INFECTION OF YARROW'S SPINY LIZARDS (SCELOPORUS JARROVII) BY CHIGGERS AND MALARIA IN THE CHIRICAHUA MOUNTAINS, ARIZONA

We measured prevalence of malaria infection and prevalence and intensity of chigger infection in Yarrow's spiny lizards from three sites ill the Chiricahua Mountains of southeastern Arizona. Our primary, objective was to compare parasite load among sites, sexes, and reproductive classes. We also compared our findings to those of previous studies oil malaria and chiggers ill S. jarrovii from the same area. Of lizards examined, 85 and 93% were infected by malaria and chiggers, respectively. Prevalence of malaria was two times higher than previously reported for the same area, while prevalence of chiggers was similar to previous findings. Intensity of chigger infection was variable among sites, but not among reproductive classes. The Site With the highest intensity of chigger infection also had the most vegetative cover, suggesting that this habitat was more favorable for non-parasitic adult chiggers.