Taxonomic Ranking of Major Trombiculid Subtaxa with Remarks on the Evolution of Host-Parasite Relationships (Acariformes: Parasitengona: Trombiculidae)

Host-associated differences in morphometric traits of parasitic larvae Hirsutiella zachvatkini (Actinotrichida: Trombiculidae)

“…Identical DNA sequences obtained from the chigger specimens parasitising different host species suggest their conspecificity. This is compatible with Shatrov and Kudryashova’s ( 2008 ) view that host selection in trombiculid mites is imposed by the habitat of the larvae, which infest all available vertebrates. According to Stekolnikov and Klimov ( 2010 ) size variation may reflect differences in environmental conditions, and is not necessarily genetically-based, as opposed to qualitative traits.…”

Two new species and new records of chiggers (Acari: Leeuwenhoekiidae, <br />Trombiculidae) from birds in Vietnam

“…The host-parasite relationships include combinations of diverse hosts with various chiggers (Shatrov & Kudryashova 2008). Birds constitute the preferred group of hosts for chiggers belonging for example to the genera Neoschoengastia Ewing, 1929, andHypogastia Vercammen-Grandjean, 1967.…”

“…A good example of various host distribution is seen in the largest genus, Leptotrombidium Nagayo, Miyagawa, Mitamura and Imamura, 1916, which includes about 340 species (Stekolnikov 2013). Many of these are associated with rodents, whereas nearly 80 species have been found on other animals, including birds (Kudryashova 1998;Shatrov & Kudryashova 2008). The genus Leptotrombidium has been studied for decades and many papers have appeared in various parts of the world, including extensive publications elaborating the entire genus (Vercammen-Grandjean 1968;Vercammen-Grandjean & Langston 1976;Kudryashova 1998;Stekolnikov 2013).…”

Taxonomy and distribution of African chiggers (Acariformes, Trombiculidae)

“…However, in most cases, I do not recognize the large combined genera proposed by Vercammen-Grandjean; I prefer to retain initially described and more homogeneous genera. For example, I consider Ericotrombidium Vercammen-Grandjean, 1966 andHypotrombidium Vercammen-Grandjean, 1966 as separate genera, and not as subgenera within Leptotrombidium Nagayo, Miyagawa, Mitamura & Imamura, 1916. As in my previous works, I follow here the system of Trombiculidae where this family is divided into four subfamilies -Apoloniinae Wharton, 1947, Leeuwenhoekiinae Womersley, 1944, Gahrliepiinae Womersley, 1952, and Trombiculinae Ewing, 1929(Kudryashova 1998) -that seems rational and wellgrounded by the larval morphology (Shatrov & Kudryashova 2008).…”