A new species of chigger mite (acari: trombiculidae) from rodents in southwest China

Korean J Parasitol. 2014 Feb;52(1):63-7. doi: 10.3347/kjp.2014.52.1.63. Epub 2014 Feb 19.

Abstract

This paper describes a new species of chigger mite (ACARI: Trombiculidae), Gahrliepia cangshanensis n. sp., from rodents in southwest China. The specimens were collected from Yunnan red-backed voles, Eothenomys miletus (Thomas, 1914), and a Chinese white-bellied rat, Niviventer confucianus (Milne-Edwards, 1871) in Yunnan Province. The new species is unique mainly in its number of dorsal setae (n=21), and it has the following features: fT (formula of palpotarsus)=4B (B=branched), fp (formula of palpal seta)=B/N/N/N/B (N=naked), a broad tongue-shaped scutum with an almost straight posterior margin, and 17 PPLs (posterior posterolateral seta) with a length of 36-43 µm. This chigger mite may also infect other rodent hosts and may be distributed in other localities.

Keywords: Acari; China; Gahrliepia cangshanensis; Trombiculidae; chigger mite; new species.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animal Structures / anatomy & histology
  • Animals
  • Arvicolinae / parasitology*
  • China
  • Ectoparasitic Infestations / parasitology
  • Ectoparasitic Infestations / veterinary*
  • Microscopy
  • Murinae / parasitology*
  • Rodent Diseases / parasitology*
  • Rodentia / parasitology*
  • Trombiculidae / anatomy & histology
  • Trombiculidae / classification*