A redescription of Trichosurolaelaps dixous Domrow, 1972 (Acari: Laelapidae), from Trichosurus cunninghami (Marsupialia: Phalangeridae) from southern Australia.
The adults of Trichosurolaelaps dixous Domrow, 1972 are redescribed from a population of Trichosurus cunninghami Lindenmayer, Dubach et Viggers, 2002 in south-eastern Australia. The nymphal stages are described for the first time. Morphologically, T. dixous is similar to Trichosurolaelaps crassipes Womersley, 1956. Morphological differences between the prefemale deutonymphs and adult females of the two mite species are the presence of a single large ventral spur on tibia I of T. dixous. Males of T. dixous could not be distinguished from T. crassipes morphologically and the idiosomal length of male T. dixous was variable (475-683 microm). Protonymphs of the two mite species differed only in size, with that of T. dixous being larger. Although T. crassipes was prevalent in a sympatric population of Trichosurus vulpecula and has been reported from other populations of T. cunninghami in southern Australia, it was never recovered from the population of T. cunninghami studied.
Hufschmid
Jasmin
J
Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Melbourne, Veterinary Clinical Centre, Werribee VIC 3030, Australia. huj@unimelb.edu.au
Beveridge
Ian
I
Handasyde
Kathrine Ann
KA
Spratt
David Michael
DM
D000818:Animals; D001315:Australia; D005260:Female; D008018:Life Cycle Stages; D008297:Male; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D008924:Mite Infestations / Q000469:parasitology*; D008925:Mites / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000254:growth & development; D048330:Trichosurus / Q000469:parasitology*