#acarology — Public Fediverse posts

Overview of the topic of #muscleattachment and origin points and #muscle #morphology in #Astigmata #mites (#Acariformes). Figs. 1-3 show a view from the #proterosoma towards the #gnathosoma of a mite of the #Acaridae. Fig. 4 shows a female of a #Histiostomatidae mite in the area of #​​legs 1 and 2 with the associated muscles and muscle attachment points. The already older preparations were critically - point dried before #SEM observations. #acarology #biology
© #StefanFWirth Berlin 2025

Paper by me (+ Cooper & Rott) on Tick hazard in the South Downs National Park (UK) + how to control without reducing ecosystem health. Free-to-read in @PeerJ at: https://peerj.com/articles/17483

Funders: @britishdeersoc , @BritishEcolSoc

ABSTRACT:
Background. #SouthDowns National Park (SDNP) is UK’s most visited #NationalPark, and a focus of tick-borne #Lymedisease. UK's first presumed locally acquired cases of #TBE and #babesiosis were recorded in 2019–20. The #SouthDownsNationalPark aims to conserve wildlife and encourage recreation, so interventions are needed that reduce hazard without negatively affecting ecosystem health. To be successful these require knowledge of site hazards.

Methods. British Deer Society members submitted ticks removed from deer. Key potential intervention sites were selected and six 50 m2 transects drag-sampled per site (mostly twice yearly for 2 years). #Ticks were identified in-lab (sex, life stage, species), hazard measured as tick presence, density of ticks (all life stages, DOT), and density of nymphs (DON). Sites and habitat types were analysed for association with hazard. Distribution was mapped by combining our results with records from five other sources.

Results. A total of 87 Ixodes ricinus (all but one adults, 82% F) were removed from 14 deer (10 Dama dama; three Capreolus capreolus; one not recorded; tick burden, 1–35) at 12 locations (commonly woodland). Five key potential intervention sites were identified and drag-sampled 2015–16, collecting 623 ticks (238 on-transects): 53.8% nymphs, 42.5% larvae, 3.7% adults (13 M, 10 F). Ticks were present on-transects at all sites: I. ricinus at three (The Mens (TM); Queen Elizabeth Country Park (QECP); Cowdray Estate (CE)), Haemaphysalis punctata at two (Seven Sisters Country Park (SSCP); Ditchling Beacon Nature Reserve (DBNR)). TM had the highest DOT at 30/300 m2 (DON = 30/300 m2), followed by QECP 22/300 m2 (12/300 m2), CE 8/300 m2 (6/300 m2), and SSCP 1/300 m2 (1/300 m2). For I. ricinus, nymphs predominated in spring, larvae in the second half of summer and early autumn. The overall ranking of site hazard held for DON and DOT from both seasonal sampling periods. DBNR was sampled 2016 only (one adult H. punctata collected). Woodland had significantly greater hazard than downland, but ticks were present at all downland sites. I. ricinus has been identified in 33/37 of SDNPs 10 km2 grid squares, Ixodes hexagonus 10/37, H. punctata 7/37, Dermacentor reticulatus 1/37.

Conclusions. Mapping shows tick hazard broadly distributed across SDNP. I. ricinus was most common, but H. punctata’s seeming range expansion is concerning. Recommendations: management of small heavily visited high hazard plots (QECP); post-visit precaution signage (all sites); repellent impregnated clothing for deerstalkers; flock trials to control H. punctata (SSCP, DBNR). Further research at TM may contribute to knowledge on ecological dynamics underlying infection density and predator re-introduction/protection as public health interventions. #EcologicalResearch on H. punctata would aid control. SDNP Authority is ideally placed to link and champion policies to reduce hazard, whilst avoiding or reducing conflict between public health and ecosystem health.

#OneHealth #PlanetaryHealth #TickAware #DiseaseEcology #ConservationBiology #Acarology #MedicalEntomology #parasites #parasitology #lymedisease

📕 Chuffed to pick up hardcopy of new @springernature Scabies book. Includes my chapter on managing institutional #scabies outbreaks from care homes to refugee camps: https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-031-26070-4_29. Abstract + more info➡️

Middleton et al. Scabies Management in Institutions

Abstract
Scabies is a particular problem in semi-closed institutions such as residential settings for elderly people, children and those with learning disabilities; refugee camps and other settings for displaced persons; prisons; schools; hospitals and hostels. What many of these diverse places have in common is a range of transmission drivers which enable scabies to reach very high prevalence including: high densities of potential hosts, social behaviours involving prolonged contact, bed and clothes sharing, manual handling, reduced access to laundry facilities and immunocompromise. We describe the epidemiology of institutional scabies outbreaks across settings, and based primarily on recent and longstanding evidence from adult health care, we draw out general strategic priorities for case management and outbreak control. The tools and information necessary to carry out an epidemiological assessment of an institutional scabies outbreak are provided, along with guidance on control measures. A summary checklist of the key steps to take in responding to an institutional outbreak concludes the chapter.

Thank you to @nihrresearch for funding support.

This is part of the first comprehensive book on scabies, written by experts from across the world. You can order the full 31 chapter ebook and hardback for your uni/clinical library here: https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-26070-4

#NTDs #Scabies #Refugeehealth #carehomes #outbreakcontrol #epidemiology #publichealth #medicalacarology #acarology #prisonhealth #parisitology #globalhealth #parasites

For #FossilFriday I'd like to introduce y'all to Protacarus - a fossil #mite (!?) from the ~410 million year old Rhynie Chert, #Scotland. This little #arachnid is a member of a group that is still around today (Endeostigmata, possibly in the family Alycidae). Some modern examples of this family eat nematode worms - which we also have preserved in Rhynie, believe it or not. Perhaps what this little dude/tte did for food?

#science #Palaeontology #Paleontology #acarology #fossil

Scientific paper beg: anyone have institutional access to #Zootaxa? I'd love to take a look at this monograph about worldwide hard tick distribution. :ClosedAccess: https://www.mapress.com/zt/article/view/zootaxa.5251.1.1

(Is there a hashtag/group people use for this? Let me know!)

#entomology #acarology

OK, how many mistakes can you find? Screenshot is from Spartan Mosquito's Amazon page and shows the organisms repelled by its GO! spray (picaridin). #TaxonomyFail #entomology #insect #acarology #arthropod #nature #repellent #fly #Diptera #mosquitoes #ticks #chiggers #medical

"An unusual record of apparent parasitism of a mite by a trombidiine larva (Hoplothrombium quinquescutatum Ewing) is all the more remarkable in that the parasitized mite, an oribatid, was found in the stomach of a toad (Ewing 1925, Thor and Willmann 1947)."

Just an example of the fun facts in Krantz' book. Looking forward to wowing unsuspecting people at the Christmas gatherings.

#acarology #mites

@LyndaDelph I should have tried some tags 😃
#acarology #mites #mitestodon can anyone advise on the possible mites on the above beetle?

Bought myself an old copy of "A Manual of Acarology" so I can learn something about #mites. #acarology #Acari #arachnid

If you'd like to see a larval velvet mite, here's one attached to a robber fly. A rather common photobomber of arthropods pics. #entomology #insect #mite #acarology #arachnid https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/14527069

Velvet mite (Trombidium, I think) that I found earlier this week after a warm rain. Predatory as adults but larval stages are typically ectoparasitic on insects, spiders, harvestman, and pseudoscorpions. You can occasionally find velvet mite plush toys on Etsy. #acarology #entomology #mites #arachnids

@bugid More pics here in case anyone is willing to take a look on #inaturalist. They seemed to having such a good time. https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/121397761 #mites #arachnids #acarology