O. Merkl szerk.: Folia Entomologica Hungarica 68. (Budapest, 2007)

according to the months and seasons of the year in various species of hosts, as well as coexistence of N. sympatrica with other species of chigger mites are demonstrated. MATERIALS AND METHODS Collecting of N. sympatrica was carried out in the tracts of the Alexander Mountains (Ala-Archa, Cholok-Kaindy, Kegety, Ak-Suu, Belogorka, Boom), of the Kungey Ala-Tau Mountains (Kyrchyn, Kichi-Uryukty), and in the Sary-Chelek Reserve. Larvae were obtained from 64 rodents belonging to 8 species: grey hamster Cricetulus migratorius (PALLAS, 1773), silvery high-mountain vole Alticola (Alticola) argentatus (SEVERTZOV, 1879), Tien Shan vole Clethrionomys (Clethrionomys) centralis (MILLER, 1906), common vole Microtus (Microtus) arvalis (PALLAS, 1773), Kirghizian vole Microtus (Microtus) kirgisorum (OGNEV, 1950), wood mouse Apodemus (Sylvaemus) sylvaticus (LlNNAEUS, 1758), house mouse Mus (Mus) musculus (LINNAEUS, 1758), and Turkestani rat Rattus (Rattus) turkestanicus (SATUNIN, 1903). In total, 2662 larvae of N. sympatrica were collected, 1629 (61.20%) of which were stuck to the skin of the mammals. The nourishment of mites was ascertained in 9 areas of rodents' body, being consolidated into three topographical zones; the cochlea (inside, along the edge and outside), the ano-genital (genitals, anus, under the tail) and ventral region (belly, breast, chin) (Fig. 1). The larvae were collected by using the methods proposed by ZHOVTY & SCHLUGER (1957) and HUSHCHA (1961) with some additions. In particular, the stuck larvae were cautiously cut out together with a section of the skin and then were preserved in 75% alcohol. The location where the larvae were found (inside the cochlea, genitals, etc.) was indicated on the labels together with the standard data (parasitological number, date and a place of gathering, host species, station). In the process of the preparation, this information was transferred to the object plate as well. Further, the animals were combed out into a cuvette or onto a white sheet of a paper. The received substrate, rodent and sack were viewed under a microscope MBS1. For preparations a stereomicroscope MBS-9 was applied. The preparations were dried in thermostat 2B-1

51 at a temperature from +50 to +57 °C for three or four days. Identification of the larvae was made with a biological microscope MBI-6. All gathered materials are kept in the collection of the Laboratory of Arthropod Zoology of the Institute for Biology and Pedology of the National Academy of Science of the Kyrgyz Republic (in Bishkek). The preparations Nos 479(45) and 479(47) are kept in the collection of the Hungarian Natural History Museum (in Budapest). RESULTS Silvery high-mountain vole is the species most frequently exposed to the attack of AT. (N.) sympatrica. However, in different habitats their occurrence in this rodent varied from 12.7% in the Alexander Mountains up to 47.5% in the Kungey Ala-Tau Mountains. Sometimes wood mice living together with voles