EFFECTS OF CHIGGER MITE (ACARI: TROMBICULIDAE) INFECTIONS ON AMEIVA (SQUAMATA: TEIIDAE) FROM THE ANGUILLA BANK

Abstract

We examined 152 Ameiva plei from four sites on Anguilla and from Scrub Island, a nearby satellite, and 12 A. corax from Little Scrub Island, another Anguillian satellite, generated indices of condition by dividing mass (g) by SVL (mm), and quantified degrees of eutrombiculid chigger mite infections by measuring the total areas (mm2) of each lizard covered by one or more clusters of mites. Prevalence in infected A. plei (N = 77) varied significantly by site, but frequencies of infected males and females within sites did not differ signifi cantly. Indices of condition of infected and mite-free lizards did not differ significantly, nor was area covered by mites significantly correlated with condition, suggesting that mite infections are relatively asymptomatic. All Ameiva corax were infected, and area covered by mites was not significantly correlated with condition. Indices of condition for A. corax were signifi cantly lower than for infected A. plei, probably refl ecting the poorer condition of lizards occupying a food-deficient habitat.