Guntheria coorongensis
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| Guntheria coorongensis | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Trombidiformes |
| Family: | Trombiculidae |
| Genus: | Guntheria |
| Species: | G. coorongensis |
| Binomial name | |
| Guntheria coorongensis (Hirst, 1929) | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
|
Schongastia coorongense | |
Guntheria coorongensis is a species of mite in the family Trombiculidae,[2] found from the tip of Cape York in Queensland to South Australia.[3]
The genus was first described as Schoengastia coorongense by Hirst in 1929.[2][4] The species epithet indicates that it comes from the Coorong.
The larva of these mites ('chiggers') when feeding embed themselves in host animals,[5] and for human hosts, the resulting skin irritation has been known as 'tea-tree itch' or 'duck-shooters itch'.[6] Host animals recorded include native rats and marsupials: (from Queensland):[5] Antechinus stuartii, other Antechinus species, Rattus lutreolus lutreolus, R. sordidus sordidus, R. leucopus leucopus; (from Victoria),[5] A. swainsonii and A. minimus; (from South Australia):[1] R.fuscipes greyii. This mite has also been listed as a parasite of the Northern Quoll in the Northern Territory.[7]
