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

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Abstract

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.

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Acknowledgements

To Gabrielle Ribeiro de Andrade and Maria Cristina Ferreira do Rosário for technical contribution (CNPq Nos. 377343/2015-3 and 377342/2015-7, respectively), Debra Creel, Andrew Ulsamer (SEL-USDA), and Armando Rosario-Lebron (APHIS-USDA) for their help with references and technical support. To the Smithsonian Natural History Museum and National Agricultural Library (NAL-USDA), SEL-USDA for support and assistance with specimens and references. This work was supported by Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq Nos. 454907/2014-1 and 440639/2015-8 to DMB-B; 377976/2014-8 to FCJ), Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP Nos. 2010/51875-9 to DMB-B; 2017/01416-7 and 2018/24667-8 to RB-S). This study was financed in part by the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior—Brasil (CAPES)—Finance Code 001. Mention of trade names or commercial products in this publication is solely for the purpose of providing specific information and does not imply recommendation or endorsement by the USDA; USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia da Universidade de São Paulo (FMVZ-USP), Prof. Dr. Orlando Marques de Paiva Avenue, 87, São Paulo, SP, 055-08270, Brazil

    Ricardo Bassini-Silva, Matheus Huang-Bastos & Darci Moraes Barros-Battesti

  2. Laboratório de Coleções Zoológicas, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, SP, Brazil

    Ricardo Bassini-Silva, Matheus Huang-Bastos & Fernando de Castro Jacinavicius

  3. Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, National Insect and Mite Collection, Washington, D. C., USA

    Cal Welbourn

  4. Systematic Entomology Laboratory, United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville, MD, USA

    Ron Ochoa

  5. Departamento de Patologia, Reprodução e Saúde Única, Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias-UNESP, Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil

    Darci Moraes Barros-Battesti

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  1. Ricardo Bassini-Silva
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  2. Matheus Huang-Bastos
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  3. Cal Welbourn
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Correspondence to Ricardo Bassini-Silva.

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Bassini-Silva, R., Huang-Bastos, M., Welbourn, C. et al. A New Genus of Chiggers (Trombidiformes: Trombiculidae) from Bats in Jamaica. Acta Parasit. 66, 837–843 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11686-021-00336-0

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