Nixon Wilson

New distributional records of ticks from Southeast Asia and the Pacific (Metastigmata : Argasidae, Ixodidae)

The following 11 species of ticks are recorded for the first time from various countries in Southeast Asia and the Pacific: Argas (Persicargas) robertsi (Indonesia), Amblyomma nitidum (West Irian),...

Ectoparasitic insects of bats in British Columbia, Canada

One species of parasitic bug (Hemiptera: Cimicidae), 3 species of fleas (Siphonaptera: Ischnopsyllidae), and 2 species of parasitic flies (Diptera: Nycteribiidae) were collected from 9 species of bats (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) in southern interior and northeastern British Columbia, Canada. Female bats that return daily to maternity roosts were more frequently infested with both cimicids and ischnopsyllids than were male bats. Some differences in ectoparasite infestation can be attributed to differences in roosting behavior of the host. New national records for 2 parasite species, and 8 new host records are established for Canada.

Parasitic and phoretic arthropods of sylvatic and commensal white-footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus) in central Tennessee, with notes on lyme disease

Sixteen species of parasitic or phoretic arthropods were collected from 56 white-footed mice, Peromyscus leucopus, live-trapped in central Tennessee from April through November 1987. Arthropod infestation was compared for mice taken from sylvatic (woodland) versus commensal (household) habitats. Three species were recorded from hosts in both habitats: the sucking louse Hoplopleura hesperomydis, the flea Epitedia wenmanni, and the laelapid mite Androlaelaps casalis. Twelve of the 13 remaining arthropod species were taken only from mice trapped in woodland whereas the phoretic glycyphagid mite Glycyphagus hypudaei was collected only from commensal mice. Arthropod faunas on commensal hosts clearly were impoverished. The 12 additional arthropod species recorded from the woodland mice consisted of 1 nidicolous beetle, Leptinus orientamericanus; 1 bot, Cuterebra fontinella; 3 fleas, Ctenophthalmus pseudagyrtes, Orchopeas leucopus and Peromyscopsylla scotti; 1 tick, Dermacentor variabilis; 2 mesostigmatid mites, Androlaelaps fahrenholzi and Ornithonyssus bacoti; 3 chiggers, Comatacarus americanus, Euschoengastia peromysci, and Leptotrombidium peromysci; and 1 undescribed pygmephorid mite of the genus Pygmephorus. Two nymphal and 100 larval D. variabilis were examined for spirochetes and found to be uninfected.

Ectoparasitic and phoretic arthropods of Virginia opossums (Didelphis virginiana) in central Tennessee.

Thirteen species of ectoparasitic (12) or phoretic (1) arthropods were collected from 26 adult Virginia opossums, Didelphis virginiana, live-trapped from April through September 1987 in Davidson County, Tennessee. The cat flea Ctenocephalides felis and the American dog tick Dermacentor variabilis were the predominant species with respect to mean intensity and prevalence. The macronyssid mite Ornithonyssus wernecki and the atopomelid mite Didelphilichus serrifer, both specific parasites of this host, showed high intensities but low prevalences. Other fleas collected were Cediopsylla simplex, Ctenophthalmus pseudagyrtes, and Orchopeas howardi. The tick Amblyomma americanum, the myobiid mite Archemyobia inexpectatus, and the trombiculid (chigger) mites Eutrombicula splendens, Leptotrombidium peromysci (first record from this host) and Neotrombicula cavicola (first record from this host), were also recorded. One phoretic species, the glycyphagid mite Marsupialichus brasiliensis, was noted.

Ectoparasitic Acari Found on Golden Lion Tamarins (Leontopithecus rosalia rosalia) from Brazil

Anesthetized golden lion tamarins (Leontopithecus rosalia rosalia), a highly endangered species, were examined for ectoparasites by brushing the fur and swabbing the ears. Ectoparasites recovered from the fur included four species of immature ticks (Amblyomma spp.), three species of chiggers (Euschoengastia sp., Microtrombicula brennani and Speleocola tamarina), and one species of follicular mite (Rhyncoptes anastosi). Ectoparasites do not seem to be of particular significance to the health of the golden lion tamarin; this may in part result from grooming.

Occurrence of the ear canker mite, Otodectes cynotis (Hering), on the Wolverine, Gulo gulo (L.)

The ear canker mite of carnivores, Otodectes cynotis (Hering) is a well known pest of domestic cats and dogs and has also been recorded from the arctic fox (Alopex lagopus), red fox (Vulpes vulpes), ferret (Mustela putonius furo), and hedgehog (Eninaceus europaeus) under natural conditions (Sweatman, 1958, Can. J. Zoo!. 36: 849-862; Evans et a!., 1961, The Terrestrial Acari of the British Isles, British Museum (Natural History), London, England, 219 pp.). The mite usually lives deep in the ear canal near the eardrum; however, it is known to cause lesions on the body of the host. Ear infections cause intense irritation characterized by head shaking and ear scratching. Ulceration of the auditory canal and convulsions are not unusual. Alopecia has been associated with body infestations. Sweatman (1958, op. cit.; 1962, N.Z. Entomol. 3: 15-23) was unable to culture mites from the ferret in vitro when epidermal material from the ears of marten (Martes americana), fisher (Martes pennanti), ermine (Mustela erminea), mink (Mustela vison), badger (Taxidea taxus), and river otter (Lutra canadensis) was used. Under similar in vitro conditions he was successful using epidermal material

Ectoparasites from fruit bats and rats on Niue Island

Examination of 3 species of mammals from Niue Island revealed the following host/ectoparasite associations. Rattus rattus (L.) : the mites Androlaelaps casalis, Laelaps echidninus, L. nuttalli, Ornithonyssus bacoti, Listrophoroides cucullatus, and Dermatophagoides pteronys‐sinus; and the louse Polyplax spinulosa. Rattus exulans (Peale) : L. echidninus, L. nuttali, and L. cucullatus; and the louse Hoplopleura pacifica. Pteropus t. tonganus Quoy & Gaimard: the mite Meristaspis calcarata. These new records for the island are discussed in relation to existing records from the Pacific region.

The Flea (Siphonaptera) Fauna of Georgia, U.S.A: Hosts, Distribution and Medical-Veterinary Importance

ABSTRACT Host and distribution data are provided for the 26 species of fleas recorded from Georgia, U.S.A.: Cediopsylla inaequalis, C. simplex (rabbit flea), Ctenocephalides canis (dog flea), C. felis (cat flea), Echidnophaga gallinacea (sticktight flea), Pulex irritans (human flea), P. simulans, Xenopsylla cheopis (Oriental rat flea), Polygenis gwyni, Conorhinopsylla stanfordi, Ctenophthalmus pseuadagyrtes, Doratopsylla blarinae, Epitedia cavernicola, E. wenmanni, Nearctopsylla georgiana, Stenoponia americana, Ceratophyllus celsus, Nosopsyilus fasciatus (northern rat flea), Orchopeas howardi (squirrel flea), O. leucopus, O. pennsylvanicus, Leptopsylla segnis (European mouse flea), Odontopsyllus multispinosus, Peromyscopsylla hesperomys, P. scotti and Sternopsylla distincta texana. Three of these species, P. gwyni, N. georgiana and O. howardi, were described from Georgia specimens. While some of these flea species appear to be widely distributed throughout Georgia, C. inaequalis represents an introduction on hosts introduced for hunting from western North America, D. blarinae, E. cavernicola, N. georgiana, C. celsus and P. hesperomys were recorded only from Piedmont or mountainous regions in northern Georgia, and P. gwyni was mainly recorded in the Coastal Plain of southern Georgia. Nearctopsylla georgiana is known from only a single specimen and has never been recorded outside of northern Georgia. Fleas associated with domestic rats (Rattus norvegicus and R. rattus) were abundant in Georgia, especially coastal and southern Georgia during the 1930s–1950s but currently appear to be uncommon in the state. There were concerted control efforts against Rattus spp. and their fleas during that time period because of their reservoir and vector status, respectively, for Rickettsia typhi, the causative agent of murine (endemic) typhus. Human cases of murine typhus in Georgia have almost disappeared in recent decades. Other flea-borne diseases in Georgia include cat flea rickettsiosis caused by Rickettsia felis, bartonellosis (including cat scratch disease caused by Bartonella henselae), and sylvatic epidemic typhus caused by certain strains of Rickettsia prowazekii. Further, cat and dog fleas are intermediate hosts of the double-pored tapeworm, Dipylidium caninum, which typically infects dogs but can also infect cats and humans if infected fleas are inadvertently ingested. Human and pet-biting fleas such as the cat flea can also cause flea-bite dermatitis in dogs, cats and humans. Poultry fleas such as E. gallinacea currently appear to be uncommon on domesticated birds in Georgia but this flea sometimes infests chickens, dogs and some other mammals in fairly large numbers.

Studies on Southeast Asian Haemaphysalis ticks (Ixodoidea, Ixodidae). H. (Alloceraea) vietnamensis sp. n., the first structurally primitive haemaphysalid recorded from Southern Asia.

Structurally primitive haemaphysalids of Eurasia have been found only in temperate, northern areas. In spite of this contemporary distribution pattern, it has been postulated that the genus Haemaphysalis probably originated in tropical Southeast Asia, where numerous more structurally advanced haemaphysalid species now occur. We therefore consider it of outstanding phylogenetic and biological interest to report the discovery of two female specimens of a highly distinctive species, Haemaphysalis (Alloceraea) vietnamensis sp. n., possibly the most structurally primitive of all described species in this genus, from vegetation in the temperate or subtropical highlands of Vietnam. Structurally primitive forms comprise approximately 10% of the total number of species now known in the genus Haemaphysalis. Ecologically and geographically, all except one of the described species of this archaic morphological pattern are confined to temperate zones of North America [H. (Aboimisalis) chordeilis (Packard)] and Eurasia. The single exception in a tropical clime has been H. (Sharifiella) theilerae Hoogstraal of Madagascar. Low temperatures and slow reproductive rates appear to be partially responsible for preservation of the primitive prototype or possibly for survival of certain species that have changed slightly if at all since the genus originated (see Hammer, 1965). We have postulated that Haemaphysalis ticks arose with reptiles in the late Paleozoic or early Mesozoic in warm, humid forests of tropical southeast Asia. Here, owing to severe competition from numerous more recent forms, structurally primitive haemaphysalids have become extinct (Hoogstraal, 1965). Received for publication 1 March 1966. *From Research Project MR005.09-1402.3, Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, Department of the Navy, Washington, D. C. The opinions and assertions contained herein are the private ones of the authors and are not to be construed as official or as reflecting the views of the Department of the Navy or of the naval service at large. t Department of Medical Zoology, U. S. Naval Medical Research Unit Number Three, Cairo, Egypt, UAR. t Bernice P. Bishop Museum, Honolulu, Hawaii. This report represents partial results of fieldwork and research supported by the U. S. Army Medical Research and Development Command, Research Grant DA-MEDDH-60-1, and NIH, Grant AI 01723, to Bernice P. Bishop Museum. Thus, it is especially interesting to report at this time the presence of a species, possibly the most structurally primitive of all contemporary haemaphysalids, from temperate or subtropical highlands of Vietnam. Only two female specimens are available. Until more is known about the ecology, life cycle, host relationships, and morphology of the male and immature stages of this species, we hesitate to attempt to evaluate its role as an indicator of phylogenetic associations and history of Haemaphysalis ticks. Investigation of the potential of this species as a reservoir of pathogens is exceptionally desirable. Haemaphysalis (Alloceraea) vietnamensis sp. n. The Vietnam Primitive Haemaphysalid

Ursicoptes procyoni spec. nov. (Acari: Astigmata: Audycoptidae) from the Raccoon, Procyon lotor, in U.S.A.

ABSTRACT Ursicoptes procyoni spec. nov. is described from Procyon lotor in U. S. A. The male of the genus Ursicoptes is described for the first time.