Microtrombicula mastomyia (Radford, 1942) comb. nov.

Trombicula mastomyia Radford, 1942: 64, fig. 32.

Thrombicula giroudi André, 1951a: 218, fig. 2.

Trombicula mastomyia kivuensis Vercammen-Grandjean & Jadin, 1956b: 346, figs 1A 1, B 1, C 1, 2.

Trombicula mastomyia – Radford 1947: 585, figs 9–10. — Audy & Vercammen-Grandjean 1961a: 130. — Zumpt 1961: 137, figs 81, 82b, c.

Thrombicula giroudi – André 1951c: 374; 1952: 534. — Le Gac 1951: 545; 1952a: 748. — Giroud et al. 1952: 450.

Trombicula (Trombicula) mastomyia – Wharton & Fuller 1952: 67. — Taufflieb 1960b: 224.

Trombicula (Trombicula) giroudi – Wharton & Fuller 1952: 65.

Trombicula mastomyia giroudi – Vercammen-Grandjean & Jadin 1956b: 345, fig. 1A3, B3, C3. — Taufflieb & Mouchet 1959: 228. — Zumpt 1961: 137.

Trombicula mastomyia mastomyia – Vercammen-Grandjean & Jadin 1956b: 345, fig. 1A2, B2, C2.

Eltonella (Coecicula) mastomyia – Vercammen-Grandjean 1965a: 54, pl. B; 1965c: 40. — Taufflieb et al. 1967: 118. — Paperna et al. 1970: 330.

Trombicula mastomyia kivuensis – Zumpt 1961: 137.

Holotype

Trombicula mastomyia: BMNH 1946.12.18.10. Thrombicula giroudi: no data. Trombicula mastomyia kivuensis: RMCA 82313 .

Material revised

Holotype of Trombicula mastomyia (the slide is crystallized, coverslip is cracked). One specimen originated from the collection of Marc André, labeled as “ Trombicula giroudi ”, from RMCA (No. 82323). Holotype and nine paratypes of Trombicula mastomyia kivuensis from RMCA, including two nymphs.

Distribution

Sierra Leone (Freetown, Wellington), Ivory Coast (Minankro), DR Congo (Gemena, Matadi, Mutwanga), Central African Republic (Bangui, Batangafo, Bewiti, Bimbo, Boali, Bomango, Bossangoa, Boukoko, Bouar, Dekoa, M’Baiki, Mobaye, Mongoumba, N’Gotto, Possel, Yaka), Cameroon (Douala), Ghana (Tema).

Hosts

Arvicanthis rufinus, A. niloticus, Crocidura sp., Lemniscomys striatus, Mastomys erythroleucus (type host), M. natalensis, Mus musculus, Mus (Nannomys) sp., Mylomys dybowskii, Praomys tullbergi, Rattus norvegicus, R. rattus .

Remarks

Thrombicula giroudi and subspecies Trombicula mastomyia kivuensis were synonymized with Eltonella mastomyia by Vercammen-Grandjean (1965a).