Ectoparasitic arthropods were collected from some fur-bearing mammals in northern Ohio. Specimens representing seven mammalian species were examined and found to collectively harbor acarines, fleas, and biting lice. Species determinations were made and new host and state records noted

Johnston, Scott A

Rockett, C. Lee

English

Valparaiso University

The Great Lakes Entomologist Volume 21 Number 4 - Winter 1988 Number 4 - Winter 1988 Article 2 December 1988 Ectoparasitic Arthropods Collected From Some Northern Ohio Mammals C. Lee Rockett Bowling Green State University Scott A. Johnston Bowling Green State University Follow this and additional works at: https://scholar.valpo.edu/tgle  Part of the Entomology Commons Recommended Citation Rockett, C. Lee and Johnston, Scott A. 1988. "Ectoparasitic Arthropods Collected From Some Northern Ohio Mammals," The Great Lakes Entomologist, vol 21 (4) Available at: https://scholar.valpo.edu/tgle/vol21/iss4/2 This Peer-Review Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Department of Biology at ValpoScholar. It has been accepted for inclusion in The Great Lakes Entomologist by an authorized administrator of ValpoScholar. For more information, please contact a ValpoScholar staff member at scholar@valpo.edu. 1988 THE GREAT LAKES ENTOMOLOGIST 147 ECTOPARASITIC ARTHROPODS COLLECTED FROM SOME NORTHERN OHIO MAMMALS C. Lee Rockett and Scott A. Johnston! ABSTRACT Ectoparasitic arthropods were collected from some fur-bearing mammals in northern Ohio. Specimens representing seven mammalian species were examined and found to collectively harbor acarines, fleas, and biting lice. Species determinations were made and new host and state records noted. An extensive variety of ectoparasltlc arthropods occurs on mammals. However, comprehensive studies on mammalian ectoparasites in the North Central states are surprisingly limited and often confined to small, rodent-like mammals. Lawrence et al. (1965) collected and identified arthropod ectoparasites from some northern Michigan mammals. While many smaller mammals such as microtine rodents and shrews were collected, the study also involved larger mammals such as mink, muskrat, beaver, and raccoons. Whitaker (1982) published a comprehensive study on mammalian ectoparasites in Indiana; both large and small mammals were included. The purpose of this study was to investigate ectoparasitic arthropods occurring on some "larger" fur-bearing mammals in northern Ohio. The specific site chosen was Erie county which borders Lake Erie. The majority of mammals were actually collected on the Huron River which traverses through the county. All collections were taken in 1985 -87. The authors wish to acknowledge the assistance of the following individuals in providing assistance in species identification of the following groups: R.E. Lewis, Siphonaptera and R.D. Price, Trichodectidae. MATERIALS AND METHODS Mammals were trapped with steel traps and colleeted the day following trap placement. If not already dead, the trapped mammals were subsequently killed. The collected mammals were then placed into separate, plastic bags and taken to the laboratory for ectoparasitic examination. Arthropod removal was accomplished by simply combing the fur with a fine-toothed comb and visually examining the skin surface. This procedure could have resulted in some species not being collected. The plastic bags which held the trapped mammals were also checked. The arthropods to be identified were subsequently cleared and mounted on slides. Voucher specimens were deposited in the entomology collection at Bowling Green State University. This study was intended to be primarily a qualitative endeavor; consequently, no special attempts were made to meticulously quantify or statistically evaluate the collected arthropods. Since the trapped mammals IDepartment of Biological Sciences, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio 43403-0212 1Rockett and Johnston: Ectoparasitic Arthropods Collected From Some Northern Ohio MammalPublished by ValpoScholar, 1988148 THE GREAT LAKES ENTOMOLOGIST Vol. 21, No.4 TABLE I Mammalian Ectoparasites and Hosts No. Hosts Ectoparasite Host Examined ACARINA Androlaelaps fahrenholzi (BerJese) Zibethacarus ondatrae (Rupes &Whitaker) + Laelaps multispinosus (Banks) Listrophorus american us Radford L. dozier! Radford L. faini Dubinina Ixodes cooke! Packard SIPHONAPTERA Orchopeas howardii (Baker) Cediopsylla simplex (Baker) Ctenocephalides feUs (Bouche) Chaetopsylla {otoris (Steward) MALLOPHAGA Trichodect s octomaculatus Paine Raccoon, Procyon lotor (Linn.) 2 Opossum, Didelphis virginiana Kerr 2 Muskrat, Ondat a zibethica (Linn.) 7 Procyon lowr 2 Ondatra zibethica 7 Ondatra zibethica 7 Procyon lotor Gray Fox, Urocyon cinereoargenteus Schreber Red Fox, VUlpes vUlpes (Linn.) Red Squirrel, Tamiasciurus hudsonicus Erxleben 1 Vulpes vulpes 1 Urocyon c!nereoargenteus 2 VuLpes vUlpes 3 Rabbit, Sylvilagus fLoridanus (Allen) 3 Didelphis virginiana 2 Procyon lowr 5 Procyon Lotor 5 +Phoretic hypopi. often died in the traps (as previously mentioned), many of the ectoparasites would have already deserted their host prior to the mammals being removed from the traps. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION A listing of ectoparasites and their mammal hosts is noted (Table 1). No new significant host records for the North Central states were noted. The authors were unable to find records denoting Laelaps multispinosus occurring on raccoon or Orchopeus howardii occurring on red foxes; however, neither association is very surprising. Since only two specimens of L. multispinosus were found on two raccoons, it is suspected that this occurrence of L. multipsinosus was only a temporary acquisition for the raccoon and was possibly obtained by the raccoons scavenging on muskrat carcasses. This mite has been commonly reported from muskrats in other studies such as Whitaker (1982) and was a common muskrat ectoparasite in this study. Orchopeas howardii is primarily a squirrel flea and could be expected to occur on potential predators such as red foxes, even though red foxes are not considered to be common predators of squirrels. Whitaker (1982) reports this flea's occurrence in Indiana on the gray fox but not the red fox. All three species of listrophorid mites were found coexisting on individual muskrats. In Indiana, Bauer and Whitaker (1981) found that Listrophorus jaini and L. validus Banks occurred primarily on the rump and ears respectively, L. americanus ventrally and L. dozieri laterally. The authors further commented that the species displayed a degree of isolation and seemed to adhere to Gause's Rule. Listrophorus validus was not noted in this 2The Great Lakes Entomologist, Vol. 21, No. 4 [1988], Art. 2https://scholar.valpo.edu/tgle/vol21/iss4/21988 THE GREAT LAKES ENTOMOLOGIST 149 study; however, additional muskrat collections in northern Ohio are anticipated to further clarify the presence or absence of L. validus in this area. Particular emphasis will be placed on ear examinations. To the authors' knowledge, the three collected species of listrophorid mites and Laelaps multispinosus are new records for Ohio. All collected species of ectoparasites, excluding I. cookei and o. howardii, are new records for Erie County. It should be stressed that this is not due to any rarity of collected species but simply to a general lack of reporting in the state and county. All collected species are relatively common in the North Central states. LITERATURE CITED Bauer, C. A. and J. O. Whitaker, Jr. 1981. Ectoparasites of muskrats from Indiana with special emphasis on the spatial distribution of coexisting mites of th  genus Listrophorus. Amer. MidI. Nat. 105:112-123. Lawrence, W. H., K. L. Hays, and S. A Graham. 1965. Arthorpodous ectoparasites from some northern Michigan mammals. Occas. Pap. Univ. Mich. Mus. Zool., No. 639. 7 p. Whitaker, J. 0., Jr. 1982. Ectoparasites of Mammals of Indiana. Indiana Acad. Sci. Indianapolis. 240 pp. 3Rockett and Johnston: Ectoparasitic Arthropods Collected From Some Northern Ohio MammalPublished by ValpoScholar, 1988

Ectoparasitic Arthropods Collected From Some Northern Ohio Mammals

ValpoScholar

The Great Lakes Entomologist 
Volume 21 
Number 4 - Winter 1988 Number 4 - Winter 
1988 
Article 2 
December 1988 
Ectoparasitic Arthropods Collected From Some Northern Ohio 
Mammals 
C. Lee Rockett 
Bowling Green State University 
Scott A. Johnston 
Bowling Green State University 
Follow this and additional works at: https://scholar.valpo.edu/tgle 
 Part of the Entomology Commons 
Recommended Citation 
Rockett, C. Lee and Johnston, Scott A. 1988. "Ectoparasitic Arthropods Collected From Some Northern 
Ohio Mammals," The Great Lakes Entomologist, vol 21 (4) 
Available at: https://scholar.valpo.edu/tgle/vol21/iss4/2 
This Peer-Review Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Department of Biology at ValpoScholar. 
It has been accepted for inclusion in The Great Lakes Entomologist by an authorized administrator of ValpoScholar. 
For more information, please contact a ValpoScholar staff member at scholar@valpo.edu. 
1988 THE GREAT LAKES ENTOMOLOGIST 147 
ECTOPARASITIC ARTHROPODS COLLECTED FROM SOME 

NORTHERN OHIO MAMMALS 

C. Lee Rockett and Scott A. Johnston! 
ABSTRACT 
Ectoparasitic arthropods were collected from some fur-bearing mammals in northern 
Ohio. Specimens representing seven mammalian species were examined and found to 
collectively harbor acarines, fleas, and biting lice. Species determinations were made and 
new host and state records noted. 
An 
extensive variety 
of ectoparasltlc arthropods occurs on mammals. However, 
comprehensive studies on mammalian ectoparasites in the North Central states are 
surprisingly limited and often confined to small, rodent-like mammals. Lawrence et al. 
(1965) collected and identified arthropod ectoparasites from some northern Michigan 
mammals. While many smaller mammals such as microtine rodents and shrews were 
collected, the study also involved larger mammals such as mink, muskrat, beaver, and 
raccoons. Whitaker (1982) published a comprehensive study on mammalian ectoparasites 
in Indiana; both large and small mammals were included. 
The purpose of this study was to investigate ectoparasitic arthropods occurring on some 
"larger" 
fur-bearing mammals in northern Ohio. The specific site chosen was Erie county 
which borders Lake Erie. The majority 
of mammals were actually collected on the Huron 
River which traverses through the county. All collections were taken in 1985 -87. 
The authors wish to acknowledge the assistance of the following individuals in 
providing assistance in species identification of the following groups: R.E. Lewis, 
Siphonaptera and R.D. Price, Trichodectidae. 
MATERIALS AND METHODS 
Mammals were trapped with steel traps and colleeted the day following trap placement. 
If not already dead, the trapped mammals were subsequently killed. The collected 
mammals were then placed into separate, plastic bags and taken to the laboratory for 
ectoparasitic examination. Arthropod removal was accomplished by simply combing the 
fur with a fine-toothed comb and visually examining the skin surface. This procedure 
could have resulted in some species not being collected. The plastic bags which held the 
trapped mammals were also checked. The arthropods to be identified were subsequently 
cleared and mounted on slides. Voucher specimens were deposited in the entomology 
collection at Bowling Green State University. This study was intended to be primarily a 
qualitative endeavor; consequently, no special attempts were made to meticulously 
quantify or statistically evaluate the collected arthropods. Since the trapped mammals 
IDepartment of Biological Sciences, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio 
43403-0212 
1
Rockett and Johnston: Ectoparasitic Arthropods Collected From Some Northern Ohio Mammal
Published by ValpoScholar, 1988
148 THE GREAT LAKES ENTOMOLOGIST Vol. 21, No.4 
TABLE I Mammalian Ectoparasites and Hosts 
No. Hosts 
Ectoparasite Host Examined 
ACARINA 

Androlaelaps fahrenholzi (BerJese) 

Zibethacarus ondatrae 

(Rupes 
&Whitaker) + 
Laelaps multispinosus (Banks) 
Listrophorus american us Radford 
L. 
dozier! Radford L. 
faini Dubinina 
Ixodes cooke! Packard 
SIPHONAPTERA 

Orchopeas howardii (Baker) 

Cediopsylla simplex (Baker) 

Ctenocephalides feUs (Bouche) 

Chaetopsylla {otoris (Steward) 

MALLOPHAGA 

Trichodect s octomaculatus Paine 

Raccoon, Procyon lotor (Linn.) 2 
Opossum, Didelphis virginiana Kerr 
2 
Muskrat, Ondat a zibethica (Linn.) 7 
Procyon lowr 2 
Ondatra zibethica 7 
Ondatra zibethica 7 
Procyon lotor 
Gray Fox, Urocyon cinereoargenteus Schreber 
Red Fox, VUlpes vUlpes (Linn.) 
Red Squirrel, Tamiasciurus hudsonicus Erxleben 1 
Vulpes vulpes 1 
Urocyon c!nereoargenteus 2 
VuLpes 
vUlpes 
3 
Rabbit, Sylvilagus fLoridanus (Allen) 3 
Didelphis virginiana 2 
Procyon lowr 5 
Procyon Lotor 5 
+Phoretic hypopi. 
often died in the traps (as previously mentioned), many of the ectoparasites would have 
already deserted their host prior to the mammals being removed from the traps. 
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 
A listing of ectoparasites and their mammal hosts is noted (Table 1). No new significant 
host records for the North Central states were noted. The authors were unable to find 
records denoting Laelaps multispinosus occurring on raccoon or Orchopeus howardii 
occurring on red foxes; however, neither association is very surprising. Since only two 
specimens of L. multispinosus were found on two raccoons, it is suspected that this 
occurrence of L. multipsinosus was only a temporary acquisition for the raccoon and was 
possibly obtained by the raccoons scavenging on muskrat carcasses. This mite has been 
commonly reported from muskrats in other studies such as Whitaker (1982) and was a 
common muskrat ectoparasite in this study. Orchopeas howardii is primarily a squirrel 
flea and could be expected to occur on potential predators such as red foxes, even though 
red foxes are not considered to be common predators of squirrels. Whitaker (1982) reports 
this flea's occurrence in Indiana on the gray fox but not the red fox. 
All three species of listrophorid mites were found coexisting on individual muskrats. In 
Indiana, Bauer and Whitaker (1981) found that Listrophorus jaini and L. validus Banks 
occurred primarily on the rump and ears respectively, L. americanus ventrally and L. 
dozieri laterally. The authors further commented that the species displayed a degree of 
isolation and seemed to adhere to Gause's Rule. Listrophorus validus was not noted in this 
2
The Great Lakes Entomologist, Vol. 21, No. 4 [1988], Art. 2
https://scholar.valpo.edu/tgle/vol21/iss4/2
1988 THE GREAT LAKES ENTOMOLOGIST 149 
study; however, additional muskrat collections in northern Ohio are anticipated to further 
clarify the presence or absence of L. validus in this area. Particular emphasis will be 
placed on ear examinations. 
To the authors' knowledge, the three collected species of listrophorid mites and Laelaps 
multispinosus are new records for Ohio. All collected species of ectoparasites, excluding 
I. cookei and o. howardii, are new records for Erie County. It should be stressed that this 
is not due to any rarity of collected species but simply to a general lack of reporting in the 
state and county. All collected species are relatively common in the North Central states. 
LITERATURE CITED 
Bauer, C. A. and J. O. Whitaker, Jr. 1981. Ectoparasites of muskrats from Indiana with special 
emphasis on the spatial distribution of coexisting mites of th  genus Listrophorus. Amer. MidI. 
Nat. 105:112-123. 
Lawrence, W. H., K. L. Hays, and S. A Graham. 1965. Arthorpodous ectoparasites from some 
northern Michigan mammals. Occas. Pap. Univ. Mich. Mus. Zool., No. 639. 7 p. 
Whitaker, J. 0., Jr. 1982. Ectoparasites of Mammals of Indiana. Indiana Acad. Sci. Indianapolis. 
240 pp. 
3
Rockett and Johnston: Ectoparasitic Arthropods Collected From Some Northern Ohio Mammal
Published by ValpoScholar, 1988


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