A New Genus of Chiggers (Trombidiformes: Trombiculidae) from Bats in Jamaica

Background The Caribbean country Jamaica has only seven reported chigger species. Of these, one was recorded from bats. Methods For the specimens examined in this study were provided drawings, measurements, and microscopy images on a Microscope Zeiss. This material is deposited in the Smithsonian Na...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Acta parasitologica 2021-09, Vol.66 (3), p.837-843
Main Authors: Bassini-Silva, Ricardo, Huang-Bastos, Matheus, Welbourn, Cal, Ochoa, Ron, Barros-Battesti, Darci Moraes, Jacinavicius, Fernando de Castro
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal Systematics/Taxonomy/Biogeography
Biomedical and Life Sciences
Biomedicine
Chiroptera
Ecology
Femur
Medical Microbiology
Microbiology
New genera
Original Paper
Parasites
Parasitology
Setae
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Summary:Background The Caribbean country Jamaica has only seven reported chigger species. Of these, one was recorded from bats. Methods For the specimens examined in this study were provided drawings, measurements, and microscopy images on a Microscope Zeiss. This material is deposited in the Smithsonian National Chigger Collection. Results In the present study, we describe a new genus and species parasitizing the Antillean ghost-faced bat in Jamaica. This new genus can be separated from all other genera of this family for the following combination of features: (1) palptarsus with four branched and three nude setae; (2) 3-pronged odontus; (3) femur I divided into basifemur and telofemur; and (4) 3 σ on genu I. Conclusion The description of this new genus contributes to the increase in the knowledge of chiggers that parasites bats in Jamaica. Also, this is only the second record of a chigger parasitizing this host in this country.
ISSN:1230-2821
1896-1851
DOI:10.1007/s11686-021-00336-0