INDO-MALA YSIAN SCHONGAST IELLA 
103 
Approximately 90 per cent, of the time the hosts were Rattus flavipectus yunnanensis or Rattus 
rattus sladeni. The remainder of the hosts were Mus bactrianus kakhyensis, Rattus manipulus , 
Tupaia belangeri versurae, Crocidura (twice), and once each from Herpestes , Suncus , Anourosorex , 
Bandicota , and an unidentified bird. As the types of hosts indicate, the species was rarely 
taken near or in the primary jungle at Shingbwiyang. In North Burma in the dry season, 
frequently 40-80 per cent, of the chiggers taken on rats were of this species. In the rainy 
months in Assam the incidence was only in the vicinity of 10-30 per cent. It is possible that 
this difference is geographical rather than seasonal. 
The distribution of this species around Imphal was noted by Audy (1947) as an 
“undescribed species of Schongastiella ” (Audy, personal communication). It was recorded 
by the British Scrub Typhus Research Laboratory as common on R. rattus bullocki and present 
on Rattus sp. indet., R. manipulus , Callosciurus sp., Suncus (probably S. murinus ), and 
Anourosorex squamipes in the Manipur area, and as very common on R. rattus khyensis and 
Bandicota bengalensis in South Burma — it appeared to be commonest on rodents from villages 
and towns in both Manipur and South Burma (70-80 per cent of rats or bandicoats infested), and 
appeared at least in Manipur to be the counterpart of the characteristically urban species 
Euschongastia indica (Audy et al , 1953, and Audy, personal communication). These workers 
also found that the incidence of G. ligula was low during the height of the rainy season (July- 
August), with a peak in October-November at the end of the rains. 
Womersley reports, from collections by Kalra, that this species is also abundant in Kashmir. 
The frequency of occurrence of this chigger on rats inhabiting scrub terrain suggests that its 
possible role in scrub typhus should be further studied. This mite is not known to bite man, 
but it may serve as an intramurine vector of Rickettsia tsutsugamushi. G. ligula has several 
times been found in samples selected from batches of chiggers from which R. tsutsugamushi 
was isolated. Kalra (1947) reported a successful isolation in an instance where the sample 
examined seemed to consist entirely of ligula. Although unlikely because of its distinctive 
colour, the presence of the established vector, T. deliensis , could not be absolutely excluded. 
Davis et al. (1947) reported the isolation of several strains of R. tsutsugamushi from pools of 
mites in which a very low percentage of the mites examined consisted of ligula. (These were 
reported as Schongastiella species, but the Gahrliepiine slides and unpublished records of the 
India-Burma Field Party of the U.S.A. Typhus Commission, in the possession of the senior 
author make possible this complete determination). 
Gahrliepia (Schongastiella) punctata (Radford, 1946) (figs. 69-76). 
Schongastiella punctata Radford, 1946, Proc. zool. Soc. Lond., 116 , 256, figs. 19, 20. 
Gahrliepia ( Schongastiella ) punctata , Womersley 1952. Rec. S. Aust. Mus., 10 , 299-300, 
Plate 78, Fig. C. 
Diagnosis. — With a large subpentagonal scutum which is characteristically angled at level 
of PL (fig. 71) but which is rarely rounded and then sinuate as in fig. 69. PW about 73, PPW 
about 42; Coxae III bisetose. Palpal setal formula N/N/NNN. Sensory setae of legs of 
usual type (as in liota n. sp.). With about 33 dorsal setae in irregular rows beginning 24.6.2.6. 
Ventral setae about 35 in number and 20|4 in length. 
Standard Measurement of 15 Specimens of G. punctata from Assam and Burma 
pw PW 
AW PW PPW SB ASB BSB A-P AA-PP PP AL PL DS 
Cox II SD 
Mean ... 42 71 41 46 21 98 46 83 36 38 41 33 71/63 71/119 
= 1.11 =0.6 
Range 
(-or — ) 3 6 5 43 8567333 1.1 0.05 
MALA YA, No. 26, 1953 
