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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BARC) » Beltsville Agricultural Research Center » Systematic Entomology Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #402621
Research Project: Systematics of Acari and Hemiptera: Plant Pests, Predators, and Disease Vectors

Location: Systematic Entomology Laboratory

Title: A new genus and two new species of chigger mites (Trombidiformes: Trombiculidae) associated with rodents from the Amargosa Valley, Mojave Desert, United States

Author
item BASSINI-SILVA, R. - Butantan Institute
item PESAPANE, RISA - University Of California, Davis
item WELBOURN, W. - Smithsonian Institute
item Ochoa, Ronald - Ron
item FOLEY, JANET - University Of California, Davis
item BARROS-BATTESTI, D. - Sao Paulo State University (UNESP)
item JACINAXICIUS, F. - Butantan Institute

Submitted to: Journal of Natural History
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/18/2023
Publication Date: 1/29/2024
Citation: Bassini-Silva, R., Pesapane, R., Welbourn, W.C., Ochoa, R., Foley, J., Barros-Battesti, D.M., Jacinaxicius, F.C. 2024. A new genus and two new species of chigger mites (Trombidiformes: Trombiculidae) associated with rodents from the Amargosa Valley, Mojave Desert, United States. Journal of Natural History. 50(1-2):1-14. https://doi.org/10.1080/01647954.2024.2303101.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/01647954.2024.2303101

Interpretive Summary: There are more than 3,000 species of chiggers worldwide. Our knowledge of chiggers of the United States is limited. As part of an ongoing study of the Amargosa rodents in the Mojave Desert region, California, USA, several small mammals parasitized with chiggers were collected. The examination of the material disclose one new genus and two new species for the Mojave Desert. These findings are important for the understanding of the biodiversity of the area and the association with rodent diseases. This publication will help scientists, veterinarians, entomologist and national programs in animal protection and conservation.

Technical Abstract: Chigger are the larval stages species in the Trombiculidae s. l. and parasitize most 29 terrestrial vertebrates.We described a new genus gen. n., and two new species Wrennacarus mojavensis sp. n. and Blankaartia auris sp. n., collected from rodents in the Amargosa River valley near Tecopa in Inyo County, California; and include the species W. fasolla n. comb. from Berry Springs Nature Reserve, Utah, USA in the proposed new genus.