A study of the associations
between three species of rodents in the Atlantic forest and their parasitic arthropods
was undertaken at the Juréia-Itatins Ecological Station, located in the State
of São Paulo, Southeastern Brazil, from March 1989 to February 1990. Individuals
of three species,
Oryzomys russatus
,
Proechimys iheringi
and
Nectomys squamipes
were captured and examined for ectoparasites.
Eleven species of parasitic arthropods were found, including four species of insects
and seven of Acari. Parasitism intensity, phenology, and rainfall were positively
correlated with the abundance of the ectoparasites and their hosts. The most abundant
host was
O. russatus (Muridae: Sigmodontinae), and the most common parasite
on it was the laelapid mite
Gigantolaelaps
oudemansi. The cuterebrid
Metacuterebra apicalis
caused myiasis in
O. russatus.
A mutualistic association between the staphylinid beetle
Amblyopinus
sp. and its host
P. iheringi (Echimyidae) was observed. The few
N. squamipes
captured had small numbers of ectoparasites.
