Leptus alberti n. sp. (Trombidiformes: Erythraeidae) parasitizing free-living colonies of Apis mellifera, Partamona peckolti, Paratrigona eutaeniata and Tetragonisca angustula in Totoró and Valle del Cauca, Colombia

This study examined the ectoparasites in free-living wild bee colonies in Totoró, Cauca Department, and Valle del Cauca, Colombia. Researchers collected 2116 bee specimens: 620 from Cauca (200 Apis mellifera, 320 Partamona peckolti, and 100 Paratrigona eutaeniata) and 1496 from Valle del Cauca (Dagua, Tocota, Buga, Cali, Pradera), including 1498 A. mellifera and 48 Tetragonisca angustula. Using microscopic and stereoscopic techniques and a special taxonomic key, the study identified the first recorded presence of Leptus (Leptus) alberti n. sp. (Acari: Erythraeidae) in colonies of free-living Africanized A. mellifera and stingless bees, including P. peckolti, P. eutaeniata, and T. angustula in Cauca and Valle del Cauca. This finding updates the reported species for South America. The presence of L. (L.) alberti n. sp. was identified in four sample points in the Totoró-Cauca area, with a 75% parasitic prevalence in free-living bee colonies at three of the four localities, specifically in hives located in the wild forest of Totoró. Two Meliponini species were also identified: one in P. peckolti and another in P. eutaeniata. In Cauca, the prevalence was 5% for A. mellifera and 0.3% for Meliponini. In Valle del Cauca, L. alberti n. sp. was observed in five out of 22 localities, resulting in a 23% prevalence in wild A. mellifera. Additionally, a 4.16% prevalence (2/48) of L. alberti n. sp. was found in T. angustula. Six A. mellifera specimens tested positive for L. (L.) alberti n. sp., as did one P. peckolti and one P. eutaeniata specimen. No other external mites were detected in the collected samples.