Morphometric variation of Androlaelaps fahrenholzi (Mesostigmata: Laelapidae) associated with three Sigmodontinae (Rodentia: Cricetidae) from the north of Chile

SILVA-DE LA FUENTE, MARÍA CAROLINA; MORENO SALAS, LUCILA; CASANUEVA, MARÍA EUGENIA; LARESCHI, MARCELA; GONZÁLEZ-ACUÑA, DANIEL

EXPERIMENTAL AND APPLIED ACAROLOGY

SPRINGER

Año: 2020 vol. 81 p. 135 - 148

0168-8162

Androlaelaps fahrenholzi is a mite with a large distribution and associated with a widerange of hosts. To assess morphometric variation of A. fahrenholzi associated with differenthost species (Phyllotis xanthopygus and Akodon albiventer, both from Putre, Chile)and localities (Las Chinchillas National Reserve, Fray Jorge National Park, and Llanos deChalle National Park, all in Chile and all from the host Phyllotis darwini), 41 morphologicalcharacters of each specimen were measured, and principal component analysis anddiscriminant analysis were used. Both analyses showed two groups separated for speciesof rodents. Mites associated with P. xanthopygus are smaller than those of A. albiventer.The analysis by location indicates two groups: group 1 comprises all mites collected fromFray Jorge National Park and Las Chinchillas National Reserve, and group 2 comprisesonly mites from Llanos de Challe National Park. These results indicate that A. fahrenholzipopulation can vary between hosts and geographical areas. Molecular analysis would benecessary to validate these results and determine whether they are subspecies or differentspecies.