TY  - JOUR
JF  - Acarologia
T1  - A survey of bat-associated mesostigmatid mites (Parasitiformes: Gamasina) in Belarus, with an updated checklist
VL  - 66
IS  - 3
SP  - 770
EP  - 789
PY  - 2026
SN  - 0044-586X
SN  - 2107-7207
PB  - Les Amis d'Acarologia
AU  - Larchanka, Aleksandra I.
AU  - Orlova, Maria V.
UR  - https://doi.org/10.24349/t546-kx1u
DO  - 10.24349/t546-kx1u
DA  - 2026-09-07
ET  - 2026-09-07
KW  - bat-associated mites
KW  - gamasid mites
KW  - ectoparasites
KW  - Mesostigmata
KW  - bats
KW  - Chiroptera
KW  - Belarus
AB  - This paper presents the results of a survey of bat-associated mesostigmatid mites conducted in Belarus from 2019 to 2023, supplemented by the examination of selected archival collections. Because the diversity of bat-associated mites in Belarus remains poorly understood, this study aimed to document their species composition, host associations, and distribution in the country, and to compile an updated checklist of previously published records. In total, 12 species belonging to 3 genera in 2 families were recorded from 12 bat species in the present study. The recorded fauna comprises Spinturnix acuminata, S. kolenatii, S. mystacina, S. myoti, S. plecotina, S. punctata, Steatonyssus noctulus, St. periblepharus, St. spinosus, Macronyssus corethroproctus, M. diversipilis and M. flavus. S. punctata, St. spinosus and M. diversipilis are newly recorded from Belarus. When reliable literature records are also taken into account, the bat-associated mesostigmatid fauna of Belarus currently comprises 16 named taxa. For the first time from Belarusian material, partial COI sequences were obtained for Macronyssus flavus, M. corethroproctus and Spinturnix punctata, as well as for specimens morphologically identified as S. myoti. The present study substantially expands current knowledge of the bat-associated mite fauna of Belarus and provides a basis for further taxonomic, faunistic, and molecular investigations. 
ER -