Abstract
Four new species of phthiracarid mites, viz., Atropacarus (Hoplophorella) chalyamensis, A. (H.) crenulus, A. (H.) reticulatus and A. (H.) calotropicus are reported from Kerala, India. This is the first report of this genus from southern India. A. (H.) chaliyamensis is characterised by the presence of two lateral carinae as a pair of stumps on the prodorsum which stop abruptly at the middle and the barbed nature of adanal seta ad2. A. (H.) crenulus possesses an oval prodorsum with slightly pointed tip and an elongated sensillus with a round fan-shaped projection towards the tip with crenultion along its anterior margin. Exobothridial seta is absent while seta ad2 is thin and smooth with pointed tip. In A. (H.) reticulatus lateral carina is well developed which bulges outwards towards the middle of prodorsum. Prodorsal integument shows a number of longitudinal striations which corss one over the other presenting a highly reticulated appearance. Rostral seta is thick, lamellar seta is elongated while notogastral setae are bare. In A. (H.) calotropicus, prodorsum is oblong with rounded rostral apex and without lateral carina. Prodorsum exhibit wrinkled ornamentation while notogaster is densely foveolate. Rostral seta is barbed while notogastral setae c 1, d 1 and e 1 appear foliate with uniform thickness.