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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BARC) » Beltsville Agricultural Research Center » Systematic Entomology Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #389671
Research Project: Systematics of Acari and Hemiptera: Plant Pests, Predators, and Disease Vectors

Location: Systematic Entomology Laboratory

Title: New records of Quadraseta spp. (Trombidiformes: Trombiculidae) in South America

Author
item ARBEX, R. - Butantan Institute
item BASSINI-SILAV, R. - Butantan Institute
item HUANG-BASTOS, M, - University Of Brazil
item Ochoa, Ronald - Ron
item WELBOURN, W. - Florida Department Of Agriculture
item BARROS-BATTESTI, D. - Faculdade De Ciências Agrárias E Veterinárias De Jaboticabal-Unesp
item JACINAVICIUS, F. - Butantan Institute

Submitted to: Entomological News
Publication Type: Research Notes
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/11/2021
Publication Date: 12/9/2021
Citation: Arbex, R.L., Bassini-Silav, R., Huang-Bastos, M., Ochoa, R., Welbourn, W.C., Barros-Battesti, D.M., Jacinavicius, F.C. 2021. New records of Quadraseta spp. (Trombidiformes: Trombiculidae) in South America. Entomological News. 3(2021):1-3. https://doi.org/10.37486/2675-1305.ec03042.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.37486/2675-1305.ec03042

Interpretive Summary: Chiggers are vet/med mite pests that parasitize terrestrial vertebrates. These mites inject digestive enzymes into the host during feeding, which can trigger inflammatory reactions known as trombiculiasis. There are approximately 3,700 described species of chiggers organized into 300 genera worldwide. One Neotropical genus of chiggers has 16 valid species associated with small mammals and birds in the Americas. This short note is important for people in vet/med research, quarantine and biologists.

Technical Abstract: Quadraseta is distributed in South American, with a few records from Central America. The larvae (chiggers) are primarily mammal parasites, with one species from birds. Examination of unidentified material at US National Entomology Collection revealed five species of Quadraseta: Q. brasiliensis, Q. falconensis, Q. flochi, Q. mackenziei, and Q. mirandae. This study resulted in new South American localities and host records for these species.