A review of intranasal chiggers with descriptions of twelve species from East New Guinea (Acarina, Trombiculidae).

Abstract

Eighty-six species of intranasal chiggers in 16 genera are known to date. They occur on a variety of hosts—birds, reptiles, marsupials, bats, rodents and other small terrestrial mammals. A list of intranasal species with type host and locality is given. Twelve species in 2 genera are reported from New Guinea. Gahrliepia ( Walchia ) morobensis (Gunther) is established as an intranasal species for the first time. The remaining 11 new species in 2 genera, Gahrliepia ( Walchia ) and Ascoschoengastia ( Laurentella ), arc described and illustrated. The new species are: G. ( W. ) traubaudyi, A. ( L. ) indigella, A. ( L. ) melanesiana, A. ( L. ) modica, A. ( L. ) goilala, A. ( L. ) lorentzimys, A. ( L. ) libbymannae, A. ( L. ) accola, A. ( L. ) improcera, A. ( L. ) metatarsalis , and A. ( L. ) elongotarsala . Because of the distinctive niche that these species occupy in the host, it is postulated that the post-larval stages and unfed larvae are strictly nidicolous, e.g., subterranean nests of the hosts. A key to the New Guinea species, notes on biology, host and altitudinal distribution of nasal chiggers arc offered.