Comments on ectoparasites of two species of Microtus in Nebraska

Abstract

The ectoparasitic fauna of Nebraskan Microtus pennsylvanicus and Microtus ochrogaster was examined to determine what species were present, the relative abundance of each species, sex, and developmental stage. Four species of mites of the family Laelapidae were found. Hyperlaelaps microti, the most abundant ectoparasite collected, and Androlaelaps fahrenholzi were obtained from both species of voles. Hirstionyssus isabellinus is reported from Nebraska for the first time on the basis of three specimens taken from M. pennsylvanicus. One adult female Hirstionyssus utahensis was collected from M. ochrogaster and constitutes the first record of this mite for Nebraska and on M. ochrogaster. Dermacentor variabilis, the American dog tick, was the only tick taken during the study. Two species of fleas, Epitedia wennmani and Monopsyllus wagneri, were found on M. pennsylvanicus. The single species of louse obtained, Hoplopleura acanthopus, was collected only from M. pennsylvanicus and is herein initially reported from Nebraska.