The genus Holostaspella Berlese, a cosmopolitan assemblage of phoretic and free-living Macrochelidae, is reviewed. Redescriptions of a number of described species and diagnoses of new species are included. A diagnosis of the genus Holostaspella and a key to known species is presented. Areolaspis Tragardh is synonymized with Holostaspella. New species of Holostaspella described herein are as follows: ainscoughi, ancylothrix, aplodontiae, berlesei, polytrema, similis and stenaspis. The following synonymies are proposed: Holostaspella egregia Vitzthum 1925 syn. of Holostaspella moderata Berlese 1920. Macrocheles fonsecai Fox 1946 syn. [?] of Holostaspella bifoliata (Tragardh) 1952. Holostaspella polyornata Turk 1948 syn. of Macrocheles mammifer Berlese 1918. New combinations are as follows: Holostaspella bifoliata (Tragradh) (formerly Areolaspis bifoliatus Tragardh). Macrocheles bisignata (Berlese) (formerly Holostaspella bisignata Berlese). Macrocheles hirsutissima (Berlese) (formerly Holostaspella hirsutissima Berlese). Macrochetes spinosissima (Berlese) (formerly Holostaspella spinosissima Berlese).