Taxonomic position

Cohort Gamasina

Subcohort Parasitiae

Family: Parasitidae Oudemans

Subfamily: Parasitinae

Poecilochirus G. & R. Canestrini

 

Diagnostic characters:

• Dorsal shield divided

• Seta z5 simple or stout and distally pilose

• Iintercoxal shield with granular transverse band between setae st1-2

• Fixed cheliceral digit usually with membranous excrescence.

 

Similar taxa:

Key to some Poecilochirus deutonymphs (after Hyatt 1980)

1.  Dark band transverse between setae st1-2 not extending posteriorly............. 2

 -  Dark band extending along postero-lateral margins of intercoxal shield............. 3

2.  Most podonotal shield setae (except r3, z5) relatively short, not reaching next seta in series .............
        P. davydovae Hyatt

 -  Most podonotal shield setae long............. P. subterraneus (Mueller)

3.  Membranous process on fixed digit elongate, bifurcate............. P. carabi G & R Canestrini

 -  Membranous process on fixed digit rudimentary............. P. austroasiaticus Vitzthum

 

Ecology.  These mites are phoretic on carrion beetles (Silphidae) and feed on nematodes and mites on the carcasses that the beetles utilize as food.  P. carabi G & R Canestrini is rarely found on carabid or dung beetles.

 

 

References

Hyatt, K.H. 1980.  Mites of the subfamily Parasitinae (Mesostigmata: Parasitidae) in the British Isles.  Bull. Brit. Mus. (Nat. Hist.), Zool. 38: 237-378.

Schwarz, H.H. and J.K. Müller 1992.  The dispersal behaviour of the phoretic mite Poecilochirus carabi (Mesostigmata, Parasitidae): adaptation to the breeding biology of its carrier Necrophorus vespilloides (Coleoptera, Silphidae).  Oecologia 89: 487-493.

Springett, B.P. 1968.  Aspects of the relationship between burying beetles, Necrophorus spp. and the mite, Poecilochirus necrophori Vitz.  Journal of Animal Ecology 37: 417-424.