Eustigmaeus johnstoni Zhang - Gerson (Acari: Stigmaeidae) a Parasitic Mite Species Detected in Phlebotomus papatasi (Diptera: Psychodidae) Specimens Collected from Aydın, Turkey.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to report the presence of the parasitic mite Eustigmaeus johnstoni Zhang - Gerson (E. johnstoni) on the sand fly species Phlebotomus papatasi (P. papatasi) collected in Aydın province, Turkey.

METHODS: Sand flies were collected from nature by CDC light traps in Nazilli town in Aydın province and were separated according to collection localities. Head and genital areas were cut and mounted for species identification, and midgut contents were checked for the possible presence of Leishmania parasites under a light microscope. Mites detected in sand flies were diagnosed on the species level based on the literature.

RESULTS: A total of 360 female and 378 male sand flies were caught. During dissection and preparation, two female E. johnstoni parasitic mite specimens belonging to the genus Eustigmaeus were detected on the abdominal pleura of P. papatasi specimens.

CONCLUSION: To our knowledge, this is the first study to report the presence E. johnstoni on P. papatasi in Turkey. Previous studies showing the relationship between parasitic mites and sand flies have indicated that this relationship is not accidental. More studies are needed to understand this relationship for obtaining more detailed information.