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Trigynaspida
Superorder Parasitiformes
Order Mesostigmata
Suborder Trigynaspida
Cohorts (Superfamilies): Cercomegistina (Cercomegistoidea),
Antennophorina (Antennophoroidea, Celaenopsoidea, Fedrizzioidea,
Megisthanoidea, Parantennuloidea, Aenictequoidea)
Common names: trigynaspids, cercomegistines, antennophorines
Probability of Encounter: low to medium
Quarantine importance: Most are rare and have unknown ecologies; however, many trigynaspids are associated with insects, including species parasitic on ants, and a few are associated with snakes and lizards. None are known to be pests of crops or parasites of livestock or domestic animals.
Diagnosis. Mesostigmata with the adult female genital region having 2-4 shields or their remnants: mesogynial shield often reduced, without setae, latigynial shields often well developed (1- several pairs of setae); pregenital shield (sternogynium) free, fused to sternal elements, or absent (with 0-1 pair of setae). Tarsus IV with intercalary sclerite bearing setae av4/pv4.
Body often with
moderate hypertrichy and separate podonotal and opisthonotal shields or holodorsal
shield, rarely with opisthonotal region with separate mesonotal and pygidial
elements. Venter usually with large
ventrianal or genitoventral shield, rarely with small anal shield; sternal shield well developed to
fragmented. Tarsus I with or without
claws.
Unpaired, postanal seta usually present in larva, but absent in
adult. Chelicerae chelate-dentate to
edentate; movable digit with 1-3 brush-like, mop-like or dendritic
excrescences; palp genu with 5-7 setae.
Male genital opening intercoxal or at base of tritosternum;
spermatodactyl absent.
Similar mitees. Parasitina (Mesostigmata) have enlarged metasternal shields that superficially resemble the trigynaspid condition, and some primitive Uropodina (e.g. Trachytes) do retain separate latigynial shields. However, neither of these taxa retain av4/pv4 on tarsus IV, and uropodines usually have hidden capitula and elongate chelicerae.
Ecology
& Distribution. Cercomegistina are mostly
free-living predators found in forest soil, decaying logs, or in beetle galleries
under bark. Antennophorina are mostly insect associates
as adults (usually paraphages of beetles [e.g. Passalidae, Carabidae] and
millipedes) and free-living predators
in decaying logs, insect galleries or nests as immatures.
However, species in at least 3 families are associated with lizards or
snakes and appear to be parasites.
References
Butler L, Hunter PE. 1968.
Redescription of Megisthanus floridanus with observations on its
biology (Acarina: Megisthanidae). The
Florida Entomologist 51: 187-197.
Camin JH & Gorirossi
FE. 1955. A revision of the suborder Mesostigmata (Acarina), based on new
interpretations of comparative morphological data. Chicago Academy of Sciences Special Publication 11:
1-70.
Franks NR, Healy KJ, and
Byrom L. 1991. Studies on the relationship between the ant
ectoparasite Antennophorus grandis (Acarina: Antennophoridae) and its
host Lasius flavus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). J. Zool. Lond. 225: 59-70.
Johnston, D.E.
1982. Mesostigmata. In: Parker, S.P. (ed.) Synopsis and classification of living
organisms. McGraw-Hill, New York, p.
112-116.
Kethley, J. B. 1977. A
review of the higher categories of Trigynaspida (Acari: Parasitiformes). International
Journal of Acarology 3: 129-149.
Kinn DN. 1971.
The life cycle and behaviour of Cercoleipus coelonotus (Acarina:
Mesotigmata) including a survey of phoretic mite associates of California
Scolytidae. Univ. Calif. Publ.
Entomol. 65: 66 pp.
Krantz GW. 1978.
A Manual of Acarology.
OSU Bookstores: Corvallis.
Krantz, GW & Ainscough, B. 1990. Mesostigmata. pp. 583-665, in DL Dindal (ed) Soil Biology
Guide. John Wiley & Sons: Brisbane.
Lindquist, E. E. and Moraza,
M. L. 1993. Pyrosejidae, a new family of trigynaspid mites (Acari:
Mesostigmata: Cercomegistina) from Middle America. Acarologia 39:
203-226.
Seeman OD & Walter
DE. 1997. A new species of Triplogyniidae (Mesostigmata: Celaenopsoidea)
from Australian rainforests. International
Journal of Acarology 23: 49-59.
Walter, D.E. 2000.
A jumping mesostigmatan: Saltiseius hunteri, n.g., n. sp. (Acari:
Mesostigmata: Trigynaspida: Saltiseiidae, n. fam.). International Journal of Acarology 26: 25-31.