Guntheria coorongensis is a species of mite in the family Trombiculidae, found from the tip of Cape York in Queensland to South Australia.[1]
The genus was first described as Schoengastia coorongense by Hirst in 1929.[2] Hirst, S. 1929. Note on the 'Tea-tree Itch-mite' (Trombicula hirsti, Sambon = T. pseudo-akamushi, Hatori?). Annals and Magazine of Natural History 10 3: 564-565 The species epithet indicates that it comes from the Coorong.
The larva of these mites ('chiggers') when feeding embed themselves in host animals,75-90 [78]. and for human hosts, the resulting skin irritation has been known as 'tea-tree itch' or 'duck-shooters itch'. Host animals recorded include native rats and marsupials: (from Queensland): Antechinus stuartii, other Antechinus species, Rattus lutreolus lutreolus, R. sordidus sordidus, R. leucopus leucopus; (from Victoria), A. swainsonii and A. minimus; (from South Australia): R.fuscipes greyii. This mite has also been listed as a parasite of the Northern Quoll in the Northern Territory.