MICROSPALACINAE, A NEW SUBFAMILY OF THE FEATHER MITE FAMILY ALLOPTIDAE GAUD (ACARINA, ANALGOIDEA)

Microspalacinae subfam. n. (Analgoidea, Alloptidae) is established for the feather mite genus Microspalax Megnin et Trouessart (= Connivelobus Dubinin, new synonymy). Morphologies of the species are described and illustrated with line drawings and SEM micrographs, and taxonomical comments are given for named species. The mites are known from shearwaters (Procellariidae) and stormpetrels (Hydrobatidae); host associations are discussed. The alloptid subfamily Thysanocercinae Atyeo et Peterson is elevated to familial rank.