Laelapid mites (Mesostigmata: Laelapidae) associated with small rodents in Lithuania

Abstract

Laelapid mites (Mesostigmata: Laelapidae) are one of the most important groups of parasitic mesostigmatic mites associated with small rodents. Associations of laelapid mites with its rodent hosts are studied poorly. The aim of this study was to investigate laelapid mites and estimate their infestation patterns in different rodent species in Lithuania. Small rodents identified as Apodemus flavicollis, A. agrarius, Myodes glareolus, Micromys minutus, Mus musculus, Microtus oeconomus, M. arvalis and M. agrestis were snap- and live-trapped in six locations in Lithuania during 2013–2016. A total of 343 (47.1%) rodents were found to be infested with up to eight species of laelapid mites (n = 1363): Laelaps agilis, L. hilaris, Hyperlaelaps microti, Haemogamasus nidi, H. hirsutus, Eulaelaps stabularis, Hirstionyssus sunci and Myonyssus gigas. Abundance and mean intensity of infestation with mites were highest for A. flavicollis. In the present study, we reported mite-host associations, occurrence and diversity of eight mite species from eight species of rodent hosts in different geographic regions across Lithuania.