A new genus of Laelapidae (Acari: Mesostigmata) from South America.

Hypoaceus gen. nov., a new genus of the family Laelapidae Berlese, is erected and described to accommodate Hypoaceus eugenitalis (Karg) comb. nov. and Hypoaceus pycnosis (Karg) comb. nov. that have been collected from Chile and Argentina. Important morphological characters of the above-mentioned species are presented and redescribed based on the type species. Some of the important morphological characters of the new genus are as follows: setae st4 absent; genitiventral shield well expanded posterior to coxae IV with two-three pairs of setae including st5 and bears numerous pore-like structures on the surface; interior appendages of internal malae elongate and scarcely barbed; epistome with fair denticles anteriorly; supralabral process long and style like; straight spermadactyl is about of twice of movable digit length; apotele two tined; male holoventral shield bearing numerous pore-like structures on the surface. Tarsus II both in male and female bearing strong spur or spine-like setae (av1 and pv1); male with strong spur-like seta (pv1) on femur II. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]