Kolesnikov, Vasiliy B. ¹ and Orlova, Maria V. ²

¹Papanin Institute for Biology of Inland Waters, Russian Academy of Sciences, 152742 Borok,Yaroslavl Region, Russia.
²Tyumen State Medical University, 625023 Tyumen, Russia.

2026 - Volume: 66 Issue: 2 pages: 296-306

ZooBank LSID: 9DAFA973-BB80-41AC-BC41-E11C9A1152B4

Original research

Keywords

Abstract

Introduction

Bats (Chiroptera) are the second largest order of mammals after rodents (Rodentia) currently comprising over 1400 species that is about 20% of all classified mammal species worldwide (Arnaout et al. 2022; Simmons and Cirrannello 2024). The ability to fly enabled bats to occupy the most diverse roosts, including tree-holes and crowns, caves, crevice, dens of larger mammals, human buildings and other natural and artificial shelters. The body of bats themselves is a habitat for a large number of parasites and commensals, among which mites and ticks (Acari) represent one of the most diverse group of arthropods associated with these hosts. A great diversity among the mites belong to astigmatid mites (Psoroptidia). These mites associated with bats live on or in the skin, in hair follicles, or in the nostrils and mouth of bats (Baker and Craven 2003).

Among Psoroptidia, scabies mites of the family Sarcoptidae are one of the most highly specialized taxonomic group of parasites associated with mammals (Fain 1978; Andrews 1983; Lange and Sokolova 1992; Klompen 1992, Ansari et al. 2024). This family is a large taxon of parasitic mites (including 117 species and 15 genera), all members of which are obligate, permanent parasites of mammals (Bochkov 2010). Some species of Sarcoptidae have gained a significant notoriety by being dangerous parasites of humans and domestic animals, e.g. Sarcoptes scabiei (Linnaeus, 1758) and Notoedres (Notoedres) cati (von Hering, 1838) (Klompen 1992). Among sarcoptids, a large number of species from the subfamily Teinocoptinae Fain, 1959 are parasites of bats (OConnor 2009). The genus Notoedres Railliet 1893 comprises about 45 species in two subgenera (Klompen 1992) parasitizing various mammal hosts, but bats (Chiroptera) harbor over the two thirds of species recognized in this genus (Ah 1975). It is hypothesized that Notoedres originated as a parasite of bat, however its crown group contains species associated with Rodents (e.g. N. musculi (Kramer, 1865), N. muris Megnin, 1877) and Carnivora (N. cati) that is apparently due to host shifts from bats to members of these mammalian host orders (Klimov and He 2024). According to previous data (Klompen 1992, Bochkov 2010), chiropteran mange mites Notoedres spp. have worldwide distribution and parasitize bat hosts belonging to families Vespertilionidae (14 species), Miniopteridae (1 species), Emballonuridae (3 species), and Molossidae (15 species). Klompen (1992) made the latest revision of the genus, also providing a key to all species.

Previously, only three Notoedres species have been reported from the territory of the former USSR: Notoedres (N.) miniopteri Fain, 1959 (from Miniopterus schreibersi (Kuhl, 1819), Chiroptera: Miniopteridae) and N. (N.) pseudomuris Lavoipierre, 1968 (from Microtus transcaspicus Satunin, 1905, Rodentia: Cricetidae) in Turkmenistan, N. (N.) myoticola (Fain, 1959) in Uzbekistan (from Myotis blythii (Tomes, 1857), Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae), (Klompen 1992). To date, no findings of Notoedres species from chiropterans had reported from the territory of Russia.

Investigation of bat's ectoparasites in the Western and especially Eastern Siberia (Russia) started not long ago because of the hard accessibility of many territories in this regions, and so far it has only covered the Mesostigmata (Orlova et al. 2014; Orlova and Zhigalin 2015; Orlova et al. 2015; Orlova et al. 2017). During the study of ectoparasites of Chiroptera in the southern part of Eastern Siberia (Russia), a new Notoedres species was found on the Ikonnikov's bat M. ikonnikovi and is described herein from the female and larva.

Material and methods

Bats were collected using mist nets and Borissenko mobile traps (Borissenko 1999) near bat roosts (Orlova et al. 2021). After capture, each animal was placed in a separate cotton bag to prevent sample cross-contamination. Bats were morphologically identified using the taxonomic descriptions of Ditz et al. (2009). Bat classification and nomenclature follow Wilson & Mittermeier (2019). Material collection was carried out in accordance with the requirements of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Ecology of Russia.

One female, a mane of eggs and larvae discovered in a bean-shaped shell (''trunk-like structure'' by Klompen 1992) projecting from the skin (Fig. 5C), typical for some sarcoptic mites (Roesler, 1932; Hedeen, 1953; Fain & Aellen, 1961; Klompen 1992). This shell with mites was removed from bat with forceps and dissecting needles and fixed in 70% ethanol, after which the host bat was released. The mites were mounted on slides in Faure-Berlese medium. The idiosomal chaetotaxy follows Griffiths et al. (1990) with modifications by Klompen (1992) and Norton (1998) for coxal-genital setae. The leg chaetotaxy follows Grandjean (1939) and Griffiths (1977) (see Klimov et al. (2026) for homologies of leg setae and solenidia). Host systematics follows the checklist of Wilson and Reeder (2005). All measurements are given in micrometers (μm). Mite morphology was studied using a Bioptic C-400 (Bioptic, Moscow, Russian Federation) microscope equipped with bright field and differential interference contrast optics (DIC).

Systematics

Family Sarcoptidae Murray, 1877

Subfamily Teinocoptinae Fain. 1959

Genus Notoedres Railliet, 1893

Subgenus Notoedres Railliet, 1893

Type species: Sarcoptes cati Hering, 1838

Notoedres (Notoedres) alinae sp. n.

ZOOBANK: 10B4C47D-65A1-41E6-843A-BF92E2848FB1

(Figures 1–6)

Type material

Holotype (female), slide, Khongor-Uula, Tunkinsky National Park, Republic of Buryatia, Russia, 06.08.2016, ex. Myotis ikonnikovi, (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae), leg. D.V. Kazakov. Paratypes (6 larvae), same data as holotype.

Depository

Holotype and all addition material deposited in the Zoological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg, Russia.

Diagnosis

Female. Idiosoma rounded, dorsal entirely striated with irregular and often interrupted striae. Setae d₁, d₂, e₁, e₂, spine-like, with pointed tip, approximately equal in length (19–20) and width (2.5–3). Preanal setae h₁, h₂ spine-like, 22–23 long. Setae se, si, c₁, c₂ and c_p well developed short spine (5–7 long). Prodorsal shield absent. Coxal apodemes I merged in a Y. Setae 4a present. Palpal seta a (11 long) with inflated base (2 wide). Legs seta d III 50 length. Trochanteral setae pR I, II with inflated base, sR III spiniform.

Larva. Dorsal surface striated transversely except for large glabrous oval area around anus. Setae d₁, d₂, e₁, e₂, h₁ spine-like, with pointed tip. Coxal apodemes I fused at posterior halves. Seta 3a spine-like, with a pointed tip. Legs seta d III 11 length.

Descriptions

Female — (Figures 1, 2, 5A–C, 6). Idiosoma ball shaped (Figures 1, 5A, B), 343 × 330.

Gnathosoma (Figure 1B) short (48 × 30). Subcapitular seta h (6) thin, filiform. Palpal seta a (11) with inflated base (2 wide).

Dorsal surface completely striated transversely except for glabrous, oval area around the anus, dorsal striae very irregular, often interrupted (Figures 1A, 5A, 6D), with 17 striae between setal pairs si and setae e₁. Prodorsal shield absent. Dorsum with 12 pairs of setae: vi (13), se (6), si (7), c₁ (5), c₂ (6), c_p (5), d₁ (22), d₂ (19), e₁ (20), e₂ (19), h₁ (22) and h₂ (23). Seta vi filiform, slightly widened at base. Setae se, si, c₁, c₂ and c_p well developed short spine (Figure 6D). Setae d₁, d₂, e₁, e₂, h₁, h₂ spine-like, with pointened tip (Figures 6B, C). Anus dorsally. External copulatory opening above anus. Spermatheca rounded, without formed spermathecal head, secondary spermaducts indistinct. Primary spermaduct long, narrowed gradually towards spermatheca (Figure 6A).

Vental idiosoma striated in posterior part and between coxal apodemes II and III (Figures 1B, 5B). Coxal apodemes I (70), their apices completely merge along half their length to form a Y-shape (the apex is slightly expanded) (Figure 1B). Coxal apodemes II (64) straight (Figure 1B). Coxal apodemes III (37) and IV (36) not fused, with elongated sclerotized area with expansion in the basal part (Figs 6E, F). Four pairs of ventral idiosomal setae 1a (9), 3a (5), 4a (5), c₃ (5) shaped as well developed short spine.

Legs (Figures 2) short: I and II about 60, III and IV about 50. All segments of legs I and II free, legs III and IV with merged tibia and tarsus. All segments without cuticular ridges and denticles. Tarsi I and II with ambulacra (23 and 22 long, respectively), tarsi III and IV without ambulacra. Trochanters I and II with setae pR (17 and 12 long, respectively) with inflated base. Trochanter III with seta sR (7) spiniform. Trochanter IV without seta. Femora I and II with filiform setae vF (14 and 25, respectively), placed on small protrusions. Femora III and IV without seta. Genua I and II with filiform setae cG (8 and 5, respectively) and mG (10 and 8, respectively). Genua III and IV without setae. Tibiae I and II with spiniform gT (4 and 6, respectively). Tarsi I and II with filiform setae e (20), wa (10 and 8, respectively) and la (3); spiniform setae d (8), f (9 and 10, respectively), ra (4) and s (8). Tibiotarsus III with long and thick seta d (50) and spiniform setae kT (7), w (8), s (11) and r (9). Tibiotarsus IV with long and thick seta d (40) and spiniform setae kT (4), w (8) and r (9). Solenidia ω₁ (9) and ω₃ (10) on tarsus I and ω₁ (10) on tarsus II bacilliforms. Solenidia φ I(10), φII (8), φIII (6) and φIV (8) bacilliforms. Solenidion σI short (2), σII minute.

Larva — (Figures 3, 4, 5F). Idiosoma rounded (Figures 3, 5F), 113 × 91 (n=1).

Gnathosoma short (18 × 15). Subcapitular seta h (5) thin, filiform. Palpal seta a (6) with slightly inflated base.

Dorsal surface striated transversely except for large glabrous, oval area around anus, dorsal striae in the anterior half of the idiosoma are not interrupted (Figure 4A). Prodorsal shield absent. Dorsum with 11 pairs setae: vi (4), se (3), si (3), c₁ (2), c₂ (2), c_p (2), d₁ (6), d₂ (5), e₁ (6), e₂ (4) and h₁ (7). Seta vi filiform. Setae se, si, c₁, c₂ and c_p well developed short spine. Setae d₁, d₂, e₁, e₂, h₂ spine-like, with pointed tip. Anus situated dorsally.

Vental idiosoma striated in posterior part and between coxal apodemes II and III (Figures 4B, 5C). Coxal apodemes I (30), their apices completely merge along half their length to form a Y-shape (the apex is slightly expanded) (Figures 4B, 5C). Coxal apodemes II (20) with inner tips strongly curved (Figures 4B, 5C). Coxal apodemes III (15) without sclerotization area (Figures 4B, 5C). Four pairs of ventral idiosomal setae 1a (7), 3a (6) and c₃ (5), 1a and c₃ shaped as well developed thin spine, setae 3a spine-like, with a pointed tip.

Legs (Figures 4) short: I, II about 20, III 30. All segments of legs I and II free, leg III with merged tibia and tarsus. All segments without cuticular ridges and teeth. Tarsi I and II with ambulacra (10 and 16 length, respectively), tarsus III without ambulacrum. All trochanters without setae. Femur I and II with filiform setae vF (7 and 8, respectively), placed on gross protrusions. Genua I and II with filiform setae cG (3 and 5, respectively) and mG (4). Genua III without setae. Tibia I and II with spiniform gT (2). Tarsi I and II with filiform setae e (4 and 5, respectively), wa (4) and la (2); spiniform setae d (2), f (3 and 4, respectively), ra (2) and s (4 and 3, respectively). Tibiotarsus III with long and thick seta d (11) and spiniform setae kT (5), w (6), s (8) and r (5). Solenidion ω₁ (7) on tarsus I and ω₁ (10) on tarsus II strick-like. Solenidia φI (6), φII (7) and φIII (4) strick-like. Solenidion σI short (1), σ II minute.

Male, protonymph and tritonymph unknown. The eggs are shown in Figures 5D and E.

Localisation

On body skin of Myotis ikonnikovi.

Etymology

The new species is named after Alina Kharlamova, a family friend of the senior author.

Remarks

The female was slightly damaged (the idiosoma was ruptured) and the gnathosoma was slightly displaced. However, these deformations did not affect taxonomically important features. The larval description is based on specimens that had not yet hatched, but all structures were clearly visible.

The new species, N. (N.) alinae sp. n., belongs to a group of four Notoedres species associated with bats of the genus Myotis: N. (N.) nigricans Klompen, 1992, N. (N.) myoticola, N. (N.) myotis (Hedeen, 1953) and N. (N.) roesleri Vitzthum, 1932. All five species share the following characteristics: setae d₁, e₁, h₁ are spine-like with a pointed tip, setae si, c₁ and c₂ are well developed short spines, setae 4a are present; base of palpal seta a is inflated, and seta sR III are spiniform.

A set of differential characteristics that allows distinguishing all five Notoedres species from each other is given in Table 1. Data on four previously known species are from Klompen (1992: Table 14 and the key to Notoedres species, p. 145). The new species differs from all four closely related species in having longer setae vi (13), the length ratio of setae e₂ / h₁ and h₂ about 4/5, and genual setae cGI, II setiform. In the compared Notoedres species, setae vi do not exceed 10, the ratio of setae e₂ / h₁ and h₂ is within the limits 1/4–1/2, and genual setae cGI, II are spiniform.

Acknowledgements

The research by Vasiliy B. Kolesnikov was conducted in the framework of the State Assignment No. 124032500016-4 (Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation).

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