The genus Spinturnix von Heyden, 1826 comprises approximately 50 species belonging to the family Spinturnicidae (Beron, 2020). These mites can serve as vectors for several pathogens, however, their detailed lifestyle remains poorly understood, as they spend their entire life cycle crawling on and feeding from the host’s skin and thin membranes, such as the patagium, ears, and perianal region (Dundarova et al., 2022). In the 1930s, the name of the type species, Spinturnix vespertilionis was invalidated due to a nomenclatural issue, and a new type species, Spinturnix myoti (Kolenati, 1856) was proposed (Stiles, 1929; Musgrave, 1930; ICZN, 1936; Stiles, 1936). However, there are no records of S. vespertilionis in the Republic of Korea, and no further studies on the genus Spinturnix have been conducted since Kim and Lee (1990). In addition, the official species lists uncritically cite records from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, such as Seo (1966), and therefore, the taxonomic revisions proposed in the 1930s have not been reflected to date (NIBR, 2019; 2025). In this study, we report S. myoti from the Republic of Korea based on newly collected materials and suggest the replacement of S. vespertilionis in the official species list.

Materials and Methods

The mites were detached from the patagium of the bats using a fine brush and forceps, and the collected mites were preserved in vials with 99% ethanol. As a pre-treatment, samples were coated by G10 Ion Sputter Coater (GSEM, Republic of Korea). Identifications were conducted with COXEM EM-30 Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) (COXEM, Republic of Korea), and photomicrographs were taken with the same equipment. The morphological terms follow Rudnick (1960) and Evans (1968). The examined specimens are deposited at the Seoul National University (SNU), Seoul, Republic of Korea.

Systematic accounts

Family Spinturnicidae Oudemans, 1902

Genus Spinturnix von Heyden, 1826

Spinturnix von Heyden, 1826.

Type species: Spinturnix myoti (Kolenati, 1856) reassessed by ICZN (1936). see also Stiles (1936).

Diagnosis — The concept of Spinturnix used here is based on that of Rudnick (1960).

Spinturnix myoti (Kolenati, 1856) 참박쥐응애(신칭) (Figs. 1 –2)

Pteroptus murinus Walckenaer and Gervais, 1847 – Synonymized by Rudnick (1960).

Heterostaspis octastigma Kolenati, 1859 – Synonymized by Rudnick (1960).

Pteroptus grossus Banks, 1910 – Synonymized by Rudnick (1960).

Spinturnix vespertilionis Hirst, 1927 (not of other authors)

Specimens examined. three females and five males, Coll#. 220719 OJS–02, Cave. Guemgul, San 4-49, Dodam-ri, Danyang- eup, Danyang-gun, CB, Korea, 19. vii. 2022, on the patagium of Rhinolophus ferrumequinum (Schreber, 1774) (Chiroptera: Rhinolophidae), leg. J Oh & J-H Oh coll.

Diagnosis. Adults. Both female and male, oval-shaped; dorsal shield not covering entire dorsum, dorsal shield with eight pairs of minute dorsal setae (Figs 1A, 1C, 2A & 2C); dorsum soft integument covered with sawtooth-like cuticular scales (Figs 1I, 2C); five pairs of setae bearing on propodosomal region (Figs 1A, 2C); peritremal pore located right ahead of peritreme end (Figs 1G, 2F); hypostome with four pairs of smooth setae, pc setae longer than others (h1–h3) (Fig 2G); serrated long setae on dorsum part of legs (Fig 1J). In female, 90–100 setae bearing on dorsum opisthosomal region (Fig 1E); sternal shield with three pairs of sternal setae and two pairs of poroids, surface of shield covered with distinct reticulations (Fig 1D); genital shield with round anterior margin, pointed posterior margin, st5 bearing not on shield (Fig 1D); anal shield small, wider than long (Fig 1F). In male, 30–40 setae bearing on dorsum opisthosomal region; sternal shield covered with distinct reticulations, bearing four pairs of setae and two pairs of poroids (Fig 2D); anal shield large, longer than wide (Fig 2E). Other structures similar to those in female.

Distributions. Eastern Siberia (Orlova et al., 2016); England, Europe, Morocco, and the United States (Rudnick, 1960); Turkey (Karataş and Toprak, 2022); Afghanistan Armenia, Azerbaijan, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kirgizstan, Mongolia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan (Sachanowicz et al., 2014); Korea {Seo, 1966 (DPRK) & this study (ROK)}.

Conclusion

Through this study, we replace the species Spinturnis vespertilionis with Spinturnix myoti in the National Species List of Korea, based on the official ICZN decision and newly collected samples. Additionally, we also found an omitted species, Spinturnix psi (Kolenati, 1856) during the literature review (Rudnick, 1960). Here is a revised list of the genus Spinturnix in the Korean peninsula: S. aviatonSeo, 1966 incertae. sedis. (see Oh et al., 2026); S. myoti (Kolenati, 1856); S. plecotinus (Koch, 1839); S. psi (Kolenati, 1856).

Key to species of the genus Spinturnix of the Korean peninsula