Mesostigmata
t
Taxonomy
updated 2025
Synonyms
(=Allodermanyssus)
Classification
Superorder Parasitiformes » Order Mesostigmata » Suborder Monogynaspida » Infraorder Gamasina » Hyporder Dermanyssiae » Superfamily Dermanyssoidea » Family Dermanyssidae » Genus Liponyssoides
Diagnostic characters
- Hypertrichous dermanyssoid mites with very long, stylet-like chelcerae
- Dorsal shield entire or with a single posterior scutella
- Sternal shield bearing 3 pairs of setae; anal shield relatively large; genital shield tongue- to dagger-shaped and bearing 1 pair of setae.
- Peritremes very short or reaching to anterior margin of coxae II
- Tritosternum biflagellate; seta j3 present.
- Dorsal shield relatively long, without pygidial plate; genital shield broadly tongue-shaped.............................. L. intermedius (Evans & Till)
- Dorsal shield strongly tapering, with separate pygidial plate; genital shield dagger-shaped.............................. L. sanguineus (Hirst)
Similar taxa
Macronyssidae, Dermanyssus
Ecology and distribution
Blood-feeding parasites of vertebrates. Liponyssoides sanguineus (Hirst) feeds on mice, and to a lesser extent other rodents, and is a known vector of rickettsial pox.
References
- Evans and Till 1966Evans and Till 1966:
Evans GO, Till WM. 1966. Studies on the British Dermanyssidae (Acari: Mesostigmata). Part II. Classification. Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History) Zoology 14: 107–370.
- Moss 1968Moss 1968:
Moss WW. 1968. An illustrated key to the species of the acarine genus Dermanyssus (Mesostigmata: Laelapoidea: Dermanyssidae). Journal of Medical Entomology 5: 67–84.
