Trombicula

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Trombicula
Harvest-mite-North America.jpg
Larval harvest mite from North America
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Trombidiformes
Family: Trombiculidae
Tribe: Trombiculini
Genus: Trombicula
Berlese, 1905
Type species
Trombicula minor [1]
Berlese, 1905

Trombicula, known as chiggers, red bugs, scrub-itch mites, or berry bugs, are small arachnids [2] (eight-legged arthropods) in the Trombiculidae family. In their larval stage, they attach to various animals and humans, then feed on skin, often causing itching and trombiculosis. [3] These relatives of ticks are nearly microscopic, measuring 0.4 mm (0.01 in), and have a chrome-orange hue. A common species of harvest mite in North America is Trombicula alfreddugesi .

Contents

The larval mites feed on the skin cells, but not blood, of animals. The six-legged parasitic larva feeds on a large variety of creatures, including humans, rabbits, wallabies, [4] toads, box turtles, quail, and even some insects. After crawling onto their hosts, they inject digestive enzymes into the skin that break down skin cells. [2] They do not actually "bite", but instead form a hole in the skin called a stylostome, and chew up tiny parts of the inner skin, thus causing severe irritation and swelling. The severe itching is accompanied by red pimple-like bumps (papules) or hives and skin rash or lesions on a sun-exposed area. For humans, itching usually occurs after the larvae detach from the skin.[ citation needed ]

After feeding on their hosts, the larvae drop to the ground and become nymphs, then mature into adults, which have eight legs and are harmless to humans. In the postlarval stage, they are not parasitic and feed on plant materials. The females lay three to eight eggs in a clutch, usually on a leaf or under the roots of a plant, and die by autumn.[ citation needed ]

Distribution

Species in the genus Trombicula are found throughout the world. In Europe and North America, they tend to dwell in hot and humid climates. In more temperate regions, they are found only in summer. In France, for example, they are called aoûtat, after août (August), vendangeon, after vendange (harvest), or rouget, after rouge (red).

In the United States, trombicula are found mostly in the southeast, the south, and the Midwest. They are rarely found in far northern areas, high mountains or deserts, however they can be found in the Great Lakes region. [5] They live in low, damp areas within forests and grasslands, as well as in drier environments where vegetation is low-growing but profuse, such as lawns, golf courses and parks. They are most numerous in early summer when grass, weeds and other vegetation are most prevalent. Harvest mites can also find their way into homes via human hosts who have passed through such areas.[ citation needed ]

Taxonomy

Species include: [6]

See also

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oribatida</span> Order of mites

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Erythraeidae</span> Family of mites

Erythraeidae is a family of mites belonging to the Trombidiformes. Larval forms of these mites are parasitic on various other arthropods, for example harvestmen, but the adults are free-living predators. These oval mites are rather large, usually reddish coloured and densely hairy. The legs, especially the first and fourth pairs, are long and adapted for running. They have either one or two pairs of eyes and can be distinguished from related families microscopically by the presence of a single claw on the tibia of the palp.

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Leptotrombidium is a genus of mites in the family Trombiculidae, that are able to infect humans with scrub typhus through their bite. The larval form feeds on rodents, but also occasionally humans and other large mammals. They are related to the harvest mites of the North America and Europe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trombiculidae</span> Family of trombidiform mites

Trombiculidae, commonly referred to in North America as chiggers and in Britain as harvest mites, but also known as berry bugs, bush-mites, red bugs or scrub-itch mites, are a family of mites. Chiggers are often confused with jiggers – a type of flea. Several species of Trombiculidae in their larva stage bite their animal host and by embedding their mouthparts into the skin cause "intense irritation", or "a wheal, usually with severe itching and dermatitis". Humans are possible hosts.

Euschoengastia is a genus of mites in the family Trombiculidae.

<i>Neotrombicula</i> Genus of mites

Neotrombicula is a genus of mites in the family Trombiculidae. Species of this genus are found throughout Europe and North America.

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Eutrombicula samboni is a species of mite in the family Trombiculidae, found in South Australia.

Guntheria is a genus of mites in the family Trombiculidae. The species of this genus are found in Australia and the islands to its north.

Guntheria coorongensis is a species of mite in the family Trombiculidae, found from the tip of Cape York in Queensland to South Australia.

Trombiculini is a tribe of chiggers belonging to the family Trombiculidae.

Neotrombicula fujigmo is a species of harvest mite. It is an ectoparasite of shrews and rats. N. fujigmo is found in the Indomalayan realm and has been recorded in Myanmar and India. Cornelius Becker Philip and H. S. Fuller described the species in 1950, initially placing it in the genus Trombicula. The specific epithet comes from the military slang FUJIGMO.

References

  1. ↑ Audy, J. R.; Nadchatram, M.; Loomis, R. B.; Traub, R. (1965). "Trombicula minor Berlese (Acarina, Trombiculidae): Designation of neotype with larval and post-larval stages from Malayan bats, and new name, Myotrombicula dilaratni, for T. minor, Cooreman, 1960 nec Berlese, 1905". Acarologia. 7 (Suppl): 1–33.
  2. 1 2 "Chiggers, Jiggers, Harvest Mites, or Red Bugs". Oklahoma State University. 2021-04-21. Retrieved 2024-10-19.
  3. ↑ Ramondetta, Alice; Ribero, Simone; Peano, Andrea; Quaglino, Pietro; Broganelli, Paolo (August 2020). "In Vivo Observation of Trombiculosis with Fluorescence–Advanced Videodermatoscopy". Emerging Infectious Diseases. 26 (8). CDC. doi:10.3201/eid2608.200077. hdl: 2318/1756188 .
  4. ↑ Old, J. M.; Lowry, J.; Young, L. J. (2009). "Scrub-itch mite (Eutrombicula hirsti) infection in the endangered bridled nailtail wallaby (Onychogalea fraenata)". Australian Veterinary Journal. 87 (8): 338–341. doi:10.1111/j.1751-0813.2009.00462.x.
  5. ↑ chgz848 (2020-04-22). "Where Do Chiggers Live?". Chiggerex. Retrieved 2024-10-19.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  6. ↑ "Trombicula Berlese, 1905". IRMNG. 2018. Retrieved 2019-01-16.

Further reading

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