Chigger mites (Acari: Trombiculidae) of Turkey

A.A. Stekolnikov and M. Daniel

Zootaxa, 3216: 1-104 (2012).

S U M M A R Y

Chigger mites of Turkey were studied on the base of three expeditions (in 1969, 1998, and 2009) and revision of all previously published data on this subject. In total, 43 species from 14 genera parasitizing rodents, soricomorphs, and reptiles in Turkey are considered, 37 of which are identified exactly. Eight new species from the Western and Central Taurus Mts are described: Xinjiangsha lyciaensis sp. nov., Kepkatrombicula ciliciensis sp. nov., K. taurensis sp. nov., Neotrombicula kizlarsivrisiensis sp. nov., N. kolebinovae sp. nov., N. bolkarensis sp. nov., Miyatrombicula attaliaensis sp. nov., and Cheladonta deserticola sp. nov. Twelve species were recorded in Turkey for the first time; moreover, some new records from other countries were reported (four species were for the first time recorded in Russia, and by one species were recorded in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Israel, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan). For seven chigger genera (Xinjiangsha Wen and Shao, 1984, Hirsutiella Schluger and Vysotzkaya, 1970, Lacertacarus Schluger and Vasilieva, 1977, Miyatrombicula Sasa, Kawashima and Egashira, 1952, Brunehaldia Vercammen-Grandjean, 1960, Cheladonta Lipovsky, Crossley and Loomis, 1955, and Matacarus Vercammen-Grandjean, 1956), the complete lists of species in the world fauna are provided. Four new synonyms and 18 new combinations were established. A key to genera and species of chigger mites from Turkey is provided.