Parasitic mites of Surinam XXXV: Two new<i>Ophthalmodex</i>spp. (<i>O. Carolliae, O. Molossi: Demodicidae)</i>from the bats<i>Carollia perspicillata</i>and<i>Molossus molossus</i>

ABSTRACT Ophfhalmodex carolliae from Carollia perspicillata and O. molossi from Molossus molossus, both mites obtained from the ocular cavities? are described. As in O. artibei Lukoschus and Nutting, both new species are markedly modified for survival as free-ranging demodicids in eyelid fornices or upon the cornea. Pathogenesis due to O. carolliae is limited to moderate roughening (by claws?) of the corneal epithelium, derangement (in feeding?) of conjunctival cells to the dermis, and apparent loosening and loss of epithelial-conjunctival cells. Ophthalmodex spp. appear host species specific: the two of phyllostomatids seem more closely related than either to that which parasitizes the molossid bat.