Record Details

Werman, Steven D
Population dynamics of the lizard mite, Hirstiella pyriformis (Acari: Pterygosomatidae) on the Chuckwalla, Sauromalus obesus (Sauria: Iguanidae)
The Journal of Parasitology
1983
Journal Article
69
2
381-386
Sauromalus obesus
Between April and September 1978, several thousand mites in various stages of development removed from 37 chuckwallas (Sauromalus obesus). Patterns of distribution on the host, infestation intensity and seasonal variation in larval size are reported. Larvae and an exceedingly small number of deutonymphs comprised over 98% of the mites sampled and were most commonly attached to the tail and hindlimbs. Larvae were distributed most uniformly with respect to the total sample, whereas the deutonymphs were recovered in greatest proportion from the tail regions of the hosts. Male mites exhibited an affinity for the ear openings or were found moving about the host's body. Female mites were rarely found on the host. Resting stages (protonymphs and tritonymphs) were never recovered directly from the hosts, but appeared in the debris shaken from the collecting bags in which lizards were temporarily held. Infestation intensities were highly variable and not related to host size. A juvenile chuckwalla had the highest infestation recorded. Seasonal variation in larval size (idiosomal length) indicated that probably at least two reproductive periods occurred during the period of host activity.
English