The Genus Lechytia in the United States (Pseudoscorpionida, Chthoniidae)

An emended diagnosis of the genus is provided. Three new species are described: Lechytia sini and Lechytia arborea, both from Florida and Texas, and Lechytia hoffi from several western states. The relations of these to other American species are discussed. Aside from Chthonius, species of which have apparently been re- peatedly introduced from Europe, the most widespread heterosphyro- nid genus in the New World is Lechytia. Its five described species range from Argentina, Paraguay and Chile northward through South and Central America and into the United States as far north as Wash- ington and it has also been reported from Jamaica and Trinidad in the Caribbean. But in spite of this wide geographical distribution, Lechytia is very poorly known. As in most chthoniids, its representa- tives are quite small, easily overlooked and seldom collected, with the result that few specimens have been studied carefully. No good de- scription is yet available for any North American species and the common species of western United States is currently without a valid name (see Schuster 1968). The present paper emends the diagnosis of the genus, describes two new species from Florida and Texas, and provides a name and com- plete description for the western U.S. form. Type specimens are deposited in the American Museum of Natural History in New York except as noted otherwise.