Re-evaluation of Pseudoparasitus (Gymnolaelaps) annectans (Womersley): a new genus and two new species (Acari: Mesostigmata: Laelapidae)

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 has been 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 of mammal and bird nests and also in forest litter. The two new species (N. holdsworthi sp. nov., N. lisae sp. nov.) are recorded from mammals, birds, or their nests in Papua New Guinea or Australia. Nidilaelaps is inferred to be endemic to the 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.