Diversity and distribution of trombiculid mites (Trombiculidae s. s. and Leeuwenhoekiidae) in Colombia: checklist, new species description, and identification key for larval stages

Abstract

Chiggers are ectoparasitic mites that feed on tetrapods, causing severe skin reactions known as trombiculiasis and potentially transmitting pathogens, as Orientia tsutsugamushi, responsible for scrub typhus, a rickettsial disease. Traditionally confined to the tsutsugamushi triangle, recent findings indicate that scrub typhus may extend beyond this region, with pathogenic Orientia species detected in various global locations, including Colombia. This study presents a comprehensive checklist of trombiculid mites in Colombia, including the description of a new species in the genus Neoschoengastia, Neoschoengastia araucaensissp. nov. and the synonym of Teratothrix steffani Goff with Neotrombicula dunni (Ewing), as well as new locality records in Colombia to the species Blankaartia velascoi (Boshell and Kerr), Colicus colombiae (Boshell and Kerr), Eutrombicula goeldii Oudemans, Hooperella saccopteryx (Brennan and Jones), and Parasecia manueli (Brennan and Jones). We listed 50 trombiculid species into the two families Trombiculidae and Leeuwenhoekiidae identified parasitizing 69 vertebrate hosts. Additionally, we enhance the distribution records and provide a key for identifying chigger species in Colombia. Our findings emphasize the need for further research on the diversity and ecology of chigger mites, particularly in relation to their role in the transmission of emerging diseases. http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:983DFC5C-73B2-47D6-988B-4CC9AE495F90.