A New Species of Aplodontopus (Acari: Astigmata: Chortoglyphidae) from the Yellow-Bellied Marmot, Marmota Flaviventris (Rodentia: Sciuridae) in Eastern Washington, USA, with Observations on Its Pathology

In 2003, researchers discovered a new mite species, Aplodontopus marmotophilus, on yellow-bellied marmots in Eastern Washington, with a study involving 41 marmots showing significant hair loss and skin abnormalities linked to the mite infestation. The study included a detailed description of the mite and its effects on the marmots, noting that the pathology was more severe than previously seen in the family Chortoglyphidae. A larger study of 176 marmots from two populations revealed that mites were present in 17 of 19 marmots from an urban park colony, with severe symptoms including hair loss, fat loss, and bone marrow fat decrease, while no mites were found in a suburban colony. The findings suggested that the mites thrived in the dense urban marmot population, causing significant health issues.