Eutrombicula alfreddugesi (Oudemans)

Reeves, Will K., Durden, Lance A. & Wrenn, William J., 2004, Ectoparasitic chiggers (Acari: Trombiculidae, Leeuwenhoekiidae), lice (Phthiraptera), and Hemiptera (Cimicidae and Reduviidae) from South Carolina, U. S. A., Zootaxa 647, pp. 1-20 : 4

Eutrombicula alfreddugesi (Oudemans)

Charleston Co., Charleston Co., Magnolia Gardens, 15 September 1972, ex Eumeces laticeps , coll. R.R. Montanuccii; Mount Pleasant, 21 June 1994 and 28 September 1995, ex Neotoma floridana , coll. K.L. Clark; 28 September 1995, ex Sigmodon hispidus Say and Ord , coll. K.L. Clark; Seabrooks Island, 11 August 1933, ex N. floridana , coll. H.E. Ewing; Richland Co., Fort Jackson, 19 April 1991, ex Sceloporus undulatus (Bosc & Daudin) , coll. P. Ferral; Oconee Co., 3.5 M west of Clemson, 8 July 1983, ex Cnemidophorus sexlineatus (Linnaeus) , coll. R.R. Montanuccii; unknown locations ex Baeolophus bicolo Linnaeus , Myiarchus crinitus Linnaeus , Poecile carolinensi s Audubon, Piranga rubra Linnaeus , Vireo olivaceus Linnaeus , coll. Wharton ( Peters 1936).

Eutrombicula alfreddugesi is considered the most common chigger parasite of humans in the eastern and central United States ( Mallow et al. 1984; Clopton & Gold 1993; Mullen & OConnor 2002). Eutrombicula alfreddugesi was once considered the only common chigger species in North America ( Ewing 1923), but according to Loomis & Wrenn (1984) the taxonomy of Eutrombicula is poorly defined and specimens identified as E. alfreddugesi from the eastern southern United States represent a complex of species. Some populations have been referred to as Eutrombicula cinnabaris (Ewing) ( Tuegel & Wrenn 1998; Durden et al. 2000). Reports of the biology and control of E. alfreddugesi (e.g., McAllister 1980; Clopton & Gold 1992; Zippel et al. 1996) probably involve numerous pest chiggers. Crossley & Proctor (1971) reported both E. alfreddugesi and Eutrombicula splendens (Ewing) from a variety of reptiles, birds, and mammals in Georgia. The bionomics of most postlarval chiggers are poorly understood, but Mallow et al. (1984) reported postlarval E. alfreddugesi from tree holes and soil where their eggs might be deposited.