Pneumonyssus africanus Fain, 1959 (Acari,Mesostigmata). Comparison of larva and adults with P. simicola Banks, 1901

Summary The lung mite P. africanus Fain, 1959 and its larva from a new host (Mandrillus leucophaeus) is described and compared to the most frequently found species, P. simicola Banks, 1901. The chaetotaxy of the legs is essentially identical, but leg IV of P. simicola bears 5 spines and 10 setae, while in P. africanus one of the spines is replaced by a seta. Also, very fragile small setae were discovered at the base of the ambulacra on legs II, III and IV in P. africanus and only on leg IV in P. simicola. The chaetae of the ‘Haller's organ’ on leg I are described in detail, and formulae for the chaetotaxy of all legs and measurements of both species are given. ac]19860213