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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BARC) » Beltsville Agricultural Research Center » Systematic Entomology Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #402616

Research Project: Systematics of Acari and Hemiptera: Plant Pests, Predators, and Disease Vectors

Location: Systematic Entomology Laboratory

Title: Eutrombicula cochinocaensis n. sp.; a chigger (Trombidiformes; Trombiculidae) parasite of camelids (Cetartiodactyla; Camelidae) in Argentina

Author
item BASSINI-SILVA, R. - BUTANTAN INSTITUTE
item ACUNA, FRANCISCO - INSTITUTO NACIONAL TECNOLOGIA AGROPECUARIA
item WELBOURN, W. - SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTE
item Ochoa, Ronald - Ron
item BARROS-BATTESTI, D. - FACULDADE DE CIÊNCIAS AGRÁRIAS E VETERINÁRIAS DE JABOTICABAL-UNESP
item JACINAVICIUS, F. - BUTANTAN INSTITUTE

Submitted to: International Journal of Acarology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/17/2023
Publication Date: 3/6/2023
Citation: Bassini-Silva, R., Acuna, F., Welbourn, W.C., Ochoa, R., Barros-Battesti, D.M., Jacinavicius, F.C. 2023. Eutrombicula cochinocaensis n. sp.; a chigger (Trombidiformes; Trombiculidae) parasite of camelids (Cetartiodactyla; Camelidae) in Argentina. International Journal of Acarology. 49(3):1-6. https://doi.org/10.1080/01647954.2023.2184421.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/01647954.2023.2184421

Interpretive Summary: Chiggers are parasitic mites of vet/med importance that attack wild and domestic animals including humans. There are over 3,700 species of chiggers have been described worldwide. Our knowledge of chiggers in South America is increasing but still very limited. Understanding distribution and host associations are important to manage and monitor their impact of these mites as disease vectors. Recently we discover a new species of chiggers in association with camelids in Argentina. The information presented here on chigger distribution and identification is important for people in vet/med research, quarantine and biologists.

Technical Abstract: The known chigger mite fauna of Argentina is comprised of 17 species organized in the families Trombiculidae (10) and Leewenhoekiidae (7). The present study describes a new species of Eutrombicula with drawings, phase-contrast microscopy images, and SEM images. This chigger mite was collected parasitizing a vicuna in Abra Pampa City, Jujuy Province. It is the first time a chigger from Argentina has been collected from the family Camelidae.