Parascoschoengastia heynemani (Nadchatram & Upham, 1966)

K, Sirikamon Koosakulnirand, RajasegaranK, Praveena, Alkathiry K, Hadil A., ChaisiriK, Kittipong, RoundK, Philip D., Eiamampai, Krairat, Ahmad KhusainiK, Mohd K. S., RamjiK, Mohamad Fizl Sidq, AbubakarK, Sazaly, Ya’cobK, Zubaidah, Stekolnikov K, Alexandr A. & Makepeace K, Benjamin L., 2023, On the taxonomy of chigger mites (Acariformes: Trombiculidae) parasitizing birds in Thailand and Malaysia, with the description of a new species, Acarologia 63 (4), pp. 1109-1138 : 1133

Parascoschoengastia heynemani (Nadchatram & Upham, 1966)

Distribution and hosts — China and Malaysia, ex Halcyon pileata (Boddaert) , Alcedo atthis bengalensis J.F. Gmelin , Alcedo peninsulae , and Alcedo meninting Horsfield ( Coraciiformes : Alcedinidae ) ( Stekolnikov 2021a). Actenoides concretus is a new host species.

Material examined — Four larvae ( UM) ex one Actenoides concretus , MALAYSIA, Pahang State, Krau Wildlife Reserve, 3.596982°N, 102.183190°E, 18 February 2021, coll. P. Rajasegaran; four larvae ( UM) ex one Alcedo peninsulae , MALAYSIA, Sarawak State, Gunung Gading National Park, Lundu, 1.692098°N, 109.845157°E, 22 March 2022, coll. P. Rajasegaran.

Characteristics of infestation

Thailand. In total, 754 hosts were examined; 199 (26.4%) were found parasitized by chiggers (2,340 specimens); 440 chigger specimens from 140 hosts were slide-mounted and identified ( Table 1). There were 30 hosts (22%) bearing more than one chigger species, considering only those cases confirmed by the identification of slide-mounted chiggers. One individual of Geokichla citrina from Koh Mun Nai was parasitized by three species N (. solitus , O. audyi , and T. densipiliata ). The pairs of co-occurring species were N. longipes and O. audyi (19 cases), N. longipes and T. kirhocephales (3), N. (W.) andamanensi s and S. archaea (3), O. audyi and T. kirhocephales (2), O. audyi and T. densipiliata (1), and E. wichmanni and H. comata (1).

Malaysia. In total 777 hosts were examined; 129 (16.6%) were found parasitized by chiggers; 242 chigger specimens from 123 hosts were slide-mounted and identified ( Table 2). One Pellorneum ruficeps from Fraser’s Hill bore three species ( E. cosmetopode , L. deliense ,

and O. audyi ); whereas four hosts bore pairs of species— O. audyi and T. densipiliata (2), L. miculum and O. audyi (1), and L. imphalum and B. acuscutellaris (1).