Objective:To investigate the ectoparasite communities on Tupaia belangeri （T. belangeri） in the surrounding areas of Erhai Lake and their potential importance in medical and veterinary science. Methods: Different locations in surrounding areas of Erhai Lake in Yunnan were selected as the investigation spots. T. belangeri were randomly captured with baited mouse cages and then brought to the laboratory for identification according to their body shape

size and color

and measurements such as the lengths of their body

ear and hind feet. Ectoparasites on them were collected and identified to determine the species under microscope after specimens were mounted on slides

with the clearing and drying process completed. The constituent ratio （C）

prevalence （P） and average ectoparasite abundance （A） were used to test the prevalence and density of ectoparasites; Non-parametric Mann-Whitney U-tests were used to test the differences in the abundance and richness of ectoparasites between female and male hosts; Spearman correlation analysis was used to analyze the relationship between ectoparasites and the body parameters of hosts. Results: There was very high species diversity of ectoparasites found on T. belangeri and some species of ectoparasites were reported associated with human diseases. A high proportion （88%） of 107 T. belangeri was found to be infested with ectoparasites. A total of 75 species of ectoparasites on them were collected

including 58 species of chigger mite

12 species of gamasid mite

4 species of flea and 1 species of sucking louse. Within this ectoparasite complex

13 species were previously reported to be vectors of human disease agents. Non-parametric Mann-Whitney U-tests showed significant differences between male and female T. belangeri in terms of the abundance and richness of total ectoparasites. However

the species richness and abundance of chigger mites

sucking lice

fleas or gamasid mites presented no significant differences between male and female hosts. Spearman correlation analysis showed that none of correlations were observed between host body parameters with abundance and richness of total ectoparasites

chigger mites

suckinglice

fleas or gamatid mites. Conclusion: The results suggest that there is very high species diversity of ectoparasites on T. belangeri

consisting mainly of communities of sucking lice

fleas

chiggers and gamasid mites.