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LIBRARY
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Museum of Comparative Zoology
The Great Basin Naturalist
VOLUME XV, 1955
Vasco M. Tanner. Editor
Published at Provo, Utah, by
The Department of Zoology and Entomology
OF Brigham Young University
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Volume XV
NUMBERS 1-4 — DECEMBER 31, 1955
The Chiggers of Utah (Acarina: Trombicuhdae), Illustra-
tions, James M. Brennan and D Elden Beck 1
The Amphibia of Greer County, Oklahoma. Arthur N.
Bragg - 27
A New Sceloporus Magister from Eastern Utah, Wilmer
W. Tanner 32
A Study of the Aspectional Variations of Siphonaptera as-
sociated with the nests of the Thomas Wood Rat
Neotoma Lepida Lepida Thomas, J. Franklin Howell 35
Necrology Report of Brigham Young University Zoology
and Entomology Alumni, 1955, Vasco M. Tanner -... 50
Index - 55
II
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Volume XV
December, 1955
Nos. 1-4
TABLE OF CONTENTS
The Chiggers of Utah (Acarina: Trombiculidae), Illustrations,
James M. Brennan and D Elden Beck 1
The Amphibia of Greer County, Oklahoma, Arthur N. Bragg 27
A New Sceloporus Magister from Eastern Utah, Wilmer W.
Tanner 32
A Study of the Aspectional Variations of Siphonaptera as-
sociated with the nests of the Thomas Wood Rat Neotoma
Lepida Lepida Thomas, J. Franklin Howell 35
Necrology Report of Brigham Young University Zoology and
Entomology Alumni, 1955, Vasco M. Tanner 50
Index ^^
published by
Department of Zoology and Entomology
Brigham Young University
The Great Basin Naturalist
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The Great Basm Naturalist
Published by the
Department of Zoology and Entomology
Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah
Volume XV DECEMBER 31, 1955 Nos. 1-4
THE CHIGGERS OF UTAH (ACARINA: TROMBICULIDAE)
James M. Brennan' and D Elden Beck'
In conjunction with an ectoparasite survey in Utah, numerous
lots of larval tronibiculid mites were collected.' These are the basis
for the present and first report on Utah chiggers. Principal collectors
w'ere the junior author, who supervised the surve3% Dr. Dorald M.
Allred, Mr. Merlin Killpack and Mr. Marvin Coffey.
Several records, in addition to those from the survey, were pro-
vided by the Rocky Mountain Laboratory, the University of Kansas,
and the Dugway Proving Ground. These are indicated parenthetical-
ly in the text as RML, KU, and DPG immediately after the pertinent
records.
Thirty-eight species, the majority from rodents, are recorded
along with condensed collecting data. Eight of these are described as
new. A key is given to all species included, and generalized geo-
graphic data outside of Utah provided. Acomatacarus sexacis Allred
and Beck is reduced to snyoymy under A. micheneri Greenberg, and
Trombicula imperfecta Brennan and Jones under T. hoplai Loomis.
KEY TO SPECIES
1. Leg segmentation 6-6-6; scutal setae 6; coxa I with 2
setae; sensillae flagelliform 2
Leg segmentation 7-7-7; scutal setae 5; coxa I with 1
seta; sensillae flagelliform or expanded 8
Leg segmentation 7-6-6; scutal setae 4; coxa I with 1
seta; sensillae expanded Walchki americana
2. Tarsi lacking empodia Chatia setosa
Tarsi with empocha 3
3. Scutum with anteromedian projection - 4
Scutum without anteromedian projection 7
4. Tarsala II expanded distally Acomatacarus arizonensis
Tarsala II not expanded distally 5
5. Sensillae branched; no tarsala III Acomatacarus linsdalci
Sensillae nude; with tarsala III 6
1. From the U. S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, Public Health Service. National
Institutes of Health, National Microbiological Institute, Rocky Mountain Laboratory, Hamilton.
Montana.
2. Depai'tinent of Zoology and Entomology, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah.
3. From 1950 through 1954, the junior author conducted surveys throughout Utah relative to vectors
of Rocky Mountain spotted fever and plague. This study was supported in part by a research
grant from the National Institutes of Health.
1
The Great Basin Naturalist
BRENNAN AND BECK Vol. XV, NoS. 1-4
6. One genuala I Acomatacarus tnicheneri
Two genualae Aco7natacarus hirsutus
7(3). Spiracles and tracheae present; cheliceral blades with
rows of teeth; coxa III with 1 seta Whartonia perplexa
Spiracles and tracheae absent; cheliceral blades with
teeth confined to tricuspid cap; coxa III multisetose
Shunsennia ochotona
8(1). Sensillae flagelliform 9
Sensillae expanded 21
9. Palpal tibial claw bifurcate Tronibicula belkini
Palpal tibial claw trifurcate 10
10. Subterminala, and genualae II and III lacking
Tronihicula hoplai
Subterminala, and genualae II and III present 11
11. Mastifemoralae, mastitibialae, and mastitarsalae pres-
ent 12
Mastifemoralae and mastitibialae absent, mastitar-
salae present or absent 14
12. Sensillae nude Trombicula californica
Sensillae branched 13
13. Galeal seta nude Trombicula harperi
Galeal seta branched Trombicula microti
14(11). Coxa III with 1 seta 15
Coxa III with 2 or more setae 19
15. Parasubterminala lacking Trombicula doremi n.sp.
Parasubterminala present 16
16. Mastitarsalae III present; parasubterminala branched
Troynbicula allredi n.sp.
Mastitarsalae III absent; parasubterminala nude 17
17. Three genualae I ; Troynbicula kardosi
Two genualae I 18
18. Palpal dorsotibial seta nude Trombicula potosina
Palpal dorsotibial seta branched Trombicula myotis
19(14). Scutum distinctly pentagonal; sensillae basally barbed
as well as distally branched Trombicula sargenti
Scutum not pentagonal; sensillae only distally branched 20
20. First dorsal row with 6 setae Trombicula montanensis
First dorsal row with 8 setae Trombicula arenicola
21(8). Cuticular striae encroach on submerged scutum, form-
ing a definite pattern Neoschdngastia americana
Scutum not submerged 22
22. Tibiala III present 23
Tibiala III absent 27
23. Sternal setae 2-4 Euschdngastia cordireynus
Sternal setae 2-2 24
24. Subterminala and parasubterminala present 25
Subterminala and parasubterminala absent 26
25. Genualae II and III present Euschdngastia oregonensis
Genualae II and III absent Euschdngastia utahensis n.sp.
26. One genuala I, genualae II and III absent
Euschdngastia lacerta
Two genualae I, genualae II and III present
Euschdngastia "h" n. sp.
27(22). Subterminala and parasubterminala present 28
Subterminala and parasubterminala absent
Euschdngastia fasolla n.sp.
28. Dorsal setae lanceolate Euschdngastia lanceolata n.sp.
Dorsal setae not lanceolate 29
29. Genualae II and III present 30
Genualae II and III absent 36
Dec. 31, 1955 the chiggers of utah 3
30. Two pairs of humeral setae; spherical when engorged
Euschdngastia rotunda n.sp.
One pair of humeral setae; not spherical when engorged 31
31. Anterolateral setae of scutum as long as or longer
than posterolateral setae 32
Anterolateral setae of scutum shorter than postero-
lateral setae 33
32. One genuala I Euschdngastia "d" n.sp.
Two genualae I Euschdngastia radfordi
33. Cheliceral bases, scutum, and legs impunctate 34
Cheliceral bases, scutum, and legs punctate 35
34. Palpal tibial claw usually with 5 prongs; sensillae
obcordate Euschdngastia sciuricola
Palpal tibial claw with 3 prongs; sensillae spatulate-
clavate Euschdngastia criceticola
35. One genuala I Euschdngastia lanei n.sp.
Two genualae I Euschdngastia obesa n.sp.
36(29). Palpal tibial claw with 5 prongs .... Euschdngastia loomerantzi
Palpal tibial claw with 3 prongs Euschdngastia luteodema
SPECIES RECORDED
TROMBICULA (EUTROMBICULA) BELKINI Gould
Trombicula (Eutromhicula) belkini Gould, 1950, p. 367.
DUCHESNE county: From Citellus leucurus, 23 August 1953, 2
specimens identified, emery county: Crotaphytus collaris, no date,
4. GARFIELD COUNTY: Crotaphytus collaris, 16 May 1954, 1. grand
COUNTY: Crotaphytus collaris, 28, June 1950, 8 (KU); Cnemidopho-
rus tigris, 28 June 1950, 1 (KU). juab county: Gornbelia wislizenii,
30 June 1949, 4; Uta stansburiana, 7 July 1949, 10; Peromyscus
truei 14 July 1951, 1. millard county: Sceloporus graciosus, 19
July 1949, 5. sevier county: Citellus lateralis, 4 August 1952, 1.
UTAH county: Sceloporus graciosus, 19 July 1949, 5.
T. belkini has also been recorded from California, and speci-
mens are on hand from Oregon and Arizona. The species has been
recorded as attacking man in California (Gould, 1950).
TROMBICULA (LEPTOTROMBIDIUM) MYOTIS Ewing
Trombicula myotis Ewing, 1929, p. 294.
UTAH COUNTY: From Myotis calif ornicus, 4 June 1949, 15
specimens identified.
This common chigger has also been recorded from Maine,
Pennsylvania, Alberta (Peromyscus), Montana, California, and
Korea. Specimens are on hand from Ontario, New York, Arkansas,
and New Mexico (Sigmodon)-.
TROMBICULA (LEPTOTROMBIDIUM) POTOSINA Hoffman
Trombicula potosina Hoffman, 1950, p. 151
BEAVER COUNTY: From Perognathus parvus, 10 July 1952, 1
specimen identified, iron county: Neotoma lepida, 4 Septemljer
1951 and 18 July 1953, 20. juab county: Neotoma lepida, 14 July
1951 and 13 August 1953, 22. millard county: Neotoma lepida, 15
August 1953, 8. SAN juan county: Neotoma sp., 28 August 1953, 3.
SANPETE COUNTY: Microtus longicaudus, 2 August 1951, 10. tooele
The Great Basin Naturalist
4 BRENNAN AND BECK Vol. XV, Nos. 1-4
COUNTY: Neotoma lepida, 8 August 1951 and 25 August 1954, 30
(DPG). WASHINGTON COUNTY: Neotoma lepida, 13 August 1953, 14.
T. potosina was described from Neotoma micropus, San Luis
Potosi, Mexico. The Utah specimens compare favorably with the
Hoffman para types. Differences are negligible and within the limits
of variation. The above data constitute the first records of the species
in the United States-
TROMBICULA (NEOTROMBICULA) CALIFORNICA Ewing
Trombicula calif ornicia Ewing, 1942, p. 488.
CACHE COUNTY: From Peromyscus maniculatus. 2 July 1953, 1
specimen identified (KU). rich county: Clethrionomys gapperi, 24
June 1953, 3; Microtus longicaudus, 24 June 1953, 1. sanpete
COUNTY: Citellus armatus, 1 August 1951, 10.
T. californica has also been recorded from California, Montana,
and Idaho.
TROMBICULA (NEOTROMBICULA) HARPERI Ewing
Tro7nbicula harperi Ewing, 1928, p. 79.
BEAVER COUNTY: From Ochotona princeps, no date, 3 specimens
identified, juab county: Gambelia sp., 23 June 1951, 10. sanpete
COUNTY: Citellus armatus, 1 and 2 August 1951, 14; Clethrionomys
gapperi, 1 August 1951, 3; Marmota flaviventer, 1 August 1951, 4;
Microtus longicaudus, 2 August 1951, 1; Zapus princeps, 1 and 2
August 1951, 28. SEVIER county: Microtus sp., 23 July 1953, 1.
UTAH COUNTY: Ochotona princeps, 8 November 1952, 18. wasatch
county: Zapus princeps, 1 July 1953, 5.
T. harperi has also been recorded from New York, Main, Penn-
sylvania, Wyoming, Colorado, Montana, and Idaho. In the Rocky
Mountain Laboratory is unrecorded material from Michigan, New
Mexico, and Arizona.
TROMBICULA (NEOTROMBICULA) MICROTI Ewing
Trombicula microti Ewing, 1928, p. 80.
BEAVER COUNTY: Fioni Ochotona princeps, 22 July 1953, 3
specimens identified, duchesne county: Ochotona princeps, 2 Sep-
tember 1952, 18. IRON COUNTY: Ochotona princeps, 18 and 20 July
1953, 17. JUAB COUNTY: Neotoma lepida, 14 July 1951, 6. sanpete
COUNTY: Microtus longicaudus, 2 August 1951, 2; Zapus princeps,
1 and 2 August 1951, 2. sevier county: Microtus sp., 23 July 1953,
1. summit county: Ochotona princeps, 2 August 1952, 4 (KU).
TOOELE COUNTY: Mclospiza Uucolni, 24 September 1953, 3 (DPG).
WASATCH COUNTY: Ochotona princeps, 7 August 1953, 5. wayne
COUNTY: Ochotona princeps, 9 August 1952, 18-
Also recorded from Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, Montana,
Washington, Oregon, California, Labrador, Vermont, Ontario, Island
of St. Lawrence River, Alberta, Eastern Manchuria, and Japan
(Hokkaido and Honshu). Unrecorded specimens are in the Rocky
Mountain Laboratory from Michigan and Afognak Island, Alaska.
Dec. 31, 1955 the chiggers of utah 5
TROMBICULA (MIYATROMBICULA) SARGENTI Brennan
Tro7nbicula sargenti Brennan, 1952, p. 61.
In addition to the type series from Neotoma sp., Juab County, 14
October 1951, this species has been reported from nests of Neotoma
lepida, Juab and Utah Counties, October and November 1951, by
Allredand Beck (1953).
TROMBICULA HOPLAI Loomis
Trombiciila ( Euschdngastoides ) hoplai Loomis, 1954, p. 924.
Tromhicula hnperfecta Brennan and Jones, 1954, p. 186. New synonymy.
JUAB COUNTY: From Peromyscus truei, 4 August 1953, 1 speci-
men identified (DPG). san juan county: Perognathus apache, 26
August 1953, 5.
This distinctive species has also been recorded from Kansas,
Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, and California.
An examination of the type material of T. hoplai and T. im-
perfecta by both Dr. Loomis and the senior author has revealed no
specific differences.
TROMBICULA ARENICOLA Loomis
Tromhicula arenicola Loomis, 1954, p. 930.
BOX ELDER COUNTY: From Perognathus sp., 18 and 19 June
1952, 15 specimens identified; Dipodomys sp., 18 June 1952, 10;
Neotoma lepida, 18 June 1952, 1. dagget county: Perognathus par-
vus, 15 July 1954, 10. garfield county: Cynomys parvidens, 25
July 1952, 5. grand county: Perognathus sp-, 3 July 1952, 12. juab
county: Perognathus formosus, 14 and 15 July 1951, 115; Perogna-
thus sp., 12 August 1953, 8; Dipodomys microps, 12 August 1953, 6.
MILLARD COUNTY: Dipodomys microps, 15 August 1953, 5. sanpete
COUNTY: Peromyscus maniculatus, 1 August 1951, 10. sevier coun-
ty: Dipodomys ordii, 3 April 1952, 8. tooele county: Coluber tae-
niatus, 30 September 1953, 25 (DPG); Pituophis catenifer, 29 Sep-
tember 1953, 1 (DPG); Dipodomys ordii, 2 October to 15 November
1951, 8 July 1953, 36 (DPG); Dipodomys microps, 15 September to
18 October, 1951, 49 (DPG); Perognathus formosus, 8 July 1952, 6
(DPG); P. parvus, 11 August to 5 September 1951, 17 (DPG).
UINTAH COUNTY: Dipodomys ordii, 14 August 1951, 7. utah coun-
ty: Dipodomys ordii, 28 September 1950 and 14 October 1951, 7;
Perognathus parvus, 31 August 1952, 20. Washington county:
Perognathus formosus, 17 April 1952 and 13 July 1953, 17; Perog-
nathus longimembris, 17 April 1952, 1. wayne county: Dipodomys
ordii, 7 August 1952, 2.
Two of the above records are the first to establish the occurrence
of T. arenicola on reptiles.
The species has also been recorded from Kansas, Colorado, New
Mexico, and Alberta.
TROMBICULA MONTANENSIS Brennan
Tromhicula inontanensis Brennan, 1946, p. 441.
DUCHESNE county: From Cynomys leucurus, 21 August 1952,
6 specimens identified-
The Great Basin Naturalist
6 THE CHIGGERS OF UTAH Vol. XV, Nos. 1-4
T, montanensis has also been recorded from Montana, Colorado,
Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Texas.
TROMBICULA KARDOSI Loomis
Trombicula kardosi Loomis, 1954, p. 929.
GARFIELD COUNTY: From Eutamias umbrinus^ 24 September
1952, 1 specimen identified (KU).
T. kardosi was described from Kansas. No other distributional
records are available.
EUSCHONGASTIA CORDIREMUS Brennan
Euschdngastia cordiremus Brennan, 1948, p. 470.
CACHE COUNTY: From Peronryscus maniculatus, 12 June 1953,
1 specimen identified (KU).
Described from Montana. In addition, specimens are on hand
from California and Nevada.
EUSCHONGASTIA CRICETICOLA Brennan
Euschdngastia criceticola Brennan, 1948, p. 473.
EMERY COUNTY: From Peroniyscus rnaniculatus, 22 May 1952,
16 specimens identified, juab county: Neotoma lepida^ 13 and 14
October 1951, 45 (RML). tooele county: Peroniyscus rnaniculatus,
30 October 1950, 13 (DPG). utah county: Peromyscus boylii, 17
March 1951, 8; Peromyscus rnaniculatus, 15 October 1949, 5; Dipo-
domys ordii, 14 October 1951, 4. w^ashington county: Neotoma
lepida, 19 December 1950, 1; Peromyscus eremicus, 15 April 1952,
10. WAYNE COUNTY: Peromyscus rnaniculatus, 7 August 1952, 1.
This species has also been recorded from Montana, Idaho, Cali-
fornia, and Alberta.
EUSCHONGASTIA "D" Gould, new species
Euschdngastia "d" Gould, (in press)
BOX ELDER COUNTY: From Lepus calif ornicus, January 1952, 1
specimen identified (KU). cache county: Peromyscus rnaniculatus,
2 July 1953, 1 (KU). duchesne county: Citellus lateralis, 5 April
1953, 4. GARFIELD COUNTY: Citellus lateralis, 19 September 1952, 1
(KU). TOOELE COUNTY: Neotoma lepida, 7 April 1950, 7; host ?, 29
March 1953, 5. utah county: Dipodmys ordii, 25 March 1941, 1;
Perognathus parvus, 12 April 1950, 11; nest of Bubo virginianus con-
taining remains of rabbit, 25 May 1951, 10. Washington county:
Dipodomys merriami, 23 February 1952, 6; Perognathus formosus,
23 February 1952, 4; Perognathus longimembris, 17 April 1952, 29.
E. "d" was described from California. Additional material from
Oregon and Nevada is in the Rocky Mountain Laboratory.
EUSCHONGASTIA "H" Gould, new species
Euschdngastia "h" Gould, (in press).
SEVIER COUNTY: From Citellus lateralis, 4 August 1952, 8 speci-
mens identified.
This species was described from Cahfornia. No other records
are available.
Dec. 31, 1955 the chiggers of utah 7
EUSCHONGASTIA LACERTA Brennan
Euschongastia lacerta Brennan, 1948, p. 468.
GARFIELD COUNTY: From N eotomci lepida, 26 July 1952, 2 speci-
mens identified, tooele county: Neotoma lepida, 9 July 1952, 9
(DPG).
E. lacerta has been recorded also from California whence it was
described from lizards.
EUSCHONGASTIA LUTEODEMA Brennan
Euschongastia luteodema Brennan, 1948, p. 470.
CACHE COUNTY: From Peromyscus maniculatus, 13 June 2 to
July 1953, 6 specimens identified (KU).
Also recorded from Montana, Idaho, and California.
EUSCHONGASTIA OREGONENSIS (Ewing)
Trombicula oregonensis Ewing, 1929a, p. 11
CACHE COUNTY: From Peromyscus nianiculatus. 2 July 1953, 1
specimen identified (KU). iron county: Sorex obscurus, 21 July
1953, 5; Ochotona princeps, 18 July 1953, 1. sevier county: Micro-
tus sp., 23 July 1953, 3. utah county: Ochotona princeps, 8 Novem-
ber 1952, 17. WAYNE COUNTY: Ochotona princeps^ 9 August 1952, 9.
E. oregonensis has also been recorded from Oregon, Montana,
California, and Alberta. Specimens are on hand from Washington.
EUSCHONGASTIA POMERANTZI Brennan and Jones
Euschongastia pomerantzi Brennan and Jones, 1954, p. 171.
GARFIELD COUNTY: From Eutomias umbrinus, 18 September
1952, 3 specimens identified (KU).
Described from California, and material is on hand from
Nevada.
EUSCHONGASTIA RADFORDI Brennan and Jones
Euschongastia radfordi Brennan and Jones, 1954, p. 173.
GARFIELD COUNTY: From Erctkizon dorsatuni, 19 September
1952, 2 specimens identified (KU). tooele county: Junco caniceps,
1 November 1951, 10 (DPG). Washington county: Neotoma lep-
ida, 18 and 19 December 1950, 23.
This species has also been recorded from a large variety of hosts
in California, Oregon, Montana, and Idaho.
EUSCHONGASTIA SCIURICOLA (Ewing)
Schdngastia sciuricola Ewing, 1925, p. 261.
cache county: From Eutamias umbrinus, 20 June 1953, 2
specimens identified (KU). duchesne county: Tamiasciurus hud-
sonicus, 6 September 1953, 5. sanpete county: Citellus armatus, 1
August 1951, 1; Citellus lateralis, 5 May 1951, 9. sevier county:
Citellus lateralis, 5 August 1952, 10. utah county: Citellus varie-
gatus, 27 July 1951, 10.
E. sciuricola has also been recorded from Montana, Idaho, Cali-
fornia, and Alberta. A few specimens tentatively referred to this
species are from New Mexico.
The Great Basin Naturalist
8 BRENNAN AND BECK Vol. XV, Nos. 1-4
NEOSCHONGASTIA AMERICANA (Hirst)
Schdngastia americana Hirst, 1921, p. 37.
TOOELE COUNTY: From Amphispiza belli, 25 October 1953, 3
specimens identified (DPG); Junco oreganus, 9 October 1953, 1
(DPG); Otocoris alpestris, 16 August 1951, 3 (DPG); Salpinctes
obsoletus, 27 August and 24 September 1953, 16 (DPG).
This widespread bird species (also known from lizards and rab-
bits) has also been recorded from "southern states," Texas, Cali-
fornia, Virginia, South Carolina, Jamaica, Mexico, and Guatemala.
Specimens are on hand from Missouri (Sylvilagus). A subspecies,
solomonis, has been recorded from the Pacific Islands: Bougainville,
Guam, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa (Wharton and Hardcastle, 1946).
WALCHIA AMERICANA Ewing
Walchia americana Ewing, 1942, p. 491.
GARFIELD COUNTY: From Eutamias umbrinus, 24 September
1952, 1 specimen identified (KU).
W . americana has also been recorded from Florida, Wisconsin,
and California. Specimens from Kansas and Oklahoma are in the
Rocky Mountain Laboratory.
ACOMATACARUS ARIZONENSIS Ewing
Acomatacarus arizonensis Ewing, 1942, p. 490.
EMERY COUNTY: From Crotaphytus collaris, no date, 11 speci-
mens identified, garfield county: Crotaphytus collaris, 16 May
1954, 25. grand county: Crotaphytus collaris. 28 June 1950, 12
(KU); Uta stansburiana, 31 July 1940, 10 (RML). kane county:
Crotaphytus collaris. no date, 6. juab county: Gambelia wislizenii,
30 June 1949, 6.
Also recorded from Arizona, California, and Mexico.
ACOMATACARUS HIRSUTUS (Ewing)
Hannemania hirsuta Ewing, 1931, p. 17.
grand county: From Neotoma sp., 10 May 1950, 5 specimens
identified.
This species was described from California. No other distribu-
tional records are available.
ACOMATACARUS LINSDALEI Brennan and Jones
Acomatacarus linsdalei Brennan and Jones, 1954, p. 160.
BEAVER COUNTY: From Dipodomys ordii and D. rnicrops, 9 and
11 September 1950, 20 specimens identified; Perognathus parvus, 10
July 1952, 5. juab county: Perognathus formosus, 14 July 1951, 1.
TOOELE COUNTY: Perognathus parvus. 1(3 and 11 August 1951, 2
(DPG). UTAH COUNTY: Perogncithus parvus. 1 November 1952, 2.
WASHINGTON COUNTY: Neotonui lepida, 19 December 1950, 2.
In addition, A. linsdalei has been recorded only from California.
ACOMATACARUS MICHENERI Greenberg
Acomatacarus micheneri Greenberg, 1952, p. 480.
Acoynatacarus sexacis Allred and Beck, 1953a, p. 87. New synonymy.
Dec. 31, 1955 the chiggers of utah 9
BOX ELDER COUNTY: From N eotouia lepida, 18 and 20 June 1952,
23 specimens identified; Sylvilagus sp., 19 June 1952, 10. garfield
COUNTY: Neotoma lepida, 26 July 1952, 5; Perognathus parvus, 25
July 1952, 5. grand county: Neotoma lepida, 14 July 1950, 5. piute
COUNTY: Neotoma lepida, 26 June 1952, 5. tooele county: Neotoma
lepida, 9 July 1952, 3 (DPG) ; Neotom,a cinerea, 22 and 27 July
1950, 17. WASHINGTON COUNTY: N eotoma lepida, 13 and 16 July
1953, 2.
The senior author has examined para types of both A. micheneri
and A. sexacis and has found no differences of specific consequence.
The comparative diagnostic characters given by Allred and Beck
(1953a) are only the expected variations within different popula-
tions. The species was described from Colorado. No other records are
available.
CHATIA SETOSA Brennan
Chatia setosa Brennan, 1946a, p. 132.
CACHE COUNTY: From Peromyscus maniculatus, 11 and 26 June,
2 July 1953, 14 specimens identified (KU).
C. setosa has also been recorded from Montana, Idaho, Wash-
ington, and California.
SHUNSENNIA OCHOTONA (Radford)
Hannemania ochotrona [sic] Radford, 1942, p. 72.
CACHE COUNTY: From PeroTTiyscus maniculatus, 11, 13, and 26
June 1953, 56 specimens identified (KU). tooele county: Neotoma
cinerea, 22 July 1951, 1.
Recorded also from Montana and California. Specimens are on
hand from Idaho and Nevada.
WHARTONIA PERPLEX A (Brennan)
Hannemania perplexa Brennan, 1947, p. 248.
SAN JUAN COUNTY: From Myotis calif ornicus, 4 May 1951, 2
specimens identified, salt lake county: Antrozous pallidus, Oc-
tober 1948,2 (RML).
This bat chigger has also been recorded from Montana and
California.
TROMBICULA ALLBEDI Brennan and Beck, n. sp.
(Fig. 1, E-H)
Body: Subellipsodial. Length and width of holotype, partly en-
gorged, 546 by 305 microns. Eyes large, 2/2, no ocular plate. Anus at
level of fourth row of ventral setae.
Gnathosoma: Cheliceral bases and capitular sternum heavily
punctate. Few indistinct puncta on femoral plate of palp. Cheliceral
blade with tricuspid cap. Setae of capitular sternum, all palpal setae,
and galeal setae strongly branched. Palpal claw trifurcate. Palpal
tarsus with 6 branched setae, a small nude seta and a small tarsala.
Scutum: Shaped as figured, somewhat less than 2 times as wide
as long, puncta few, large and distributed as figured. Sensillary bases
The Great Basin Naturalist
10 BRENNAN AND BECK Vol. XV, Nos. 1-4
at about the level of the posterolateral setae and separated by a little
less than the distance from either to its corresponding posterolateral
seta. Sensillae flagelliform, sparsely branched on apical half and
with minute barbs on basal half. Setae with appressed branches.
Scutal measurements of holotype: AW-72, PW-88, SB-25. ASB-29,
PSB-21, AP-21, AM-28, AL-29, PL-40, S-64.
Legs: All segments with few, scattered puncta. Leg I coxa, tro-
chanter and basifemur each with a branched seta; telofemur with 5
branched setae; genu with 4 branched setae, 3 long genualae, and a
microgenuala; tibia with 8 branched setae, 2 very short, nearly
identical, approximate tibialae, and a microtiljiala; tarsus with about
20 branched setae, a prominent tarsala, a microtarsala, a subter-
minala, a branched parsubterminala, and a pretarsala. Leg II coxa
and trochanter each with a branched seta; basifemur \\'ith 2 branched
setae; telofemur with 4 branched setae; genu with 3 branched
setae and a genuala; tibia with 6 branched setae and 2 very
short, approximate tibialae; tarsus with about 16 branched setae,
a tarsala (longer and thinner than tarsala I), a microtarsala, and
a pretarsala. Leg III coxa and trochanter each with a branched
seta; basifemur with 2 branched setae; telofemur with 3 branched
setae; genu with 3 branched setae and a genuala; tibia with 6
branched setae and a tibiala; tarsus with about 12 branched setae and
2 mastitarsalae each having 1 or 2 delicate branches basally. All
tarsi terminated by a pair of claws wdth a clawlike empodium be-
tween.
Body setae: Dorsal setae 30 to 38 microns in length, the longer
ones marginal. They are fairly straight, seemingly stiff, and have
appressed branches. Dorsal formula for the holotype: 2-6-6-4-4-2-2.
Ventral setae 2-2 (sternals) plus about 36. Those of the posterior
rows similar to the dorsal setae.
Type data: Type series all from Neotoma lepida (wood rat),
Washington County, Utah. Holotype and 4 paratypes RML No.
33182, Rockville, 13 July 1953; 3' paratypes. No. 33184, Diamond
Valley, 16 July 1953; 6 paratypes, No. 31208, 2 miles west of To-
querville, 5 September 1951.
Holotype and some paratypes in the collection of the Rocky
Mountain Laboratory. Other paratypes in the Brigham Young Uni-
versity, the United States National Museum, the British Museum
(Natural History), the South Australian Museum, and the Univer-
sity of Kansas.
Diagnosis: The branched parasubterminala, 3 genualae I, very
small tibialae I and II, and 2 mastitarsalae III distinguish T. allredi
n. sp. from other members of the genus.
This species is named for Dr. Dorald M. Allred who collected
some of the material on which this paper is based.
TROMBICULA DOREMI, Brennan and Beck, n. sp.
(Fig. 1, A-D)
Body: Ellipsoidal. Length and width of holotype, nearly en-
gorged, 520 by 332 microns. Eyes large, 2/2, anterior and posterior
Dec. 31, 1955 the chiggers of utah 11
eyes sub-equal in size, no ocular plate. Anus at level of fourth row
of ventral seate.
Gnathosoma: Cheliveral bases, capitular sternum and femoral
plate of palpi with few scattered puncta. Blade of chelicera with tri-
cuspid cap. Setae of capitular sternum heavily branched. Palpal
setae: Femoral and genual with many coarse branches, dorsal and
lateral tibial nude, ventral tibial with about 10 branches. Palpal claw
trifurcate. Palpal tarsus with 7 branched setae and a small tarsala.
Galeal seta branched.
Scutum: Roughly pentagonal about 1 V2 times wider than long,
posterior margin rounded, puncta conspicuous but not numerous.
Sensillary bases anterior to the level of the posterolateral setae and
separated by less than the distance from either to its corresponding
posterolateral seta. Sensillae flagelliform, branched on apical third.
Scutal setae thick, plim^iose. Scutal measurements of holotype: AW-
n, PW-88, SB-25, ASB-32, PSB-29, AP-22, AM-35, AL-32, PL-29,
S-75.
Legs: All leg segments punctate. Setae as follows: Leg I coxa,
trochanter and basifemur each with a branched seta; telofemur with
5 branched setae; genu with 4 branched setae, 3 moderately long
genualae and a microgenuala; tibia with 8 branched setae, 2 ap-
proximate tibialae of equal length and form, shorter than the genu-
alae, and a microtibiala; tarsus with about 18 branched setae, a
large tarsala, microtarsala, a subterminala, no parasubterminala, and
a pretarsala Leg II coxa and trochanter each with a branched seta;
basifemur with 2 branched setae; telofemur with 4 branched setae;
genu with 3 branched setae and a genuala; tibia with 6 branched
setae and 2 approximate and identical tibialae; tarsus with about 15
banched setae, a tarsala (smaller than tarsala I), a microtarsala,
and a pretarsala. Leg III coxa and trochanter each with a branched
seta; basifemur with 2 branched setae; telofemur with 3 branched
setae; genu with 3 branched setae and a fairly long genuala; tibia
with 6 branched setae and a fairly long tibiala; tarsus with about 12
branched setae and 2 mastitarsalae each with a few branches basally.
All tarsi terminated by a pair of claws and a more slender clawlike
empodium between them.
Body setae: Dorsal setae somewhat like the scutal setae, rela-
tively short (21 to 24 microns) and broad, 90 to 100 in irregular
rows, humerals not distinguishable from setae of first row. Ventral
setae 2-2 (sternals) plus about 50, those posterior to the anus similar
to the dorsal setae.
Type data: Holotype and 4 paratypes, RML No. 31216, from
Dipodomys merriami (kangaroo rat), Washington County ,Utah, 6
September 1951.
Holotype and 2 paratjrpes in the collection of the Rocky Moun-
tain Laboratory. One paratype. United States National Museum; one
paratype, the British Museum (Natural History).
Other Material:
One specimen from Perognathus longimembris, Kane County,
The Great Basin Naturalist
12 BRENNAN AND BECK Vol. XV, Nos. 1-4
Utah, 8 September 1951, is tentatively referred to this species. It
differs slightly from the type series in scutal measurements, and in
form of the dorsal setae which number about 80.
Diagnosis: T. doremi n. sp. appears to be a distinctive species.
The absence of a parasubterminala in combination with the palpal
vestiture, the form of dorsal setae, tarsala I longer than tarsala II,
and the seeming absence of humerals, should be sufficient to distin-
guish it from other members of the genus.
Although this species is described as having no parasubtermi-
nala, it should be noted that there is a branched seta, as long as the
subterminala, which may be homologous to a parasubterminala.
This seta, however, is not closely associated with the subterminala as
in all other species. It is, therefore, both practical and convenient to
regard the species as lacking this specialized seta.
EUSCHONGASTIA FASOLLA Brennan and Beck, n. sp.
(Fig. 4, A-D)
Body: Length and width of holotype, partially engorged, 300 by
195 microns. Eyes 2/2, the anterior one larger. Anus at about the
level of the fifth row of ventral setae.
Gnathosoma: Puncta indicated on cheliceral base, femoral
plate of palp and capitular sternum, but not readily discernible in
the specimens at hand. Cheliceral blade with tricuspid cap. Seta of
capitular sternum with many long branches. Palpal setae as follows:
Femoral, very long, densely clothed with long branches; genual, dor-
sotibial and ventrotibial each with 10 to 12 long branches; latero-
tibial nude or forked. Palpal tibial claw trifurcate. Palpal tarsus with
a tarsala and 7 branched setae. Galeal seta branched.
Scutum: Roughly trapezoidal, about 2 times wider than long,
anterior and posterior margins sinuous, as figured, puncta indicated.
Sensillary bases posterior to the level of the posterolateral setae and
separated by slightly less than the distance from either to its corre-
sponding posterolateral seta. Conspicuous, inverted, U-shaped fold
nearly encompassing each sensillary base. Sensillae obcordate-
clavate; anterior surface of head covered with large setules, posterior
surface covered with coarse setules except a bare median strip; stem
bare. Setae thick, plumose, the anterolaterals and posterolaterals
nearly equal in length. Scutal measurements of holotype: AW-55,
PW-79, SB-25, ASB-28, PSB-11, AP-24, AM-32, AL-50, PL-49, S-34.
Legs: Puncta discernible on some leg segments, indicated on
others. Setae as follows: Two kinds of branched setae, the longer
ones densely bristled, the shorter ones more or less pectinate. Leg I
coxa, trochanter and basifemur each with a branched setae; telo-
femur with 5 branched setae; genu with 4 branched setae, 2 genu-
alae, and a microgenuala; tibia with 7 branched setae, 2 tibialae (the
proximal one pointed, the distal one blunt), and a microtibiala; tar-
sus with about 18 branched setae, a prominent tarsala, a fairly long
microtarsala, and a pretarsala, subterminala and parasubterminala
absent. Leg II coxa and trochanter each wdth a branched seta; basi-
Dec. 31, 1955 the chiggers of utah 13
femur with 2 branched setae; telofemur with 4 branched setae; genu
with 3 branched setae and a small genuala; tibia with 6 branched
setae and 2 tibialae (the proximal one pointed, the distal one blunt) ;
tarsus with about 14 branched setae, a long, slender tarsala, a long
microtarsala, and a pretarsala. Leg III coxa and trochanter each
with a branched seta; basifemur with 2 branched setae; telofemur
with 3 branched setae; genu with 3 branched setae and a small
genuala; tibia with 6 branched setae, no tibiala; tarsus with about 10
branched setae. All tarsi terminated by a pair of claws and a slender
clawlike empodium between them.
Body setae: Dorsal setae about 50, similar to the scutal setae,
34 to 41 microns in length. Dorsal formula for holotype: 2-11-10-8-
8-6-2-2. Ventral setae 2-2 (sternals) plus about 46, those posterior to
the anus similar to the dorsal setae.
Type data: Holotype and 4 para types, RML No. 28271, from
Neotoma lepida (wood rat). Berry Springs, Washington County,
Utah, 19 December 1950.
Holotype and 2 paratypes in the collection of the Rocky Moun-
tain Laboratory. One paratype in the United States National Mu-
seum, and one paratype in the British Museum (Natural History).
Diagnosis: E. fasolla n. sp. is apparently related to E. radfordi
Brennan and Jones which it superficially resembles. The following
characters are similar for both species: Scutal shape and measure-
ments, gnathosomal components, form of body setae, 2 kinds of
branched leg setae; and 7 branched setae on tibia I. The former
species is distinguished from the latter in lacking subterminala and
parasubterminala and in the shape of the sensillae. Also, in E. fasolla
the specialized leg setae differ somewhat in their proportional
lengths.
EUSCHONGASTIA LANCEOLATA Brennan and Beck, n. sp.
(Fig. 3, A-G)
Body: Ovoidal. Length and width of holotype, slightly engorged,
302 by 220 microns. Eyes 2/2, the anterior one slightly larger. No
ocular plate. Anus at level of fifth row of ventral setae.
Gnathosoma: Impunctate. Blade of chelicera with tricuspid
cap. Seta of capitular sternum with many long branches. Palpal
setae as follows: Femoral heavily branched, genual moderately
branched, dorsotibial with 3 to 6 branches, laterotibial with 1 to 3
branches, ventrotibial with 8 to 10 branches. Palpal claw trifurcate.
Palpal tarsus with a moderate tarsala and 7 branched setae. Galeal
seta strongly branched.
Scutum: Impunctate. Roughly hexagonal, with sinuous poster-
ior margin, as figured. More than 2 times wider than long. Sensillary
bases distinctly posterior to level of posterolateral setae and separated
by about the distance from either to its corresponding posterolateral
seta. An inverted U-shaped fold anterior to each sensillary base.
Sensillae pyriform; anterior surface of head sparsely covered with
long, slender setules; posterior surface (except for a narrow, bare,
The Great Basin Naturalist
14 BRENNAN AND BECK Vol. XV, Nos. 1-4
median strip on apical half) with short, coarse setules which on the
basal third appear to be 2 to 4-toothed; stem with small setules de-
creasing in size basallv. Setae thick, plumose. Scutal measurements
of the holotype: AW-63, PW-88, SB-28, ASB-24, PSB-10, AP-18,
AM-31, AL-32, PL-46, S-35.
Legs: Impunctate. Leg I coxa, trochanter and basifemur each
with a branched seta; telofemur with 5 branched setae; genu with 4
branched setae, 2 short genualae, and a microgenuala; tibia with 7
branched setae, 2 short tibialae (the distal one slightly thicker and
more blunt), and a microtibiala; tarsus with about 18 branched setae,
a tarsala, a microtarsala, a subterminala, a parasubterminala, and a
pretarsala. Leg II coxa and trochanter each with a branched seta;
basifemur with 2 branched setae; telofemur with 4 branched setae;
genu with 3 branched setae and a short genuala; tibia with 6
branched setae and 2 short tibialae, tarsus with about 14 branched
setae, a long, slender tarsala, a microtarsala, and a pretarsala. Leg
III coxa and trochanter each with a branched seta; basifemur with 2
branched setae; telofemur with 3 branched setae; genu with 3
branched setae and a short genuala; tibia with 6 branched setae, no
tibiala; tarsus with about 12 branched setae. All tarsi terminated by
a pair of lateral claws with slender clawlike empodium between.
Body setae: Dorsal setae more than 50, of two forms, several
similar to the scutal setae, the majority narrow-lanceolate with short
barbs as figured. The setae, similar to the scutal setae, are not con-
stant in number or position, but are always present in the mid-
portion of the first row, sometimes of the second row, and a few may
be scattered at random except in the posteriormost rows. All the re-
maining setae are of the lanceolate form. Dorsal formula of holotype:
2-14-14-11-8-6-2-2. Ventral setae mostly of the usual form, some-
times a few stray setae of the lanceolate form near the margins, 2-2
(sternals) plus about 40, those posterior to the anus similar to the
scutal setae.
Type data: Holotype and 1 1 paratypes, RML No. 28268, from
Peromyscus eremicus (western desert mouse), Grafton, Washington
County, Utah, 17 December 1950; 10 paratypes, No. 28270, same
host, county, and state. Berry Springs, 19 December 1950; 1 para-
type, from Neotoma lepida, same county and state, Rockville, 18
December 1950.
Holotype and some paratypes deposited in the collection of the
Rocky Mountain Laboratory. Other paratypes distributed to the
United States National Museum, the British INIuseum (Natural His-
tory), the Brigham Young University, the South Australian Museum,
the University of Kansas, and Dr. Charles D. Radford.
Diagnosis: The two distinct forms of the dorsal setae in com-
bination with subterminala and parasubterminala, and genuala III
will distinguish E. lanceolata n. sp. from other members of the genus.
EUSCHoNGASTIA LANEI Brennan and Beck, n. sp.
(Fig. 2, A-D)
Body: Subovate. Length and width of holotype, slightly en-
Dec. 31, 1955 the chiggers of utah 15
gorged, 305 by 202 microns. Eyes 2/2, the anterior larger. Anus at
about the level of the fifth row of ventral setae.
Gnathosoma: Puncta few, indistinct, but definitely present on
cheliceral bases, capitular sternum, and femoral plate of palp. Chelic-
eral blade with tricuspid cap. Setae of capitular sternum with many
long branches. Palpal setae: Femoral heavily branched, genual and
ventrotibial moderately branched, dorsotibial with few branches,
laterotibial nude or with 1 or 2 branches. Claw trifurcate. Palpal
tarsus with 6 branched setae and a tarsala. Galeal seta with about 6
strong branches.
Scutum: Puncta few and indistinct. A little more than 2 times
wider than long, anterior and posterior margins sinuous, as figured.
Sensillary bases at about the level of the posterolateral setae and
separated by about the distance from either to its corresponding
posterolateral seta. A cuticular fold anterior to each sensillary base.
Sensillae obcordate to pyriform; anterior surface of head covered
with long setules; posterior surface with short, broad setules except
for a bare median strip; setules decreasing in length as they continue
part way down the stem. Setae thick, plumose. Scutal measurements
of holotype: AW-65, PW-84, SB-29, ASB-19, PSB-13, AP-19, AM-
32, AL-30, PL-50, S-29.
Legs: Few indistinct puncta on all segments. Leg I coxa, tro-
chanter and basifemur each with a branched seta; telofemur with 5
branched setae; genu with 5 branched setae, a long genuala, and a
microgenuala; tibia with 7 branched setae; 2 subequal tibialae (the
distal one more blunt), and a microtibiala; tarsus with about 18
branched setae; a tarsala, a microtarsala, a subterminala, a para-
subterminala, and a pretarsala. Leg II coxa and trochanter each with
a branched seta; basifemur with 2 branched setae; telofemur with 4
branched setae; genu with 3 branched setae and a small genuala;
tibia with 6 branched setae and 2 small tibialae; tarsus with about
14 branched setae, a long, slender tarsala, a microtrsala, and a pre-
tarsala. Leg III coxa and trochanter each with a branched seta; basi-
femur with 2 branched setae; telofemur with 3 branched setae; genu
with 3 branched setae and a very short genuala; tibia with 6
branched setae, no tibiala; tarsus with about 14 branched setae. All
tarsi terminated by a pair of lateral claws with a longer clawlike
empodium between.
Body setae: Dorsal setae similar to the scutal setae, 28 to 42
microns long, decreasing in length from anterior to posterior rows.
Dorsal formula for the holotype: 2-13-14-11-8-4-2. Ventral setae 2-2
(sternals) plus about 46, those posterior to the anus similar to the
dorsal setae.
Type data: Holotype and 9 paratypes, RML No. 31172, from
Reithrodontomys megalotis (desert harvest mouse), Lucin, Box Elder
County, Utah, 10 October 1952; 20 paratypes, Nos. 31176, 31183,
31184, from Peromyscus maniculatus, same location, 10 and 11 Oc-
tober 1952; 5 paratypes. No. 31188, P. maniculatus^ Jensen, Uintah
County, Utah, 8 November 1952.
The Great Basin Naturalist
16 BRENNAN AND BECK Vol. XV, Nos. 1-4
Holotype and some paratypes deposited in the collection of the
Rocky Mountain Laboratory. Other paratypes distributed to the
Brigham Young University, the United States National Museum,
the British Museum (Natural History), the South Australian Mu-
seum, the University of Kansas, and Dr. Charles D. Radford.
Diagnosis: E. lanei is distinguished from E. criceticola Brennan
by the presence of puncta and only 1 genula I.
This species is named for a friend, Paul R. Lane, Evanston,
Illinois.
EUSCHoNGASTIA OBESA Brennan and Beck, n. sp.
(Fig. 2, E-H)
Body: Broad ellipsoidal to subquadrate when engorged. Length
and width of holotype, engorged, 680 by 525 microns. Eyes 2/2,
sub-equal. Anus at about the level of the fifth row of ventral setae.
Gnathosoma: Cheliceral bases, capitular sternum, and femoral
plate of palp lightly punctate. Cheliceral blade with tricuspid cap.
Setae of capitular sternum with many long branches. Palpal setae:
Femoral heavily branched, genual moderately branched, dorsotibial
with 6 to 8 branches, laterotibial with 1 or 2 branches, ventrotibial
moderately branched. Palpal claw trifurcate. Palpal tarsus with 7
branched setae and a conspicuous tarsala. Galeal seta with about 8
branches.
Scutum: Roughly hexagonal, a little more than 2 times wider
than long, puncta few and indistinct. Sensillary bases posterior to the
level of the posterolateral setae and separated by considerably more
than the distance from either to its corresponding posterolateral seta.
A cuticular fold anterior to each sensillary base. Sensillae pyriform;
the anterior surface of the head with long setules; the posterior sur-
face with shorter, coarse setules and a bare median strip; setules de-
crease in size part way down the stem, basal portion of stem bare.
Setae thick, densely clothed with semi-appressed barbs. Scutal
measurements of holotype: AW-84, PW-110, SB-44, ASB-29, PSB-
18, AP-20, AM-39, AL-38, PL-57, S-39.
Legs: All segments with few puncta, not easily discerned on all
specimens. Leg I coxa, trochanter and basifemur each with a
branched seta; telofemur with 5 branched setae; genu with 4
branched setae, 2 long genualae, and a microgenuala; tibia wdth 7
branched setae, 2 moderately long tibialae (the distal one more
blunt), and a microtibiala; tarsus with about 18 branched setae, a
thick and relativenly short tarsala, a microtarsala, a subterminala, a
parasubterminala, and a pretarsala. Leg 11 coxa and trochanter each
with a branched set; basifemur with 2 branched setae; telofemur with
4 branched setae; genu wdth 3 branched setae and a genuala; tibia
with 6 branched setae and 2 short tibialae; tarsus with about 14
branched setae, a long, slender tarsala, a microtarsala, and a pre-
tarsala. Leg III coxa and trochanter each with a branched seta; basi-
femur with 2 branched setae; telofemur with 3 branched setae; genu
with 3 branched setae and a short genuala; tibia with 6 branched
Dec. 31, 1955 the chiggers of utah 17
setae, no tibiala; tarsus with about 14 branched setae. All tarsi
terminated by a pair of claws and a longer clawlike empodium be-
tween them.
Body setae: Dorsal setae similar to the scutal setae but barbs
not so appressed; 38 to 54 microns long, decreasing in length from
anterior to posterior rows. Dorsal formula for the holotype: 2-12-
12-12-8-6-4-2. Ventral setae 2-2 (sternals) plus about 50, those pos-
terior to the anus similar to the dorsal setae.
Type data: Holotype and 9 paratypes, RML No. 31212, from
Peromyscus maniculatus (a white-footed mouse), Torrey, Wayne
County, Utah, 7 August 1952; 10 paratypes. No. 31173, same data;
20 paratypes, Nos. 31175, 31182, and 31192, same host, Cedar Val-
ley, Utah County, Utah, 1 November 1952.
Holotype and some paratypes deposited in the collection of the
Rocky Mountain Laboratory. Other paratypes distributed to the
Brigham Young University, the United States National Museum, the
British Museum (Natural History), the South Australian Museum,
the University of Kansas, and Dr. Charles D. Radford.
Other material referred to this species: Four specimens (having
fewer dorsal setae) off Cynomys leucurus, Duchesne County, Utah,
21 August 1952. One specimen off Perognathus formosus, Fish
Springs, Utah, 14 July 1951.
Diagnosis: E. obesa n. sp. is closely related to E. criceticola
Brennan from which it differs principally in the presence of puncta,
and in its different shape and larger size when engorged.
EUSCHoNGASTIA ROTUNDA Brennan and Beck, n. sp.
(Fig. 2, I-L)
Body: Nearly spherical when engorged. Holotype, engorged, 650
by 567 microns. Eyes 2/2. Anus at about the level of the fifth row
of ventral setae.
Gnathosoma: Cheliceral bases, capitular sternum and femoral
plate of palp punctate. Blade of chelicera with tricuspid cap. All pal-
pal setae, except the nude laterotibial, heavily to moderately
branched. Palpal claw trifurcate. Palpal tarsus with 7 branched
setae and a fairly long tarsala. Galeal seta strongly branched.
Scutum: Roughly hexagonal, about 3 times wider than long,
puncta few and inconspicuous. Sensillary bases posterior to the level
of posterolateral setae and separated by the distance from either to
its corresponding posterolateral seta. An indistinct fold anterior to
each sensillary base. Sensillae pyriform; anterior surface of head
covered with long setules, posterior surface with coarse, shorter
setules, sparsely distributed in mid-apical region; stems bare. Setae
thick, plumose. Scutal measurements of holotype: AW-91, PW-124,
SB-42, ASB-36, PSB-16, AP-24, AM-38, AL-37, PL-67, S-39.
Legs: All segments punctate. Leg I coxa, trochanter and basi-
femur each with a branched seta; telofemur with 5 branched setae;
genu with 4 branched setae, 2 long genualae, and a microgenuala;
The Great Basin Naturalist
18 BRENNAN AND BECK Vol. XV, NoS. 1-4
tibia with 7 branched setae, 2 long, nearly identical tibialae and a
rather long microtibiala; tarsus with about 20 branched setae, a
prominent tarsala and a microtarsala, a subterniinala and parasub-
terniinala, and a pretarsala. Leg II coxa and trochanter each with a
branched seta; basifemur with 2 branched setae; telofemur with 4
branched setae; genu with 3 branched setae and a long genuala;
tibia with 6 branched setae and 2 long tibialae; tarsus with about 16
branched setae, a tarsala (a little longer than tarsala I), a micro-
tarsala, and a pretarsala. Leg III coxa and trochanter each with a
branched seta; basifemur with 2 branched setae; telofemur with 3
branched setae; genu with 3 branched setae and a fairly long genu-
ala; tibia with 6 branched setae, no tibiala; tarsus with about 14
branched setae. All tarsi terminated by a pair of claws with a slender
clawlike empodium between.
Body setae: Dorsal setae about 80, 40 to 55 microns long, simi-
lar to the scutal setae in form, in irregular rows. Humerals, 2 pairs.
Ventral setae 2-2 (sternals) plus about 60, those posterior to the anus
similar to the dorsal setae.
Type data: Holotype and 9 paratypes, RML No. 31174, from
Ochotona princeps (pika, cony). Geyser Pass, San Juan County,
Utah, 1 July 1952.
Holotype and some paratypes in the collection of the Rocky
Mountain Laboratory. Other paratypes in the United States National
Museum, the British Museum (Natural History), the South Aus-
trailian Museum, and the University of Kansas.
Diagnosis: E. rotunda n. sp. is related to E. criceticola Brennan
from which it is separated by the presence of puncta, its subspherical
form when engorged, 2 pairs of humeral setae, greater number of and
irregular arrangement of dorsal setae, and larger specialized leg
setae and their different proportional lengths.
EUSCHoNGASTIA UTAHENSIS Brennan and Beck. n. sp.
(Fig. 4, EH)
Body: Subellipsoidal. Length and width of holotype, nearly en-
gorged, 443 by 258 microns. Eyes of moderate size, 2/2, no plate.
Anus at level of about fifth row of ventral setae.
Gnathosoma: Cheliceral bases, capitular sternum, and femoral
plate of palp punctate. Cheliceral blade with tricuspid cap. Setae of
capitular sternum with several long branches. Palpal setae as fol-
lows: Femoral with about 6 branches, genual with about 4 branches,
dorsotibial with 2 or 3 branches, laterotibial nude or forked, ventro-
tibial with 2 or 3 branches. Palpal tibial claw trifurcate. Palpal tar-
sus with a small tarsala and 5 branched setae. Galeal seta nude.
Scutum: Roughly trapezoidal. Few puncta. Little more than
1 1/2 times wider than long. Sensillary bases anterior to level of pos-
terolateral setae and separated by about the distance from either to
its corresponding posterolateral seta. A fold anterior to each sensil-
lary base. Sensillae oblanceolate-clavate; the head with few long
setules, evenly distributed on the anterior surface, but absent from
Dec. 31, 1955 the chiggers of utah 19
median area of posterior surface; setules progressively decrease in
length as they continue somewhat more than halfway down the stem.
Setae with semi-appressed barbs. Scutal measurements of holotype:
AW-50, PW-66, SB-23, ASB-20, PSB-15, AP-29, AM-26, AL-20,
PL-33, S-37.
Legs: All segments with puncta. Leg I coxa trochanter, and
basifemur each with a branched seta; telofemur with 5 branched
setae; genu with 4 branched setae, 2 long genualae, and a micro-
genuala; tibia with 8 branched setae, 2 tibialae (the distal one thick
and blunt, the proximal one thinner and pointed), and a microtibi-
ala; tarsus with about 18 branched setae, a tarsala, a microtarsala, a
subterminala, a parasubterminala, and a pretarsala. Leg II coxa and
trochanter each with a branched seta; basifemur with 2 branched
setae; telofemur with 4 branched setae; genu with 3 branched setae
and no genuala; tibia with 6 branched setae and 2 small tibialae;
tarsus with about 14 branched setae, a slender tarsala, a microtarsala,
and a pretarsala. Leg III coxa and trochanter each with a branched
seta; basifemur with 2 branched setae; telofemur with 3 branched
setae; genu with 3 branched setae and no genuala; tibia with 6
branched setae and a tibiala; tarsus with about 10 branched setae. All
tarsi terminated by a pair of claws with a more slender clawlike em-
podium between them.
Body setae: Dorsal setae similar to the scutal setae, 22 to 30
microns in length. Dorsal formula: 2-8-6-6-6-2-2. Ventral setae 2-2
(stemals) plus about 26, those posterior to the anus similar to the
dorsal setae.
Type data: Holotype and 3 paratypes, BML No. 30161, from
Neotoma lepida (wood rat). Fish Springs, Juab County, Utah, 14
July 1951.
Holotype and a paratype in the collection of the Rocky Mountain
Laboratory. One paratype in the United States National Museum
and one in the British Museum (Natural History).
Diagnosis: E. utahensis n. sp. is suggestive of E. lacerta Brennan
but differs in the dorsal formula, and in having a subterminala and
a parasubterminala, and 2 genualae I (1 genuala I in the latter).
SUMMARY
In this first report on the chiggers of Utah, 38 species, of which
8 are described as new, are recorded. The new species, all from
rodents are: Trombicula allredi, T. doremi, Euschongastia fasolla, E.
lanceolata, E. Lanei, E. obesa, E. rotunda, and E. utahensis.
A key and collecting data are given for the species included.
Acomatacarus sexacis AUred and Beck is synonymized under
A. micheneri Greenberg, and Trombicula imperfecta Brennan and
Jones under T. hoplai Loomis.
Trombicula potosina Hoffman, a Mexican species, is recorded
for the first time in the United States.
The Great Basin Naturalist
20 BRENNAN AND BECK Vol. XV, Nos. 1-4
LITERATURE CITED
Allred, D. M. and D Elden Beck. Mite fauna of woodrat nests in
Utah. Utah Academy of Sciences, Arts and Letters. Proceedings
30: 53-56. 1953.
. A new species of Acomatacarus (Acarina, Trombiculidae)
from Utah. The Great Basin Naturalist 13 (3-4): 87-90. 1953a.
Brennan, J. M. Two new species of Trombicula: T . montanensis and
T. aplodontiae (Acarina, Trombiculidae) from Northwestern
United States. J. Parasitol. 32 (5): 441-444. 1946.
. A new genus and species of chigger, Chatia setosa (Trom-
biculidae, Acarina) from Northwestern United States. J. Para-
sitol. 32 (2): 132-135. 1946a.
. New species of chiggers (Acarina: Trombiculidae) from
bats of the Nearctic Region. J. Parasitol. 33 (3): 245-252. 1947.
. New North American chiggers (Acarina, Trombiculidae).
J. Parasitol. 34 (6): 465-478. 1948.
. Trombicula cynos Ewing, 1937, and three related new species
(Acarina: Trombiculidae). The Wasmann J. Biol. 10 (1): 55-
65. 1952.
. and Eleanor K. Jones. A report on the chiggers (Acarina:
Trombiculidae) of the Frances Simes Hastings Natural History
Reservation, Monterey County, California. The Wasmann J.
Biol. 12 (2): 155-194. 1954.
Ewing, H. E. A contribution to our knowledge of the taxonomy of
chiggers, including the descriptions of a new genus, six new
species and a new variety. Amer. J. Trop. Med. 5 (3): 251-265.
1925.
. A preliminary key to the larvae of fifteen species of the mite
genus Trombicula, with descriptions of four new species. Proc.
Ent. Soc. Wash. 30 (4): 77-80. 1928.
. Four new species of chiggers (Acarina-Trombidiidae). Ent.
News 40: 294-297. 1929.
• . Three new American chiggers (Acarina: Trombidiidae).
Proc. Ent. Soc. Wash. 3^ (1): 9-11. 1929a.
. A catalogue of the Trombiculinae, or chigger mites, of the
New World with new genera and species and a kev to the
genera. Proc. U. S. Natl. Mus. 80 (Art. 8): 1-19. 1931.
. Remarks on the taxonomy of some American chiggers
(Trombiculinae), including the descriotions of new genera and
species. J. Parasitol. 28 (6): 485-493. 1942.
Gould, D. J. A new species of chigger from California (Acarina:
Trombiculidae). The Wasmann J. Biol. 8 (3): 367-370. 1950.
. The larval trombiculid mites of California. Univ. Calif.
Pubis. Ent., in press.
Greenberg, B. A review of the New World Acomatacarus (Acarina,
Trombiculidae). Ann. Ent. Soc. Amer. 45 (3): 473-491. 1952.
Dec. 31, 1955 the chiggers of utah 21
Hirst, S. On three new parasitic mites. Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist, ser 9,
7: 37-39. 1921.
Hoffmann, A. Contribuciones al conocimiento de los trombiculidos
mexicanos. 2a parte. Ciencia 10 (5-6): 148-153. 1950.
Loomis, R. B. A new subgenus and six new species of chigger mites
(genus Trornbicula) from the Central United States. Univ.
Kansas Sci. Bull. 36 (pt. 2) (13): 919-941. 1954.
Radford, C. D. The larval IVombiculinae (Acarina, Trombidiidae)
with descriptions of twelve new species. Parasitol. 54 (1): 55-81.
1942.
Wharton, G. W. and A. B. Hardcastle. The genus N eoschongastia
(Acarinida: Trombiculidae) in the Western Pacific Area. J.
Parasitol. 52 (3): 286-322. 1946.
ADDENDUM
The publication by Gould of the paper cited above as in press
and the discovery of another species in Utah too late for inclusion
in the key necessitate these further notes.
The complete Gould reference:
Gould, D. J. The larval trombiculid mites of California (Acar-
ina: Trombiculidae). Univ. Calif. Pubis. Ent. 11 (1): 1-116.
1956.
Species listed by code in key and text:
Euschongastia decipiens Gould 1956, p. 61, Euschongasiia "d"
n.sp. and Euschongastia hoffmannae Gould. 1956, p. 52 for Eus-
chongastia "h" n.sp.
The additional and thirty-ninth species recorded from Utah:
Euschongastia furmani Gould, 1956, p. 63, WASHINGTON
COUNTY: From Neotoma lepida, 26 November 1955, 7 specimens
identified (RML).
In the key, this species runs to Euschongastia hoffmannae ("h"
n.sp.) from which it is easily distinguished by 2 pairs of humeral
setae, and punctate scutum, cheliceral bases and legs.
The Great Basin Naturalist
22 BRENNAN AND BECK Vol. XV, Nos. 1-4
Fig. 1, A-D. Trombicula doremi, n.sp. A. Scutum. B-D. Specialized setae of legs
I to III, proportional lengths indicated. E-H. Trombicula allredi, n.sp. E. Scutum.
F-H. Specialized setae of legs I to III, proportional lengths indicated.
Dec. 31 1955 the chiggers of utah
23
24
BRENNAN AND BECK
The Great Basin Naturalist
Vol. XV, Nos. 1-4
Fig. 2. Scutum and specialized setae of legs I to III, small figures indicating
proportional lengths. A-D. Eiischdngastia lanei, n.sp. E-H. Euschimgaslia obesa,
n. sp. I-L. Euschongastia rotunda, n.sp.
Dec. 31, 1955
THE CHIGGERS OF UTAH
25
Fig. 3. Euschongastia lanceolata, n.sp. A. Dorsum. B. Scutum; posterior surface
of sensilla, left, anterior surface, right. C. Dorsal seta, lanceolate form. D. Dorsal
seta, scutal setal form. E-G. Specialized setae of legs I to III, proportional lengths
indicated.
26
BRENNAN AND BECK
The Great Basin Naturalist
Vol. XV, Nos. 1-4
Fig. 4. Scutum and specialized leg setae of legs I to III, figures show propor-
tional lengths. A-D. Euschdngastia fasolla, n.sp. E-H. Euschdngastia utahensis.
n.sp.
THE AMPHIBIA OF GREER COUNTY, OKLAHOMA^
ARTHUR N. BRAGG^
Greer County, Oklahoma, lies not quite in the southwestern
corner of the state. It is bounded on the north by Beckham, on the
east by Kiowa, on the south by Jackson, and on the west by Harmon
counties. It is drained by three major streams: (1) the North Fork
of the Red River which separates it from Kiowa County all along its
eastern edge, (2) the Elm Fork which cuts diagonally southeastward
through its center to enter the North Fork, and (3) the Salt Fork of
the Red River which flows eastward and then southward in the
southern portions of the county.
Greer is essentially one of the prairie counties of Oklahoma.
Probably originally mixed grassland is it now largely short grass
prairie. However, in its western and northwestern portions consider-
able areas of gypsum rock come to the surface and this in some places
has caused a rugged relief and a change in vegetation locally as dif-
ferential erosion has occurred. Similarly, along its eastern border,
great granitic masses known as the Granite Mountains occur as large-
ly bare and steep rock up-thrusts from the surrounding plain. These
are the western outliers of the Wichita Mountains. In many places in
the grassland areas, especially in flat lands along small creeks,
smaller or largest stands of mesquite dominate or partially dominate
the landscape. Some such stands of mesquite savannah are very ex-
tensive like the one in which I once lost my direction and floundered
around for an hour or more before wandering onto a section line
road running through it and thus finding my way out.
This area of Oklahoma has deficient rainfall, high winds, and
high temperatures. The evaporation rate from all water surfaces is
very rapid, especially during summer. Fast development is a neces-
sity for any amphibian here that uses temporary pools for breeding,
as most of them do. Only one salamander occurs in this region so far
as known and no others are expected. The remainder of the Am-
phibia are Salientia.
1 . Ambystoma tigrinum morvortium Baird
This "prairie edition" of the tiger salamander is very abundant
in all parts of the county. It is a nocturnal, burrowing form whose
adults are rarely seen except after rains. Spring and summer rains
apparently stimulate breeding — at least, the adults enter the water
for breeding at such times only, so far as I can determine. They
breed in temporary water (ditches particularly) farther north in
western Oklahoma but in Greer County I have found their larvae
only in the cattle tanks, some of which here are quite deep (6-12 feet
or more) when full. In deep tanks, the larvae will be found only in
the deeper (and therefore cooler) water on very hot days.
1 . Contribution of the Department of Zoology and of the Biological Survey, University of Oklahoma,
Norman.
2. Professor of Zoology and Herpetologist of the Biological Survey, University- of Oklahoma.
27
The Great Basin Naturalist
28 ARTHUR N. BRAGG Vol. XV, Nos. 1-4
In tanks in the gypsum regions, the larvae are very light col-
ored, light cream all over except the tail tip which is intensely black
and the gill bars which are bright golden. In waters off the gypsum
they are a nondescript greenish-brown; lighter in turbid than in
clear water, but never like those on the gypsum.
If one traverse the whole county in June, sampling many tanks,
he is struck by the different sized larvae commonly found. In one
tank they may be tiny, in another half grown, in still a third inter-
mediate in size. However, within any one region adjacent tanks tend
to have larvae of comparable sizes and in a single tank it is rare to
find more than two size groups, - usually only one. This phenomenon
is associated with rainfall pattern and reflects the dependency of
breeding adults upon rainfall for their breeding activities. This is
more striking in some years than in others, of course, but so clear cut
that during most years one could, by sampling pools for larval sizes,
draw a fairly accurate pattern of the rainfall over the county a
month or two before. In some years larvae are rare: in others, abun-
dant.
I have not seen their metamorphosis in this region. It sometimes,
at least, occurs in July in some other parts of western Oklahoma,
north of Greer Coimty.
2. Acris crepitans Baird.
Common on muddy banks of pools everywhere, breeding in the
adjacent waters. Calling begins usually in April and is intermitant
all summer. Most breeding is after the spring rains.
3. Bufo cognatus Say.
Very abundant breeding after rains only, in temporary pools.
4. Bufo compactilis speciosus Baird.
This is the most abundant toad in this region, breeding after
rains in temporary pools, but also in the edges of cattle tanks and in
pools along the rivers. This toad and Bufo cognatus occur together in
all parts of the country. Bufo compactilis speciosus tends to be the
more abundant on the higher land between stream valleys.
5. Bufo debelis debelis Girard.
Following the nomenclature of Sanders and Smith (1951), this
is the form to be found here. It is present throughout the county but
in small numbers only. It is most abundant on mesquite flats and is
unknown immediately near the larger streams. Like the other prairie
toads it breeds after rains only and in temporary pools. It must have
a very rapid development to exist using so shallow water. That it
does so is evidenced also by my consistent misjudging when to return
to the site of a breeding congress in an attempt to get its tadpoles,
which, until recently, I have been unable to see. I have never seen its
eggs which are still undescribed.
6. Bufo punctatus Baird and Girard.
This little toad of the rocky and rough regions of Oklahoma is
known in Greer County from only one specimen collected in early
morning after a rain in the night at the foot of one of the Granite
Dec. 31, 1955 amphibia of greer go., okla. 29
Mountains. Since it occurs in the prairies in Beckham County to the
north (Bragg and Dundee, 1950) and is generally found in gypsum
country in western Oklahoma, it presumably occurs sparingly over
much of Greer County.
7. Bufo woodhousei woodhousei Girard.
This is the abundant toad of lawns and gardens and under
streetlights in towns in Greer County. It is also the dominant toad
along the streams but it occurs also in prairies and mesquite flats.
It is, however, rarer on the higher areas between the streams. It
breeds in both temporary and permanent waters and, whereas rain
greatly stimulates its breeding, it is not a necessity to it. Mixed
breeding congresses of this toad with Bufo cognatus, Bufo compactilis
speciosus, and Bufo debelis debelis and members of other genera are
the rule rather than the exception after rains in spring and early
summer.
8. Microphyla caroliensis olivacea (Hallowell).
Abundant everywhere, breeding in rain-formed pools, im-
mediately after rains from late April on through summer. Embryos
and tadpoles have a very rapid development but this has not yet been
accurately measured.
9. Pseudacris clarki Baird.
Very abundant in prairie, breeding in temporary, shallow, well-
vegetated pools after rains.
10. Pseudacris nigrita triseriata (Wied). (?)
I once found tadpoles in a tank in Greer County which I identi-
fied at that time as of this form. Later I ran these down to this sub-
species in testing a key (Bragg, 1950) then in preparation. However,
I doubt my own record now on ecological grounds and recommend
waiting until someone succeeds in finding adults here before definite-
ly placing them in the list of Greer County forms.
1 1 . Rana catesbeiana Shaw.
Very common in the larger tanks.
12. Rana pipiens berlandieri Baird.
13. Rana pipiens brachycephala Cope.
Leopard frogs are very abundant about water every^vhere. Some
are certainly R. p. brachycephala. Further observations are needed
in these frogs here as w^ell as elsewhere.
14. Scaphiopus couchi Baird.
The southern spadefoot is very abundant in all parts of Greer
County. It is common on the roads on summer nights and is some-
times found under streetlights with Bufo. It breeds after rains in
shallow temporary pools. The exact time relations of its tadpole
stages are not known, but I have many indications that the develop-
ment is very rapid. I have several times failed to find tadpoles two
and a half to three weeks after a known breeding congress had pro-
duced eggs.
15. Scaphiopus bombifrons Cope.
The Great Basin Naturalist
30 ARTHUR N. BRAGG Vol. XV, Nos. 1-4
16. S. hammondi Baird.
The former of these two is abundant in all parts of Greer Coun-
ty but the latter is rather questionably present. I reported it from
tadpoles collected in the gypsum region of the northwestern part of
the county (Bragg, 1948), recognizing its tadpoles by the characteris-
tic mouth parts (Smith, 1934; Bragg, 1941). However, Stebbins
(1951) has cast doubt on the validity of the beak-notch relationship
of the mandibles, having found many intermediate conditions in the
western United States. I can confirm him in his facts. In western
Oklahoma, including Greer County as well as several others, tad-
poles with various intermediate conditions of beak-notch relation
have been found. I have known such specimens from the Oklahoma
Panhandle for at least twelve years. However, I have always found
such specimens within the habitat of S. bombifrons when S. ham-
mondi were also present: where S. bombifrons occurs alone, as in
central Oklahoma, none have ever been found with any marked
degree of the beak-notch character. Accordingly, I have interpreted
the facts to indicate interbreeding between these two in areas where
S. hammondi is present in small numbers only, the bulk of the popu-
lation as in Greer County being S. bombifrons (Bragg, 1946). The
fact that some of the tadpoles studied to the west of Oklahoma may
have come from regions where S. bombifrons does not occur gives
considerable weight to the interpretation of Stebbins as opposed to
my own. I do not think the problem settled, however. More observa-
tions are needed.
LITEBATURE CIIED
Bragg, Arthur N.
1941. Tadpoles of Scaphiopus bombifrons and Scaphiopus
hammondii. Wasmann Colletcor 4: 92-94.
1946. Aggregations with cannibalism in tadpoles of Scaphio-
pus bombifrons with some general remarks on the prob-
able evolutionary significance of such phenomena.
Herpetologica 3: 89-97.
1948. Additional instances of social aggregation in tadpoles.
Wasmann Collector 7: 65-69.
1950. The identification of Salientia in Oklahoma. Besearches
on the Amphibia of Oklahoma. Art 1 : 9-29, University
of Oklahoma Press, Norman.
Bragg, A. N. and Harold Dundee
1950. Salientian Collections in Oklahoma, 1948.
Proceedings of the Oklahoma Academy of Science 29:
24-25.
Dec. 31, 1955 amphibia of greer go., okla. 31
Sanders, Ottys and Hobart M. Smith
1951. (ieographic variation in toads of the dedelis group of
Bufo. Field and Laboratory 19: 141-160.
Smith, Hobart M.
1934. The Amphibians of Kansas. American Midland Natu-
ralist 15: 377-528.
Stebbins, Robert C.
1951. The Amphibia of Western North America. University
of California Press, Berkeley. 539 pp.
A NEW SCELOPORUS M AGISTER
FROM EASTERN UTAH^
WILMER W. TANNER
The analysis of the Desert Scaly Lizard, Sceloporus magister
Hallowell, by Phelan and Brattstrom (1955), did not include a
study of the populations of this species from the Upper Colorado
River Basin of southeastern Utah. With a large series of this species
available from Kane, Garfield, and Emery Counties, and with com-
parative material from Washington County, Utah, eastern Nevada,
and California, it is apparent that the Upper Colorado River Basin
populations represent a subspecies distinct from the populations
of the southwest deserts.
SCELOPORUS MAGISTER CEPHALOFLAVUS W. W. Tanner,
subsp. nov."
HoLOTYPE: (An adult male) BYU 11270, collected at Bentley's
Cabin, approximately 15 miles NW of Hole-in-the-Rock, Kaiparo-
wits Plateau, Kane County, by D. Elden Beck, 16 July, 1953.
Paratypes: All numbers are from the Brigham Young Uni-
versity Collection. Emery County. - Green River, 531, 1780-1, 12445.
Wayne County. - Notum, 11903. Garfield County. - Star Springs,
Mt. Millers. 12620. 13151, 13174; 20 miles NW of Hite (North
Wash) 13153-66, 13174; two miles S. of Trachyte Creek 13167-72;
Hog Springs, 14 miles NW of Hite, 12712-4. 12680-3. Kane County. -
Hole-in-the-Rock, 11400, 11263-4, 12885-6; Lone Rock. 11399. 12007,
13143-4, 13067; Catstair Canvon. 11392-8, 12845; Escalante River,
lower portion, 9769, 11390; Coyote Gulch, 12947; Hall Cave, 123,
929-37; Willow Tank Spring, 115, 119, 901-5. 912-16, 4183-4,
11392-7; Wahweap Creek, upper portion, 2744, 2126-7, 2134-5.
Diagnosis: A Sceloporus magister characterized by the pres-
ence of five or six chevron shaped bars. 1^/2 to 2^ scales wdde, on
the dorsum from the shoulders to the base of the tail, in most adult
males. Dorsal head plates and nape ranging from Apricot Yellow
to Orange Chrome, Ridgeway (1912) in adults (male & female).
Eye stripe extended to ear or beyond, and wdth a second stripe ex-
tending from the corner of the mouth to the base of ear. Infralabials
6-8, usually 7-7; scales across the gular area 18-21, average 19.2.
Description of the type: Total length 222 mm., snout to vent
104.5 mm.; dorsal scales 36, ventral scales 35, scale rows around
the body 34; femoral pores 12-12; gular scales between ears 19;
1. Cnntiil)iitii)n No, 14'), Deparliiient of Zoology and Entomology.
2. Tlif rii'w Miiiiiu has lefeiotu e to the yellow of the dorsal head plates and the nape in adults.
32
Dec. 31, 1955 new sceloporus magister 33
supralabials 5-5, infralabials 7-8, enlarged auricular lobules 4-4;
lamellae of fourth hind toe 17-17.
Coloration (in alcohol): Ground color approximately a Buffy-
Brown on body and head, nape a cream color, venter and throat
black, chest and anal region Cartridge Buff; eye stripe distinct and
extended three scales beyond top of ear, labial stripe from comer
of mouth to base of ear; nape with two longitudinal stripes, approxi-
mately 1^ scales wide and extending for a length of 5 scales;
gular patch joined to first chevron forming a collar 2^ scales wide
at the dorsum; body with 5 chevrons, last two faint. Four lateral
spots on each side, anterior ones faintly joined to chevrons; black
on ventral surface of thigh approximates 60 per cent from inner
margin of femoral pores to knee, black of belly extensive and united
for 85 per cent of the area.
Range: Paria River drainage of central Kane County east to
the Colorado River and north through eastern Garfield, Wayne, and
Emery Counties, Utah. A small series from San Juan County
approaches cephaloflavus closely as do those seen from Cameron,
Coconino County, Arizona.
Variations: Although the basic body pattern of cephalo-
flavus consists of chevron shaped bars across the dorsum, this pattern
is occasionally modified into a series of irregular spots, at times
approaching the basic pattern of bimaculosus. The occasional spot-
ted condition observed by Phelan and Brattstrom {loc. cit.) in uni-
formis of eastern Nevada and southwestern Utah represents inter-
gradation between the latter and cephaloflavus. A series of adult
males from the latter localities (see material) shows the chevron in
three, spots in thirteen, and the uniform dorsum in four. Aside
from the modifications in the basic patterns the most striking
color variations, between uniformis (including the unifotrnis x
cephaloflavus intergrades of southwestern Utah and adjoining Nev-
ada) and typical cephaloflavus is the yellowish-orange color in the
latter. Adult males from California (uniformis) show a distinct
series of four or five lateral spots separated by 1-2 scales. In cephal-
oflavus these spots are close together, often with two or three joined
by one or more scales, and thus forming in some specimens an ir-
regular lateral stripe. The belly patches, although varying as to
the amount, are united in 78 per cent of the males studied.
Scutellation differences, though small, do exist in the increased
gulars between the ears 18-21, average 19.2; and in the increased
infralabials 6-8, average 7.05. Other scale counts are as follows:
scale rows around body. 33-40, average 36.3; dorsals 31-36, average
33.6; ventrals 34^-41, average 38.2; femoral pores 10-15, average
12.6; lamellae of fourth hind toe 15-18, average 16.4. The circum-
orbitals are variable ranging from 3 to 8, whereas the supralabials
are constantly 5, rarely showing 4 or 6.
Comparative m.^terial: All numbers are from the Brigham
Young University Collection: - ARIZONA, Coconino County. -
The Great Basin Naturalist
34 WILMER W. TANNER Vol. XV, Nos. 1-4
Cameron, 13152; between Tuba City and Lee's Ferry, 639. Graham
County: Ft. Thomas. 10267-71. CALIFORNIA, Los Angeles Coun-
ty. - 2 miles E of Littlerock, 13175; 3 miles E of Llano, 13176. San
Benito County. - Panoche Valley, 8848. San Bernardino County. -
Cajon Pass, il847. NEVADA, Clark County. - Horseshoe Island,
Lake Meade. 2945, 3666-69. Lincoln County. - 16 miles W of Cal-
iente, 9795-97, 9850; Crystal Springs, 10182-85. UTAH, San Juan
County. - Bluff, 530, 1584, 1777-9; Montezuma Creek, 13177-9.
Washington County - Cactus Flats, SW of Castle Rock, 2734. 3739,
8757; St. George, 495. 514, 1514, 1516, 1519, 8785, 10345. 11851,
1561-3, 1569-70, 1572, 1579, 1792-4; Berry Springs, 9718, 9772;
Zion Nat'l. Park, 496, 1771-6. 3787, 11391.
Remarks: Insufficient material, from southeastern Utah and
adjoining Arizona, Colorado and New Mexico, limits our understand-
ing of the relationships of cephalojlavus and bimaculosus. It is
apparent, however, that cephalojlavus is closely related to uniformis
with which it is known to intergrade over a wide area in eastern
Nevada and southwestern Utah.
LITERATURE CITED
Phelan, Robert L. and Bayard H. Brattstrom
1955. Geographic Variations in Sceloporus magister.
Herpetologica 11: 1-14.
Smith, llobart M.
1939. The Mexican and Central American lizards of the
genus Sceloporus. Field Mus. Nat. Hist. Zool. Ser. 26:
1-397.
A STUDY OF THE ASPECTIONAL VARIATIONS OF
SIPHONAPTERA ASSOCIATED WITH THE NESTS OF THE
THOMAS WOOD RAT NEOTOMA LEPIDA LEPIDA THOMAS'
J. FRANKLIN HOWELL
INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this study was to determine seasonal variations
in flea populations associated with the nests of the desert wood rat
Neotoma lepida lepida Thomas.
Faunal nest surveys are becoming increasingly important in
connection with the ecology of mammalian parasites. Nest consort
studies, not of seasonal nature, have been conducted in California,
Oregon, and Utah concerning three species belonging to the genus
Neotoma. Nevertheless, these nest studies were not on a yearly basis
so as to show differences as analyzed from a seasonal aspect.
In addition to providing further information in the field of gen-
eral flea ecology, there is the importance of such a study as it is re-
lated to plague ecology (disease-host relationships). Eskey and Haas
(1939) reported the desert wood rat (N. I. lepida) as being plague
implicated and it is known that plague implicated fleas inhabit the
nest of A^. /. lepida (Beck, Barnum, and Moore, 1953). Nothing is
known about the population changes of these flease as demonstrated
on a seasonal basis. This paper is presented to indicate what changes
were noted from an aspectional point of view.
REVIEW OF LITERATURE
Siphonapterists have long known that flea consortes are found
in the nests and on the bodies of host animals. Holland (1949)
explains:
"The number of adult fleas that may be removed from an animal
is not necessarily indicative of the number belonging to it, as by far
the greater proportion of them is frequently to be found in the nest.
Some species rarely leave the nests at all."
Bishopp (1915) was one of the first to publish information relative to
such flea associations. Rothschild and Clay (1952) in their study of
bird fleas have found that certain species of fleas are associated with
the nest rather than the host. The above authors give some aspection-
al differences related to flea populations.
With the advent of sylvatic plague surveys it became apparent
that it was important to recognize the ecological factors related to the
hosts and their flea consortes. Stewart and Evans (1941) have shown
in their study of rodents and their burrows that there was a definite
variation in populations of fleas as seen on an aspectional basis.
Other workers, such as Holdenried, Evans, and Longanecker (1951),
1. A Thesis presented to the department of Zoology and Entomology in partial fulfillment of require-
ments for the degree of Master of Science, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah. Contribution
from this Department, Number 148.
35
The Great Basin Naturalist
36 J. FRANKLIN HOWELL Vol. XV, NoS. 1-4
Longanecker and Burroughs (1952), and Burroughs (1947) have
contributed information on the ecology of host-parasite relationships
which includes some data relative to aspectional differences.
Eskey and Haas (1939) demonstrated that plague can be carried
by wild rodent fleas and have listed many rodent fleas which may
be implicated in plague epizootics. Meyer and lloldenried (1949)
substantiated that transmission of plague may occur in nature.
These men through their work have emphasized the importance and
necessity of further ecological data concerning rodents and their
parasites with regard to seasonal differences.
In his life history study of Neotoma fuscipes Rhoades, Vestal
(1938) emphasizes the importance of nest and host consortes in con-
nection with the ecology of the host. Walters and Roth (1950)
worked out a faunal study of the nests of Neotoma fuscipes mono-
chroura Rhoades in Oregon. Traub and Hoff (1951) considered the
wood rat nests of prime importance in their distributional studies of
fleas in New Mexico. Holland (1949) believes there is an indication
that the nests serve as incubators of ectoparasites especially in arid
regions. Thus the ecology of the nests of rodents is becoming increas-
ingly important to the zoologist from a public health point of view.
DESCRIPTION OF AREA
The study area of approximately three square miles, lies three
miles northeast of Jericho, Juab County, Utah, paralleling highway
U.S. 6. The area has an average elevation of 5,200 feet above sea
level. Physiographically the country is a rolling landscape with al-
ternating low ridges and small valleys. The soil composition is of
general sierozem and desert types (Odum, 1953). Scattered igneous
and limestone rocks are characteristic of the area.
The predominant plants are the Utah juniper, Juniperus utahen-
sis (Engelm.), sagebrush, Artemisia tridentata Nutt., and rabbit-
brush, Chrysothamus sp. The junipers are characteristic of the low
ridges while sagebrush and rabbit brush are usually confined to the
valley flats. Many other shrubs and grasses occur throughout the
area but are not in great abundance (Fig. 1 ).
NESTING HABITS
The life history and habits of some species of Neotoma have
been worked out previously by Goldman (1910) and Richardson
(1924). Others, such as Vestal (1938), have added much to the un-
derstanding of the life history of individual species. No attempt will
be made in this study to give an extended discussion of the habits of
N. lepida. Nevertheless, some important observations have been re-
corded and are described in brief below.
According to Richardson (1924), immdiately upon weaning the
rat constructs a house.* The house is built from any available ma-
terials within the immediate environs. The house of TV. lepida is
*The use of the term "house" follows the dcsigiiiUioii as applied by Vestal (1938).
Dec. 31, 1955 nests of the thomas wood rat 37
made up of about 95 per cent sticks of various size, primarily juniper
sticks, but thorny vegetation, bits of cactus, bones, stones, leaves, and
almost anything else they can carry may be used.
An occupied house may be recognized at a glance, owing to its
well kept appearance and the presence of slight repairs and additions
(Goldman, 1910). Vestal (1938) in his study on A^. fuscipes states
that the rat continually adds to its house throughout the year. During
the October collections in the present study it was observed that sev-
eral of the houses exhibited a complete new layer of material de-
posited on the exterior of the house. Apparently building activity in-
creases in preparation for the winter months.
The house, depending upon age, will vary in size from two feet
in diameter and six inches in depth to seven feet in diameter and
five feet in depth. The house in some way is usually associated with
a juniper tree. The tree aids construction, provides protection, and is
a source of food (Fig. 2).
Houses have from one to a half dozen entrances to burrows
which run both above and below the surface of the ground (Fig. 3).
Often during summer months, the nest may be seen from one of
these entrances. To reach a nest all outer construction as described
above must first be removed. An effort was made to collect only nests
from houses which displayed habitance.
The teiTn "nest" refers only to the finer materials forming the
actual bed for the animal (Vestal, 1938). It is typically an oval
pocket recessed into the wall or floor of the nest chamber (Fig. 3).
Usually it is constructed of shredded bark but whenever possible fur,
hair, and other soft material is used. In the laboratory a captive rat
readily substituted cotton in preference to bark. As to size, a teacup
will easily fit into the cavity of the usual nest.
Vestal (1938) indicates the presence of one or more chambers
in the house of A^. fuscipes. Observations made during this study in-
dicate the presence of only one chamber in the house of N. lepida;
the nest chamber. A few houses contained two nests but the consortes
extracted indicated that only one nest was in regular use. Often each
of the two nests were in separate chambers but it seems apparent
that one chamber was abandoned. The nest chamber is characterized
by cuttings and excreta (Fig. 3). This chamber lies on a foundation
of heavy sticks which are held together by accumulated deposits of
excreta.
Not only does the rat add to his house during the year but
changes are observed in the nest according to the season. During the
late spring and summer months the nest is not oval as stated, but
more of a saucer shape. As the season progresses the nest is recon-
structed and again assumes an oval shape.
METHODS AND MATERIALS
Field Equipment. — The equipment used to collect the nests con-
sisted of a pick-ax, heavy leather gloves, and large paper bags. The
pick-ax was used to facilitate the tearing apart of the house in order
The Great Basin Naturalist
38 J. FRANKLIN HOWELL Vol. XV, NoS. 1-4
to obtain access to the nest. Heavy leather gloves were very useful
when the house or nest contained thorns or other materials that
might cause skin abrasions.
Each nest that was collected was placed in a paper bag, the top
of which was sealed to prevent the escape of consortes. Six to eleven
nests were collected each month from February, 1954 to January,
1955.* Only those nests showing evidence of occupancy were col-
lected, this being statistically important both quantitatively and
qualitatively.
Laboratory Methods. — In the laboratory, each nest was placed
into a modified Berlese funnel and left for a twenty-four hour period.
The consortes were collected in a catch-bottle containing 70 per cent
ethyl alcohol, which was fitted to the base of the funnel. Sorting of
the organisms was done by use of a medicine dropper under a dissec-
tion microscope.
The fleas were immediately processed and identified. All other
consortes from each nest were segregated into various taxonomic
groups, properly labeled, and preserved as separate units. This keep-
ing of all consortes was done to facilitate further study, if desired, as
it might relate to this project.
Flea Mounting Techniques. — The techniques used are:
1. NaOH (five per cent) Remains in solution until cleared
(24-72 hrs.)
2. Water (12 hrs.)
3. 50 per cent acid ROH (2 hrs.)
4. 70 per cent ROH (2 hrs. )
5. 85 per cent ROH (2 hrs.)
6. 95 per cent ROH (2 hrs.)
7. 100 per cent ROH (2 hrs.)
8. Oil of Wintergreen (12 hrs.)
9. Mount on microslide in clarite.
DISCUSSION
In 1939, Eskey and Haas indicated the importance of burrow
openings and excavated nests in connection with flea populations.
Since 1939 two detailed studies have been made concerning those
species of fleas found in rodent burrows and also of the species found
upon the host. The first, by Stewart and Evans (1941), establishes
definite seasonal variations among those fleas in the burrow and on
the host. The second, by I foldenried, Evans, and Longanecker
(1951 ), was a continuation of the first and covered a five-year period
(1940 to 1945). Both of the above studies were in agreement regard-
ing the flea populations.
A number of species of nest and burrow inhabiting fleas have
been implicated with plague transmission (Eskey and Haas, 1939).
Therefore, from the standpoint of plague-vector relationship, it is
'During the summer months when no fleas were fmirul extra nests were collected to test the validity
of the sampling. Otherwise the sample was constant throughout the study. (See data sheet.)
Dec. 31, 1955 nests of the thomas wood rat
39
Number of Specimens
S >
C 3
« 2
The Great Basin Naturalist
40 J. FRANKLIN HOWELL Vol. XV, NoS. 1-4
important to recognize kinds of consortes located in nests and bur-
rows of host organisms.
Hampton (1940) published an account showing the presence of
plague organisms in A^. /. lepida. With TV. /. lepida implicated as a
host animal for both the disease organism and the vector it was
deemed important to observe population variations of implicated
vectors as found in the nests of the host.
Beginning February 6, 1954, nest collections of the desert wood
rat (N. I. lepida) were begun and extended over a period of twelve
months, ending January 24, 1955. All collections were made in the
Jericho area as stated. The 98 nests collected contained an average of
twenty plus fleas per nest giving a total of 2023 specimens. Although
there were only two predominant species {Megarthroglassus smiti*
and Anomiopsylla amphibolus Wagner), eleven species were identi-
fied from the collections.
They are:
Monopsyllus ivagneri wagneri (Baker)
Monosyllus sp. **
Anomiopsylla amphibolus Wagner
Epitedia stanfordi Traub
Orchopeas sexdentatus agilis (Rothschild)
Orchopeas leucopus (Baker)
Atyphloceras echis Jordan and Rothschild
Thrassis gladiolis caducus (Jordan)
Meringis parkeri Jordan
Megarthroglossus smiti *
Malaraeus euphorbi (Rothschild)
Various species of fleas demonstrate greater or lesser host spe-
cificity. It is also known that some interchange in fleas constantly
occurs between various hosts in nature. Such fleas not commonly
found upon any given host may be identified as accidental or occa-
sional parasites. In a study involving several months of observation
it would be expected that a certain number of occasional or accidental
flea parasites would be found associated with a given species of host.
Likewise there would be found other species which would be quite
host specific. With reference to the species in this study, it seems to
be entirely evident that A. amphibolus is restrictive in host associa-
tion to N. I. lepida and related species. Other authors have also found
this to be the case (Hubbard, 1947; Holland, 1949). Not much is
known about the new species M egarthroglossus smiti but it too seems
to be restricted to N . I. lepida from data gathered to date. M. w.
wagneri and E. stanfordi on the other hand are listed by most authors
as being "mouse" fleas, most commonly found associated with spe-
cies of the genus Peromyscus. Since the above two rodents live in
close association in this area, occasionally finding an accidental host
relationship can easily be understood.
'Eusloigio Memlcz at Berkeley, California has recently completed an unpublished monograph of the
genus Megarthroglossus. Specimens of this genus were sent to him for examination. He classified
them as a new species which he named M . sinili.
*'A11 specimens not identified to species were females. Specimens of this sex are sometimes difficult
to accurately place to species in the absence of males.
Dec. 31, 1955 nests of the thomas wood rat 41
Population trends for all species in this study are described in
Fig. 5. Analysis of this graph indicates very definite seasonal differ-
ences. The late spring and early fall months show sparse population,
the summer months showdng no appreciable numbers of individuals
as contrasted to the very high population density during the late fall
and winter months.
The present study indicates that certain species appear season-
ally predominant. M. smiti is predominant early, being the first flea
to appear in the fall (September), leveling off in numbers during the
winter and almost completely disappearing by late winter (Febru-
ary). A. amphibolus occurs in greatest numbers during late fall, win-
ter, and spring, the peak coming between December and March (Fig.
5). The drop in population during January cannot be fully explained
at present. The fact that no adult fleas of any species were found in
the nests during the period from June to September is of special in-
terest. This study and the study of JVaub and Hoff (1951) are in
agreement regarding summer populations. The ecological factors in-
fluencing the decrease in summer populations are unknown. E. stan-
fordi seems to be evenly distributed throughout the fall, winter, and
spring. All other species related to this study have an irregular ap-
pearance.
Beck, Barnum, and Moore (1953) made a comparative nest
consort study of A^. I. lepida and A^. cinerea (Ord) during the months
of October and November of 1952. A comparison of their studies and
those made by the author with regard to comparative seasonal popu-
lations is interesting. For the same period of time in both studies
there was a close similarity in genera and species collected. Not only
are the species similar but in many cases the munber of specimens of
a particular species are similar (Table I).
The species which do not follow the same population pattern in
the two studies are M. w. wagneri, M. euphorbi, and E. wemmanni.
E. wemmanni is represented by only one specimen and would seem
insignificant to the study comparison. J\I. w. wagneri and M. eu-
phorbi occurs frequently in the 1952 collections, are absent or nearly
absent in the 1954 collections (Table I). Both species are commonly
found on deer mice (Peromyscus) although they often are of acci-
dental occurrence on many other species of rodents. Hubbard (1948)
lists Peromyscus and Neotoma as common hosts of these two fleas.
The association of the two rodents and their fleas would indicate a
close relationship in this particular ecological situation. Thus, the
study of Beck, Barnum, and Moore serves as a quantitative and
qualitative check for the specific period compared.
ECONOMIC AND MEDICAL IMPORTANCE
Fleas are a definite menace to the health of man and animals,
either as an entomophobia or as direct vectors of diseases. They are
of wide distribution, numerous, and very definitely of parasitic habit
in the adult stage. In the Rocky Mountain region, fleas are believed
The Great Basin Naturalist
42 J. FRANKLIN HOWELL Vol. XV, NoS. 1-4
to be common vectors of plague, tularemia, and typhus fever (Stark,
1948). Stewart and Evans (1941) said:
"Because of the difference in seasonal distribution of fleas, collec-
tions should be correlated with those times of year when species
capable of transmitting the infection are abundant. It is quite pos-
TABLE I
A COMPARISON OF THE FLEA POPULATION
OF 1954 AND 1952
IN THE NESTS OF THE DESERT PACK RAT
Oct. 13, to
Oct. 8, to
Nov,
. 17, 1952
Nov. 12, 1954
SPECIES
No.
of Speci-
No. of Speci-
mens
mens
Anomiopsylla amphibolus
206
270
Orchopeas sexdentatus
6
1
Malaraeus euphorbi
45
2
Monopsyllus w. wagneri
18
0
Atyphloceras echis
5
2
Megarthroglossus smiti*
34
97
Epitedia wemmanni
1
0
Epitedia stanfordi
34
8
Meringis parkeri
1
0
sible that many of those areas heretofore recorded as being free
from plague infection have been placed in this category because
they were surveyed at a time when efficient vectors had been largely
replaced by species which are either very poor vectors or incapable
of transmitting plague."
Fleas implicated with plague in the Western United States have
been listed by Eskey and Haas (1939). A list of plague implicated
fleas for Utah is found in the reports of studies conducted by Allred
(1951) and Beck (1955). Of the fleas hsted for Utah in the above
reports, the following species have been found as consortes in the
nests of A^. /. lepida in this study:
Monosyllus iv. wagneri
Orchopeas sexdentatus
Thrassis sp.
M. w. wagneri and O. sexdentatus are listed as potential vectors of
plague, e.g. in the laboratory they experimentally transmit plague.
Thrassis sp. is listed as a capable vector of plague, e.g. they are
known to transmit plague in nature (Allred, 1951). The genus
Thrassis is listed because several of the species of this genus outside
of Utah have been proven plague positive (Allred, 1951). These
same species do occur in Utah.
'Megarthroglossus d. divisus collected in the 19:52 study is synononioiis willi .1/. smiti.
Dec. 31, 1955 nests of the thomas wood rat 43
This report has attempted to facilitate a better understanding
of the problem of seasonal variations of flea populations. It has estab-
lished data which can be used to accurately identify the seasonal
variations in flea populations for such consortes in the nests of A^. /.
lepida in central Utah. Whether this data will be valid within other
areas of the state is not known. Such information when applied to
vectors of disease adds much to the understanding of ecological fac-
tors related to these vectors as has been mentioned above for plague.
The same can be said for general disease ecology.
CONCLUSIONS
From the 2023 specimens of fleas collected over a twelve month
period near Jericho, Juab County, Utah, two definite seasonal varia-
tions in populations have been found. The entire flea population
analyzed statistically on a year's basis, indicated a relatively low
population existed from May through September, while October
through April displayed a comparatively high population of fleas.
The most abundantly collected species of flea which was taken
was A. amphibolus. This is a flea which is not usually found in any
great numbers on the body of the host animal, but occurs in abun-
dance in the host nests at certain seasons of the year. Of the total
number (1726) taken the peak population was reached in December.
They gradually begin to thin out and completely disappear in July.
They begin to reappear in late September.
A comparison of data between this study and one made by
Beck, Barnimi, and Moore for the months of October and November
shows many points in common. The species listing and population
figures are much in agreement.
With reference to the economic importance of this study it has
been pointed out that of the eleven species, two (O. sexdentatus and
M. w. ivagneri) are defined by Eskey and Haas (1939) as being po-
tential vectors while certain species of Thrassis are listed as being
capable vectors of plague.
This study indicates that it is especially important to make year
round collections in order to establish accurate distributional records
for any locality. It is quite apparent that a single or several collec-
tions made in the summer months with respect to species found in
this study w^ould not have accurate representation from a distribu-
tional point of view. It likewise emphasizes the need for seasonal
observations to gain a proper perspective in population index.
This study has revealed that the greater population of fleas
found in the nests are not particularly implicated with plague. How-
ever, it is believed that some of these species of fleas are involved
with other diseases as vectors, such as typhus and tularemia.
The general examination of all other consortes of the nests seems
to show responses to reasonal variations as determined by the popu-
lation index. Some of these consortes were: mites, soft-bodied ticks,
hard-bodied ticks, spiders, pseudoscorpions, and other arthropods.
44
J. FRANKLIN HOWELL
The Great Basin Naturalist
Vol. XV, Nos. 1-4
FIG. 4
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Record of Specimens Collected
LITERATURE CITED
Allred, D. M.
1951. A Preliminary Study of the Distribution of Fleas in
Utah known to be Capable and Potential Vectors of
Plague. Thesis, Brighani Young University, Provo,
Utah.
Beck, D E.
1955.
Beck, D E. and Allred, D. M.
1952. Further Distributional Data on Utah Siphonaptera.
(Abstract) Proc. Utah Acad. Sci., Arts and Letters,
28:113-114.
Dec. 31, 1955 nests of the thomas wood rat 45
Beck, D E., Barniim, A. H., and Moore, Lenord
1953. Arthropod Consortes Found in the Nests of Neotoma
cinerea acraia (Ord) and Neotoma lepida lepida
Thomas. Proc. Utah Acad. Sci., Arts and Letters, 30:
43-52.
Bishopp, F. C.
1915. Fleas. U. S. Dept. Agr. Bull., 248:1-31.
Burroughs, A. L.
1947. Sylvatic Plague Studies. The Vector Efficiency of Nine
Species of Fleas compared with Xenopsylla cheopis.
Jour. Hyg., 45(3) : 371-396.
Eskey, C. R. and Haas, V. H.
1939. Plague in the Western Part of the United States. Publ.
Health Repts., 54:1467-1481. (1940).
Goldman, E. A.
1910. Revision of the Wood Rats of the Genus Neotoma. North
Amer. Fauna, U. S. Dept. Agr., 31:1-124.
Hampton, B. C.
1940. Plague in the United States. Publ. Health Repts., 55
(26):1143-1158.
Holdenried, R., Evans, F. G., and Longanecker, D. S.
1951. Host-parasite-disease Relationships in a Mammalian
Community in the Central Coast Range of California.
Ecological Monographs, 21:1-18.
Holland, G. P.
1949. The Siphonaptera of Canada. Dominion of Canada-
Dept. Agr. Publ. 817 (tech. bull. 70): 1-306.
Hubbard, C. A.
1947. Fleas of Western North America. Iowa State College
Press, Ames, Iowa. 533 pp.
Longanecker, D. S. and Burroughs, A. L.
1952. Sylvatic Plague Studies, IX. Ecology, 33:488-499.
Meyer, K. F. and Holdenried, R.
1949. Rodents and Fleas in a Plague Epizootic in a Rural
Area of California. Puerto Rico Jour. Publ. Health and
Trop. Med., 24(3) : 201 -220.
Odum, E. P.
1953. Fundamentals of Ecology. W. B. Saunders Co., Phila-
delphia. 384 pp.
Richardson, W. B.
1943. Wood Rats (Neotoma Albigula): Their Growth and
Development. Jour, of Mammalogy, 24:130-143.
The Great Basin Naturalist
46 J. FRANKLIN HOWELL Vol. XV, NoS. 1-4
Rothschild, M. and Clay, T.
1952. Fleas. Flukes, and Cuckoos. Philosophical Library.
304 pp.
Stark, H. E.
1948. A Preliminary Study of Utah Fleas. Thesis, Univ. of
Utah, Sah Lake City, Utah.
Stewart, M. A. and Evans, F. C.
1941. A Comparative Studv of Rodent and Burrow Flea Popu-
lations. Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol, and Med., 47:140-172.
Traub, Robert and Hoff, C. C.
1951. Records and Descriptions of Fleas from New Mexico.
Amer. Mus. Novitates, 1530:1-23.
Vestal, H. E.
1938. Biotic Relations of the Wood Rat (Neotoma fuscipes) in
the Berkeley Hills. Jour. Mammalogy, 19 (l):l-37.
Walters, Roland D. and Roth, Vincent D.
1950. Faunal Nest Study of the Wood Rat, Neotoma fuscipes
monochroura Rhoades. Jour. Mammalogy, 31 (3):290-
292.
Dec. 31, 1955 nests of the thomas wood rat
47
Fig. 1. Study area, a typical sagebrush-juniper community.
48
The Great Basin Naturalist
J. FRANKLIN HOWELL Vol. XV, Nos. 1-4
Fig. 2. The vvoodiat hous
Dec. 31, 1955 nests of the thomas wood rat
49
Fig. 3. Cutaway of woodiat house showing the position of nest (scalpel)
and burrows.
NECROLOGY REPORT OF THE
DEPARTMENT OF ZOOLOGY AND ENTOMOLOGY ALUMNI,
BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY, 1955
VASCO M. TANNERi
During the past year, three alumni of the Brigham Young Uni-
versity Department of Zoology and Entomology have died. One of
these members, Andrew T. Rasmussen, was 72 years old, while the
other two were 36 and 37 years of age — too young to be cut short
from their very promising careers. These two young scientists may
well be listed as casualties of World War II. Staff members of the
Brigham Young University have been built up and grown because
of their association with these outstanding students in the field of
biology, but saddened because of their untimely departure.
ANDREW T. RASMUSSEN
1883-1955
Andrew T. Rasmussen was born in Spring City, Sanpete Coun-
ty. Utah, August 10, 1883. He died at his newly established home in
in La Canada, California, on October 15, 1955.
He received the degree of Bachelor of Arts from the Brigham
Young University in 1909. Because of his outstanding accomplish-
ments in this field, he was made assistant professor and then head
of the Department of Biology of the University. He served in this
capacity until the autumn of 1913, when he became instructor and
graduate assistant in the Department of Physiology at Cornell Uni-
versity, from which institution he received the degree of doctor of
philosophy in Anatomy and Physiology in 1916. This same year,
Dr. Rasmussen was appointed instructor of anatomy at the Univer-
sity of Minnesota. Here he made rapid advancement in his chosen
field, being advanced to the rank of Professor in 1925. He held this
position until his retirement in June, 1952.
Dr. Rasmussen was an efficient, hard working scientist. While
at Brigham Young University, he spent from 12 to 15 hours per day
in the laboratory, producing many anatomical charts and thousands
of histological slides. These well established habits of work character-
ized him through the remainder of his life. His books and scientific
articles were enhanced by his accurate drawings and illustrations.
His "Laboratory Directions in Neuro-Anatomy" is now in the third
edition, while his "Outline of Neuro-Aantomy" has gone through the
1. Contribution No. HO from the Department of Zoolof^y and Entomolony. Brigham Young
University.
50
Dec. 31, 1955 report of alumni 51
eighth printing of the third edition. One of the most widely used text-
books in the medical schools of the United States in neuro anatomy
is his "The Principle Nervous Pathways." He also published many
articles in scientific and medical journals. His little book, "Some
Trends in Neuroanatomy," published by Wm. C. Brown Company,
1947, is a very complete and useful history of this subject.
As a teacher, Andrew T. Rasmussen was unsurpassed. During
his thirty-five years of teaching at the University of Minnesota, be-
tween four and five thousand medical and postgraduate students sat
in his classes. One graduate student said: "Of all medical courses I
have taken anywhere, his was the best remembered and the one
most actively participated in by the students." His demonstrations of
well chosen specimens, which were gathered during his long teaching
career, greatly enlivened his classes and made a lasting impression
on his students.
Dr. Rasmussen had the companionship of Gertrude Brown,
whom he married in 1911. She was the daughter of Professor James
L. Brown of the Department of Education at Brigham Young Uni-
versity. From her early childhood, she was interested in nature study
and loved the out-of-doors; this enabled her to be a great support and
helper in all of her husband's biological activities. They are the par-
ents of four children, all of whom are college graduates. When Dr.
Rasmussen retired in 1952. the couple came west and made their
home in La Canada, California. He accepted a visiting professorship
with the Department of Investigation of Medicine, University of
California at Los Angeles, which position he held until his death.
In June, 1953, at the 78th annual commencement of Brigham
Young University, Dr. Rasmussen was honored with the distin-
guished service award. He also held membership in many of the
learned societies of this country.
Andrew T. Rasmussen, whose grandparents and parents were
sturdy Danish concerts and members of the Latter-day Saint Church,
made a most enviable local and national record for himself. His
name is written near the top of the scroll of distinguished alumni of
Brigham Young University.
LOWELL STORRS MILLER
1919-1955
Lowell S. Miller died December 12, 1955, in the St. Mary's
Hospital at Rochester. Minnesota. He was bom March 9, 1919, in
Lehi. Utah, the son of Elmer and Rosella Storrs Miller. He made his
home in Provo, where his father is head of the Department of Eco-
nomics at Brigham Young University.
As a youth, Lowell was interested in entomology. During his
high school years, he spent much time at the University learning the
rudiments of collecting and preparing insects for a collection. He
entered Brigham Young University as a freshman in 1936, pursuing
a course in the natural sciences. In the spring of 1940, he volunteered
52
VASCO M. TANNER
The Great Basin Naturalist
Vol. XV, Nos. 1-4
for military service and was sent to the Philippine Islands to serve
with the U. S. Army weather service. He was captured on Bataan
April 9, 1942, was a member of the ill fated "death march" and
spent forty-one months as a Jap-
anese prisoner of war. It was here
he contracted the illness and un-
derwent the hardship from which
he never fully recovered. -
Upon being discharged, he re-
turned to Provo and on December
1, 1945, married Blanche Thomas,
daughter of John E. Thomas of
Malad, Idaho. Lowell and Blanche
are the parents of a son, Sheldon,
and a daughter, Maryanne.
In the autumn of 1945, Lowell
reentered the Brigham Young
University, receiving a bachelor
of arts degree in 1946 and a mas-
ter of arts degree in 1947. He
then did graduate work at the
Stanford University Marine Sta-
tion, the University of Illinois,
and the University of Iowa. He
vyas working on his thesis for a doctor of philosophy degree at the
time of his death. Lowell Miller was an assistant professor of zoology
at Parsons College, Fairfield, Iowa in 1948 and in 1949. He was a
member of the University of Illinois Museum Expedition to Vene-
zuela in 1950 and had served as ranger naturalist for the National
Parks Service during the summer of 1951, prior to going to Daven-
port. He was appointed director of the Davenport Museum in 1951,
which position he held until January of 1955. when he accepted the
appointment as director of the Marathon County Historical Society
and curator of the museum of Yawkey Home, at Wansau, Wisconsin.
Lowell Miller was affiliated with a number of professional and
civic organizations, among which were memberships in the Ameri-
can Association of Museums. American Society of Systematic Zo-
ology, the Iowa, Illinois and Wisconsin Academies of Science, and
the American Society of Mammalogists.
Lowell Storrs Miller
He was closely associated with Harry P. Chandler, Harry Thomas, Ray Snow
and James W. Bee, who were high school and boy scout friends and college
companions. These five enthusiastic nature lovers maiored in Zoology and
Entomology. Wlien World War H began, Miller, Snow and Thomas volun-
teered to serve their country. Miller and Snow were sent to the Philippine
Islands and both became prisoners of war of the Japanese. Ray Snow died on
the "death march" and was hastily buried by his buddy and companion, Lowell
Miller, Harry Thomas was killed in war activities in Italy. Thus, today James
W. Bee is the sole survivor of the five energetic devotees of scouting, hiking
and learning first-hand about the nature lore of Utah Vallej'. James Bee is
now a graduate student in Zoology at the University of Kansas.
Dec. 31, 1955 report of alumni 53
Lowell earned the respect of those with whom he associated as
well as people of the community. He was among the most promising
of the alumni members from the Department of Zoology and En-
tomology. Staff members of the Department are saddened at his
untimely passing. We extend our sincere sympathy to his wife, chil-
dren and parents.
We are pleased to include the fine tribute paid to Lowell by the
board members of the Marathon County Historical Society.
"Lowell S. Miller came to Wisconsin last year as first director of
Marathon County Historical Society. It was a crucial time: The Yawkey
Home had just been acquired; successful establishment of a museum
demanded increased membership, keen community and county interest.
Miller possessed a tremendous vitality and wide professional experi-
ence. His knowledge had an amazing breadth, spanned from biology to
photography, included conservation, natural history, archaeology. He
came to Marathon County from Iowa where he had headed the Daven-
port Museum for three years, doubling membership and expanding
program in the process. Miller had studied at Brigham Young, ^Stanford,
Illinois and Iowa and he had spent 41 long months in World War II
as prisoner of the Japanese.
In Marathon County, Miller plunged wholeheartedly into every
phase of community life. Under his leadership, the county historical
society's year was one of continual success. At his death, Society mem-
bers, and acquaintances up and down the county and throughout the
state mourned the loss of an able leader and associate."
HARRY PHYLANDER CHANDLER
1917-1955
Entomologist and assistant Fisheries Biologist with the Trout
Management Study of the Inland Fisheries Branch, California Fish
and Game.
Harry P. Chandler died on April 16, 1955, after an illness of
more than a year. He was born July 10, 1917, in Oregon. When
Harry was a small boy, his mother moved to Provo. After complet-
ing high school, he entered the Brigham Young University in the
fall of 1935.
Harry graduated with a bachelor of arts degree in 1939 and a
master of arts degree in 1941 from the Department of Zoology and
Entomology of Brigham Young University.
He continued his academic work by entering the graduate
school of the University of California in the fall of 1941. Here his
study activities were interrupted for the next four years, during
which time he served in the navy, attaining the rank of Lieutenant
J.G. He was a gunnery and torpedo officer on a destroyer in the
Pacific field of operations. When he was released from the service,
he again entered the University of California, where he continued his
work in entomology. He left the University in 1947 to join the De-
partment of Fish and Game.
Harry Chandler was one of the most ambitious and capable
students of the Coleoptera that we have had at the Brigham Young
The Great Basin Naturalist
54 VASCO M. TANNER Vol. XV, NoS. 1-4
University. He was a good collector and observer of the aquatic
beetles. At the time of his death, he was also making progress in
studying the Trichoptera of California. Harry's insect collection has
been contributed to the California Academy of Sciences.
He is survived by his wife, La June Chandler and four children,
who live at Red Bluff, California; also his mother and a sister who
reside at Richmond.
Mr. Joseph H. Wales, a colleague of Harry Chandler's in the
Inland Fisheries work, paid him the following tribute:
". . . By training and by aptitude, Harry was one of the most pro-
ficient biologists the Inland Fisheries Branch has ever had. His particu-
lar ability was aquatic entomology and he soon became a national
authority in this field. In 1946-47, he worked at the University of Cali-
fornia on a research fellowship collecting and classifying aquatic insects.
He assisted Dr. R. L. Usinger of the Entomology Department in writing
a syllabus for the first course on the Biology of Aquatic and Littoral
Insects to be given in that Department, and later taught the laboratory
portion of the course. Among the other scientific publications by Chand-
ler are description of a new genus and five new species of aquatic insects.
Several important scientific works were left unfinished when death cut
short this promising career at the age of 37 years."
California Department of Fish and Game, Vol. 41, No. 3. p. 348, 1955.
Among the scientific papers published by Mr. Chandler are
the following:
1941 New species of Coleoptera from Utah (Omophronidae and Dy-
tiscidae). The Great Basin Naturalist, Vol. II, No. 2, pp. 99-104.
1954a Four new species of Dobsonflies from California. Pan-Pacific
Entomologist, Vol. XXX, No. 2, pp. 105-111.
1954b New Genera and species of Elmidae (Coleoptera) from California.
Pan-Pacific Entomologist. Vol. XXX, No. 2, pp. 125-131.
INDEX TO VOLUME XV
The new genera and species described in this volume appear in
bold face type in this index.
Acomatacarus arizonensis Ewing,
8
Acomatacarus hirsutus (Ewing), 8
Acomatacarus linsdalei Brennan
and Jones, 8
Acomatacarus micheneri Green-
burg, 8
A Comparison of the Flea Popu-
lation of 1954 and 1952 in the
nests of the Desert Pack Rat,
Table 1, 42
A New Sceloporus Magister From
Eastern Utah, 32
A Study of the Aspectional Varia-
tions of Siphonaptera Associated
With the Nests of the Thomas
Wood Rat Neotoma Lepida Lep-
ida Thomas, 35
Beck, D Elden, article by, 1
Bragg, Arthur N., article by, 27
Brennan, James M., article by, 1
Chandler, Harry Phylander, 53
Chatia setosa Brennan, 9
Euschongastia cordiremus Bren-
nan, 6
Euschongastia criceticola Bren-
nan, 6
Euschongastia "D" Gould, 6
Euschongastia fasolla Brennan and
Beck, 12
Euschongastia "H" Gould, 6
Euschongastia lacerta Brennan, 7
Euschongastia luteodema Brennan,
7
Euschongastia lanceolata Brennan
and Beck, 13
Euschongastia lanei Brennan and
Beck, 14
Euschongastia obesa Brennan and
Beck, 16
Euschongastia oregonensis (Ew-
ing), 7
Euschongastia pomerantzi Bren-
nan and Jones, 7
Euschongastia radfordi Brennan
and Jones, 7
Euschongastia rotunda Brennan
and Beck, 17
Euschongastia sciuricola (Ewing),
7
Euschongastia utahensis Brennan
and Beck, 18
Howell, J. Franklin, article by, 35
Index, 55
Miller, Lowell Storrs, 51
Necrology Report of Department
of Zoology and Entomology
Alumni, Brigham Young Univer-
sity, 1955, 50
Neoschongastia americana (Hirst),
8
Rasmussen, Andrew T., 50
Sceloporus magister cephaloflavus,
32
Shunsennia Ochotona (Radford),
19
Tanner, Vasco M., article by, 50
Tanner, Wilmer W., article by, 32
The Amphibia of Greer County,
Oklahoma, 27
The Chiggers of Utah (Acarina:
Trombiculidae), 1
Trombicula allredi Brennan and
Beck, 9
Trombicula arenicola Loomis, 5
Trombicula doremi Brennan and
Beck, 10
Trombicula (Eutrombicula) bel-
kini Gould, 3
Trombicula hoplai Loomis, 5
Trombicula kardosi Loomis, 6
Trombicula (Leptotrombidium)
myotis Ewing, 3
Trombicula (Leptotrombidium) po-
tosina Hoffman, 3
Trombicula (Miyatrombicula) sar-
genti Brennan, 5
Trombicula montanensis Brennan,
5
Trombicula (Neotrombicula) cali-
fornica Ewing, 4
Trombicula (Neotrombicula) har-
peri Ewing, 4
Trombicula (Neotrombicula) mi-
croti Ewing, 4
Walchia americana Ewing, 8
Whartonia perplexa (Brennan), 9
55
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