Demodex microti n. sp. (Acari: Demodecidae) in Microtus arvalis (Pallas) (Rodentia, Cricetidae) with a checklist of the demodecid mites of cricetids.
Demodex microti n. sp. (Acari, Demodecidae) is described from the skin of the genital area of the common vole Microtus arvalis (Pallas) in Poland based on the morphology of the adult and immature stages. The new species appears most similar to D. cricetuli Hurley & Desch, 1994 from the gray dwarf hamster, Cricetulus migratorius (Pallas), but differs in the following features: the supracoxal spines are conical and located at the edge of the gnathosoma, the spines of the terminal segment of palp are three, single-tined, the opisthosomal organ is narrow and elongated in males and bubble-shaped in females, the vulva is located below the incision of the fourth pair of epimeral plates, eggs are oval. The differences also relate to body size and proportions, D. microti n. sp. being smaller and slender. The new species occurred in all of the rodents examined. A checklist of demodecid mites in cricetids world-wide is also provided.
Department of Invertebrate Zoology and Parasitology, University of Gdańsk, Wita Stwosza 59, 80-308, Gdańsk, Poland, biojni@biol.ug.edu.pl.
Joanna N
JN
Izdebska
Leszek
L
Rolbiecki
D000053:Acari / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000145:classification* / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D003411:Arvicolinae / Q000469:parasitology*; D057189:Checklist; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D011044:Poland; D013045:Species Specificity