Associations between different Laelapidae (Mesostigmata: Dermanyssoidea) mites and small rodents from Lithuania

Abstract

Associations between species of Laelapidae (Mesostigmata: Dermanyssoidea) mites and small rodents have been studied insufficiently. The aim of this study was to investigate infestation patterns of small rodent species by laelapid mites at six locations in Lithuania. A total of 728 rodents were snap- and live-trapped in various locations during 2013-2016. Eight rodent species were identified, namely Apodemus flavicollis, Apodemus agrarius, Myodes glareolus, Micromys minutus, Mus musculus, Microtus oeconomus, Microtus arvalis and Microtus agrestis. A total of 343 (47.1%) rodents were found to be infested with up to eight species of parasitic mites from the Laelapidae family (n = 1363): Laelaps agilis, Laelaps hilaris, Hyperlaelaps microti, Haemogamasus nidi, Haemogamasus hirsutus, Eulaelaps stabularis, Hirstionyssus sunci and Myonyssus gigas. The dominant species of mite found on rodents was L. agilis (89.1%), found on 43.4% of all hosts. Abundance and mean intensity of infestation with mites varied among species of hosts and were highest for A. flavicollis. We document new geographical and host records for gamasid mites of eight rodent species in Lithuania.