title: Efficient laboratory maintenance of blood-feeding mesostigmatid mites (Acari).
abstract: A technique is described for colonizing hematophagous mesostigmatid (= gamasid) mites under laboratory conditions. The apparatus consisted of a 473-ml (1 pint) Mason jar with sterilized surgical gauze and corrugated card placed inside on the bottom; these functioned as absorbent and mite bedding materials, respectively. A suckling mouse was placed onto the surgical gauze for 2-24 h to provide a food source for the mites. Stickem adhesive was smeared along the inside neck of the jar, which had a tight-fitting but ventilated screw-cap lid. The apparatus rested in a petri dish filled with water. This system provided excellent containment of the mites.
authors.affiliation: Department of Arboviral Entomology, U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Ft. Detrick, Frederick, Maryland 21702.
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Durden
authors.forename: K J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Linthicum
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000833:Animals, Suckling; D004772:Entomology / Q000379:methods*; D051379:Mice; D008925:Mites / Q000254:growth & development*