Primary type specimens: Acari

This is a list of 176 primary type-specimens of Acari housed in the N.Z. Arthropod Collection.

Most of the publications in which these Acari species were described stated that the primary types were deposited in a DSIR collection located at Auckland or Nelson. Between October 1989 and June 1992 NZAC was under the stewardship of DSIR Plant Protection based in Auckland, and before this (October 1973 to September 1989) with Entomology Division, DSIR based in Auckland. Up to September 1973 the major part of NZAC was located at Entomology Division, DSIR in Nelson, and part was under the stewardship of Plant Diseases Division, DSIR at Mt Albert, Auckland. When Entomology Division, DSIR transferred to the Mt Albert Research Centre site in Auckland from Nelson the two DSIR collections were amalgamated and named NZAC.

The list is in two parts:

• Alphabetical by species
  Information with each primary type specimen is in the following sequence: the species name as in the original publication, author, year of publication, genus and family the species was originally assigned to, whether the specimen held at NZAC is a holotype or syntype, and family the species is assigned to.
• Alphabetical by family
  Species arranged alphabetically within the family where species originally assigned to.

The list is based on records in the NZAC specimen database. For many of these primary type specimens further details - such as collector, date, and place of collection - may be obtained by viewing a copy of the database on this web site and choosing the species for which further information is required.

NZAC Acari specimens are available for borrowing by bona fide researchers. Before primary type specimens of species described from New Zealand can be sent outside New Zealand, we must obtain a Temporary Export Certificate from the New Zealand Department of Internal Affairs so as to comply with the Antiquities Act legislation of New Zealand. We are required to provide the reference details for the publication describing the species requested, and the name and address of the researcher and institution requesting the primary types. It usually takes about a month to obtain the certificate.

Acknowledgments

We thank Kate Senner for her assistance with this project. The work was supported by the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology under contract no. C09401.