Abstract
Pseudoparasitus (Gymnolaelaps) annectans (Womersley) and two new species are assigned to a new genus, Nidilaelaps.Nidilaelaps has a number of important differences from Pseudoparasitus and other genera that Nidilaelaps annectans hasbeen previously assigned to, but shares characters with Australopapuan vertebrate-associated taxa, particularly the“Androlaelaps” ulysses species group and Laelapsella Womersley. Nidilaelaps annectans is common in a variety ofmammal and bird nests and also in forest litter. The two new species (N. holdsworthi sp. nov., N. lisae sp. nov.) arerecorded from mammals, birds, or their nests in Papua New Guinea or Australia. Nidilaelaps is inferred to be endemic tothe Australopapuan region. The presence of N. annectans in other regions is suggested to be due to relatively recent colonisation, facilitated by its many phoretic associations, particularly with synanthropic rodents.References
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