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. 2015 Sep;67(1):123-33.
doi: 10.1007/s10493-015-9925-0. Epub 2015 May 23.

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

Hanna Moniuszko  1 , Grzegorz Zaleśny, Joanna Mąkol
Affiliations

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

Hanna Moniuszko et al. Exp Appl Acarol. 2015 Sep.

Abstract

Examination of host-associated variation in the chigger mite Hirsutiella zachvatkini (Schluger) revealed morphological differences among larvae infesting sympatric hosts: Apodemus agrarius, Apodemus flavicollis and Myodes glareolus. The analysis included 61 variables of larvae obtained from their gnathosoma, idiosoma and legs (measurements and counts). Statistically significant differences were observed for metric characters of the legs as opposed to the scutum. In view of the conspecificity of the mites, supported by comparison of COI gene products obtained from larvae and laboratory-reared deutonymphs, the observed variation is attributed to phenotypic plasticity. The knowledge of larval morphology, including intraspecific variation of metric characters, supported by molecular and host range data, places H. zachvatkini among the most comprehensively defined members of Trombiculidae.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Results of canonical analysis of Hirsutiella zachvatkini obtained from three host species. Plot generated based on 23 variables measured in 133 specimens. Symbols denoting host species: squares—Apodemus flavicollis, circles—Apodemus agrarius, black diamonds—Myodes glareolus
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