remarks. Its generic ranking is extremely problematic and again lucidly points out the generic separation of the family Phthiracaridae which recently seemed to have stabilized. Its striking feature is the deep cavern of the notogaster known in the two species described into the genus Tropacarus Ewing, 1917, as is present the dorsal longitudinal keel. While the two species have 4 anal setae on the inner margin of the ano-adanal plate, by which they are safely ranked