Redescription of Periglischrus herrerai (Acari: Spinturnicidae) Associated to Desmodus rotundus (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae: Desmodontinae), With a Description of Adult Female Heteromorphism and an Analysis of its Variability Throughout the Neotropics.

A redescription, with a discussion of new features and illustrations, for all life stages is presented for the parasitic mite Periglischrus herrerai Machado-Allison associated with the common vampire bat Desmodus rotundus (Geoffoy), including a description of the heteromorphic female and the first description of its female deutonymph. In addition, the morphological variation of P. herrerai is evaluated by morphometric analysis of the adults, concluding that there is an evident geographic variation throughout the neotropics. This study was possible by using type material of P. herrerai from the Machado-Allison collection, and voucher specimens from other collections, and specimens from an extensive surveying of hematophagous bats in some localities of the Pacific and Atlantic versants, and central Mexico.