title: Host-associated differences in morphometric traits of parasitic larvae Hirsutiella zachvatkini (Actinotrichida: Trombiculidae).
abstract: Examination of host-associated variation in the chigger mite Hirsutiella zachvatkini (Schluger) revealed morphological differences among larvae infesting sympatric hosts: Apodemus agrarius, Apodemus flavicollis and Myodes glareolus. The analysis included 61 variables of larvae obtained from their gnathosoma, idiosoma and legs (measurements and counts). Statistically significant differences were observed for metric characters of the legs as opposed to the scutum. In view of the conspecificity of the mites, supported by comparison of COI gene products obtained from larvae and laboratory-reared deutonymphs, the observed variation is attributed to phenotypic plasticity. The knowledge of larval morphology, including intraspecific variation of metric characters, supported by molecular and host range data, places H. zachvatkini among the most comprehensively defined members of Trombiculidae.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biology, Department of Invertebrate Systematics and Ecology, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Kożuchowska 5b, 51-631, Wrocław, Poland.
authors.forename: Hanna
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Moniuszko
authors.forename: Grzegorz
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zaleśny
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mąkol
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D060829:Arthropod Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D058507:Host Specificity; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions; D007814:Larva / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D051189:Murinae / Q000469:parasitology*; D010641:Phenotype; D011044:Poland; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D013045:Species Specificity; D014324:Trombiculidae / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D060829:Arthropod Proteins; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV