Dendrochaetidae, a new family of mites (Acari: Prostigmata), with descriptions of a new genus and species from South Africa

A new family, Dendrochaetidae, and genus,Dendrodus, collected from soil samples from South Africa are diagnosed and described. An identification key separating the families of the superfamily Eupodoidea is presented. A new species, Dendrodus acarus is described and illustrated. The diagnostic morphological features are illustrated to be a combination of the type of setae of the idiosoma and appendages; palpal segmentation; the number and type of setae, rhagidial solenidia and erect solenidia of the palptarsus; presence and distribution of erect solenidia of leg segments; coxal chaetome; differences in the complement of cheliceral setae (cha and chb) and adoral setae (or1 and or2