Taxonomic Position

Cohort Gamasina

Subcohort Dermanyssiae

    Superfamily Dermanyssoidea

Laelapidae Trägårdh s.l.

Subfamily Hypoaspidinae Vitzthum

Tribe Pseudoparasitini Vitzthum

Stratiolaelaps lamington Walter & Campbell

Diagnostic characters.  Lamington-group species (posterior margin of sternal shield concave, gnathotectum with median and lateral processes) with serrate fixed cheliceral digit, genital setae (st5) inserted on margin of genital shield, 1-2 pairs of accessory setae (px2-3), and normal setation in the marginal-submarginal region.

 

Similar taxa. 

Key to Adult females of Species of Stratiolaelaps (from Walter & Campbell 2002)

 1. Fixed digit of chelicera with 2 teeth anterior to pilus dentilis, followed by serrate region; margin of gnathotectum denticulate, with longer median and lateral processes; posterior margin of sternal shield concave - lamington group (2)

 -  Fixed digit of chelicera with 2 teeth to either side of pilus dentilis; margin of gnathotectum denticulate, with single, smooth median process; posterior margin of sternal shield irregularly convex or produced medially  -  miles group (3)

 

 2.  Dorsal shield with 39 pairs of spatulate-mucronate setae, paired accessory setae px2, px3 present; postanal seta and marginal setae r6 and R1 spatulate  -  S. lamington

 -  Dorsal shield with 37 pairs of spatulate-acuminate setae, paired accessory px setae absent; postanal seta and marginal setae r6 and R1 acicular -  S. womersleyi

 

 3.  Most dorsal shield setae relatively short, tips not exceeding next seta in series; setae J4 and J5 subequal, Z5 20-40% longer -  4

 -  Most dorsal shield setae relatively long (e.g. all podonotal setae except z1 are 51-65 µm), tips approaching or passing insertion of next seta in series; setae J4 and Z5 much longer than J5 (50-60% and 60-100% longer, respectively)  - S. marilyn

 

 4.  Setae r6 similar toothers; dorsal setae of femora and genua of legs II and IV mostly spatulate; dorsal shield 585-690 µm long; fixed digit of male chelicera with one tooth posterior to pilus dentilis  -  5

 -  Setae r6 simple; dorsal setae of femora and genua of legs II and IV simple; dorsal shield 540-590 µm long; fixed digit of male chelicera with 3-5 teeth posterior to pilus dentilis  -  S. lorna

 

 5.  Dorsal shield tapering gradually after level of setae S2; postanal seta short, only about 60% length of paranal setae; palp apotele with 2 subequal tines - S. miles sensu Evans and Till 1966

 -  Dorsal shield tapering sharply after level of setae S2; middle article of chelicera >260 µm long; postanal and paranal setae subequal in length; palp apotele with 2 subequal tines and a small basal tine - S. scimitus (Womersley)

 

 

Ecology & Distribution.  Species of Stratiolaelaps are predatory and some are used in greenhouses against thrips and fungus gnats; S. lamington is an arboreal mite that inhabits suspended litter in rainforests in eastern Australia.

 

References

Aswegen, P. I. M. and Loots, G. C.  1970.  A taxonomic study of the genus Hypoaspis Canestrini sens. lat. (Acari: Laelapinae) in the Ethiopian region.  Publ. cult. Co. Diam. Ang., Lisboa 82: 167-214

Berlese, A. 1892. Acari, Myriopoda et Scorpiones hucusque in Italia reperta 63, 17 text pages + Plates 1-10. (Reprint by Junk, The Hague, 1979).

Berlese, A. 1916. Centuria seconda di Acari nuovi. Redia 12, 125-177.

Chambers, R .J., Wright, E. M., and Lind, R. J.  1993.  Biological control of glasshouse sciarid flies (Bradysia spp.) with the predatory mite, Hypoaspis miles, on cyclamen and poinsettia.  Biocontrol Sci. Tech. 3, 285-293.

Evans, G. O., and Till, W. M.  1966.  Studies on the British Dermanyssidae (Acari: Mesostigmata).  Part II.  Classification.  Bull. Br. Mus. Nat. Hist. (Zool.) 14, 107-370.

Tenorio, J. M.  1982.  Hypoaspidinae (Acari: Gamasida: Laelapidae) of the Hawaiian Islands.  Pac. Insects 24, 259-274.

Wright, E.M., and Chambers, R.J..  1994. The biology of the predatory mite Hypoaspis miles (Acari: Laelapidae), a potential biological control agent of Bradysia paupera (Dipt.: Sciardiae).  Entomophaga 39, 225-235.

Womersley, H. 1956. On some new Acarina-Mesostigmata from Australia, New Zealand and New Guinea. J. Linn. Soc. (Zool.) 42, 505-599.

Zumpt, F., and Patterson, P. M.  1951.  Further notes on laelaptid mites parasitic on vertebrates.  A preliminary study to the Ethiopian fauna.  J. Entomol. Soc. Sth Afr. 14, 63-93.

Gilyarov MS & Bregatova NG (eds)  1977.  Handbook for the Identification of Soil-inhabiting Mites, Mesostigmata.  Zoological Institute of the Academy of Sciences: Petrograd [In Russian]

Karg W.  1993.  Acari (Acarina), Milben Parasitiformes (Anactinochaeta) Cohors Gamasina Leach, Raubmilben.  Die Tierwelt Deutschlands 59: 1-523.  [In German]

Walter DE, Campbell NJH.  2003.  Exotic vs endemic biocontrol agents: Would the real Stratiolaelaps miles (Berlese) (Acari: Mesostigmata: Laelapidae) please stand up?  Biological Control 26: 253-269.