Hair follicle mites (Demodex spp.) in New Zealand

Reports of demodicids in New Zealand are reviewed to 1972. Skin scrapings from 516 individual mammals of 21 species were examined for Demodex spp. Thirteen species were recovered from 10 host species; 8 are demodicids not previously reported from New Zealand. Six domestic mammal species examined had an incidence of demodicidosis from 4% to 60%. Peculiar small demodectic lesions are reported from cattle eyelids. Histological sections of swine eyelids showing no gross signs of infestation revealed a typical granulomatous response. Demodectic infestations are of some economic concern in New Zealand, and are more common and important than had been supposed.