Parasitic mites of pocket gophers (Rodentia: Geomyidae) from Texas, USA

Geomys bursarius (Rodentia: Geomyidae)

“…Ectoparasites of Geomys bursarius include the fleas (Siphonaptera) Ctenophthalmus pseudagyrtes and Opisocrostis bruneri; the chewing lice (Mallophaga) Geomydoecus geomydis, G. illinoensis, G. spickai, and G. oklahomensis; the tick (Acari) Dermacentor variabilis; and a hypopi of Dermacarus hypudaei (Bartel and Gardner 2000;Coffman 1972;Elrod et al 1996;Spicka 1981;Timm and Price 1980;Tuszynski and Whitaker 1972;Wilkins and Houck 2001). The host-parasite relationship of pocket gophers and chewing lice has been well studied and the following relationships exists: Geomydoecus geomydis parasitizes G. b. bursarius, G. b. majusculus, and G. b. wisconsinensis; Geomydoecus illinoensis parasitizes G. b. illinoensis; Geomydoecus oklahomensis parasitizes G. b. industrius and G. b. major; and Geomydoecus spickai parasitizes G. b. missouriensis and G. b. ozarkensis (Elrod et al 1996;Timm and Price 1980).…”

“…Nonparasitic mites that have been found on G. bursarius include the family Anoetidae, Cyrtolaelaps, Dendrolaelaps, Imperipes (I.) spickai, Macrocheles spickai, Oribella, Parasitus, Pergamasus, Pygmephorus designates, P. plurispinosus, P. rackae, P. spickai, P. scalopi, P. whitakeri, the family Saproglyphidae, Scutacarus geomyi, and S. missouriensis (Coffman and McDaniel 1975;Downhower and Hall 1966;Krantz and Whitaker 1988;Smiley and Whitaker 1979;Spicka 1981;Tuszynski and Whitaker 1972;Ubelaker and Downhower 1965;Wilkins and Houck 2001).…”