ISSN 1362-1971
An international journal of the Systematic and Applied Acarology Society, published since 1996
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ISSN 1362-1971 An international journal of the Systematic and Applied Acarology Society, published since 1996 [Aims] [Editors] [Content] [Subscriptions] [Contact details] [Society Homepage] |
Systematic & Applied Acarology (2002) 7, 23-30House dust mites from urban and rural houses on the lowland Pacific slopes of
PanamaROBERTO J. MIRANDA, DIOMEDES QUINTERO A. & ALEJANDRO ALMANZA
Laboratorio de Artrópodos Venenosos, Museo de Invertebrados G. B. Fairchild, Universidad de Panamá, Estafeta Universi-taria,
Panamá, Panamá; DQUINTER@ancon.up.ac.pa
Abstract
The present paper reports the first survey of house dust mites of Panama. Samples of house dust from bedroom
floors of 20 houses located in urban and rural areas of La Chorrera, Panama, were examined for the presence of
mites. Mites were present in all samples. A total of 9150 mites were isolated and identified as belonging to 21
families, 24 genera and 29 species. We found an average mite density of 1.23 mites/mg dust. Blomia tropicalis
(Echimyopodidae) occurred in all the samples examined. All the astigmatid mites we found in urban house dust
have been recognized previously as sources of allergens that cause respiratory diseases, but only 71.4 percent
of those found in rural areas are known to be allergenic. We present the first record of Glycycometus
malaysiensis (Fain & Nadchatram) (Aeroglyphidae) new combination (transferred from Austroglycyphagus)
in Panama and the Neotropical region.
Key words: House dust mites, Panama Pacific lowland, Blomia tropicalis
Copyright 1999-2002 Systematic and Applied Acarology Society
Last updated 15 Jul. 2002
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