Laelaps is a genus of common parasitic mites in the family Laelapidae. Species, with their hosts, include:
Laelaps acuminata – OecomysLaelaps agilis – RattusLaelaps alaskensis – Blarina, Dicrostonyx, Lemmiscus, Lemmus, Microtus, Mustela, Myodes, Myotis, Napaeozapus, Ochrotomys, Ondatra, Onychomys, Parascalops, Peromyscus, Phenacomys, Poliocitellus, Sorex, Synaptomys, ThomomysLaelaps boultoni – Neacomys, Sigmodon, Oligoryzomys, Oecomys, HeteromysLaelaps castroi – OligoryzomysLaelaps clethrionomydis – Microtus, MyodesLaelaps conula – RhipidomysLaelaps crinigera – OryzomyiniLaelaps dearmasi – ZygodontomysLaelaps differensLaelaps echidnina – Rattus, Didelphis, Sigmodon, Mus, Peromyscus, SylvilagusLaelaps evansi – NeofiberLaelaps exceptionalis – "wild rat"Laelaps flexa – MicroryzomysLaelaps giganteus – LemniscomysLaelaps incilis – Microtus, Neotamias, PeromyscusLaelaps kochi – Blarina, Corynorhinus, Dicrostonyx, Dipodomys, Glaucomys, Microtus, Mustela, Myodes, Napaeozapus, Neotamias, Neovison, Neurotrichus, Ondatra, Peromyscus, Phenacomys, Sigmodon, Sorex, Synaptomys, Tamias, ZapusLaelaps lavieri – MusLaelaps lemmi – LemmusLaelaps liberiensis – MastomysLaelaps manguinhosi – Holochilus, Nectomys, Neusticomys, and various other mammalsLaelaps mazzai – Calomys, OligoryzomysLaelaps multispinosa – Castor, Didelphis, Microtus, Mustela, Neovison, Ondatra, Peromyscus, ProcyonLaelaps muricola – MastomysLaelaps muris – Microtus, OndatraLaelaps navasi – OryzomyiniLaelaps nuttalli – Mus, Ochrotomys, Peromyscus, Rattus, SciurusLaelaps ovata – NephelomysLaelaps paulistanensis – Rhipidomys, OryzomyiniLaelaps pilifer – OryzomyiniLaelaps spicata – OryzomyiniLaelaps stupkai – SynaptomysLaelaps surcomata – RhipidomysLaelaps thoriUnnamed or unidentified species have been reported on Gerbilliscus robustus and Acomys wilsoni in Tanzania and on the marsh rice rat (Oryzomys palustris) in Florida and Georgia.
In 1866, an incomplete theropod dinosaur skeleton (ANSP 9995) was found in New Jersey by workers in a quarry belonging to the upper part of the New Egypt Formation. Paleontologist E.D. Cope described the remains, naming the creature "Laelaps" ("storm wind", after the dog in Greek mythology that never failed to catch what it was hunting). "Laelaps" became one of the first dinosaurs described from North America (following Hadrosaurus, Aublysodon and Trachodon). Subsequently, it was discovered that the name "Laelaps" had already been given to a genus of mite, and Cope's lifelong rival O.C. Marsh changed the name in 1877 to Dryptosaurus.
Furman, D.P. 1972. Laelapid mites (Laelapidae: Laelapinae) from Venezuela. Brigham Young University Science Bulletin 17(3):1–58.Morlan, H.B. 1952. Host relationships and seasonal abundance of some Southwest Georgia ectoparasites (subscription required). American Midland Naturalist 48(1):74–93.Stanley, W.T., Rogers, M.A., Senzota, R.B.M., Mturi, F.A., Kihaule, P.M., Moehlman, P.D. and O'Connor, B.M. 2007. Surveys of small mammals in Tarangire National Park, Tanzania. Journal of East African Natural History 96(1):47–71.Whitaker, J.O. and Wilson, N. 1974. Host and distribution lists of mites (Acari), parasitic and phoretic, in the hair of wild mammals of North America, north of Mexico (subscription required). American Midland Naturalist 91(1):1–67.Whitaker, J.O., Walters, B.L., Castor, L.K., Ritzi, C.M. and Wilson, N. 2007. Host and distribution lists of mites (Acari), parasitic and phoretic, in the hair or on the skin of North American wild mammals north of Mexico: records since 1974. Faculty Publications from the Harold W. Manter Laboratory of Parasitology, University of Nebraska, Lincoln 1:1–173.Worth, C.B. 1950. Observations on ectoparasites of some small mammals in Everglades National Park and Hillsborough County, Florida (subscription required). The Journal of Parasitology 36(4):326–335.
