Batmanacarus robini, n. gen., n. sp. (Trombidiformes: Trombiculidae) collected parasitizing a ghost-faced bat (Chiroptera: Mormoopidae) from a cave in Trinidad and Tobago

Authors: BASSINI-SILVA, R. - UNIVERSIDAD DE SAO PAULO; HUANG-BASTOS, MATHEUS - UNIVERSIDAD DE SAO PAULO; WELBOURN, W.C. - FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND CONSUMER SERVICES; Ochoa, Ronald - Ron; BARROS-BATTESTI, D.M. - SAO PAULO STATE UNIVERSITY (UNESP); JACINAVICIUS, F.C. - UNIVERSIDAD DE SAO PAULO

Submitted to: Systematic Parasitology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/15/2021
Publication Date: 3/31/2021
Citation: Bassini-Silva, R., Huang-Bastos, M., Welbourn, W., Ochoa, R., Barros-Battesti, D., Jacinavicius, F. 2021. Batmanacarus robini, n. gen., n. sp. (Trombidiformes: Trombiculidae) collected parasitizing a ghost-faced bat (Chiroptera: Mormoopidae) from a cave in Trinidad and Tobago. Systematic Parasitology. 98(3):1-7. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11230-021-09976-2.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11230-021-09976-2

Interpretive Summary: There are many species of chiggers associated with reptiles, birds and mammals worldwide. Chiggers are important because the larvae feed on domesticated animals and humans and carry diseases. This paper described a new genus of a chigger associated with bats in Trinidad and Tobago. This information is useful for people working with mites of medical and veterinary importance, quarantine and agriculture.

Technical Abstract: Trinidad and Tobago, a neotropical country, has 38 reported chigger species. Of these species, 18 were parasitizing bats. Here, we describe a new genus and species parasitizing a ghost-faced bat in this country.