A new epizoic laelapid mite from the New Zealand sand scarabPericoptus truncatuslarvae and its isotopic ecology

Abstract

A new genus Mumulaelaps (Mesostigmata: Laelapidae: Hypoaspidini) is proposed to hold large, pale, agile, gregarious mites associated with the larvae of the endemic xylophagous sand scarab Pericoptus. Mumulaelaps ammochostos sp. n. is described and illustrated as its type species from P. truncatus (Fabricius) from Southshore, Christchurch, New Zealand. The new genus bears a novel mix of characters shared with Hypoaspis G. Canestrini, 1884 and Coleolaelaps Berlese, 1914 but differs from both by having, in both sexes, stout terminal spines al1 and pl1 on legs IIÁ IV and bearing long or macrosetae of the dorsal series on femora and genua of legs IIÁIV. Both sexes have leg IV longest and leg II shortest with III never longer than I. The posterior edge of the sternal shield is deeply concave; the post anal seta is longer than the paranals; the hypostomal seta h3 clearly longer than h1 or h2. Stable isotopic ( 13 C/ 12 C; 15 N/ 14 N) analysis showed that the new species is not parasitic, but its trophic association with P. truncatus is unclear. It may feed on the hypopodes of Sancassania ( 0Caloglyphus) or nematodes associated with P. truncatus.

Two new species of Gaeolaelaps (Acari: Mesostigmata: Laelapidae) from Iran, with a revised generic concept and notes on significant morphological characters in the genus

“…Tarsal spines, especially on leg II, also occur in some species of other genera, including of the morphologically similar genus Hypoaspis s. str., as well as other hypoaspidines associated with scarab beetles such as Mumulaelaps Clark & Hawke, 2012, and some members of (though not as strong and blunt apically as in some Gaeolaelaps and Hypoaspis s. str.)…”

Stable-isotope analysis: a neglected tool for placing parasites in food webs

“…However, in the past decade, methodologies have again advanced, and more studies have been published that focus on the use of N and C SI, which can help expound complex parasite–host trophic relationships. Bulk SI measurements of C and N have been used successfully to confirm or refute the suspected parasitic nature of a trophic relationship, by looking at the enrichment in δ 15 N from host to parasite (Gómez-Díaz & González-Solís, 2010; Clark & Hawke, 2014) or by assessing, through shifts in δ 13 C and δ 15 N, the quantity of food originating from the host moving into the parasite during its metamorphosis and host transfer (Fritts et al ., 2013). However, bulk SIA has never been pushed as far as assessing the quantity of biomass transferred from a host to its parasite and its subsequent repercussion on the rest of the food web.…”

Catalogue of the free-living and arthropod-associated Laelapidae Canestrini (Acari: Mesostigmata), with revised generic concepts and a key to genera

“…Leg I barely longer than leg III. Many dorsal macrosetae on femora I-II (pd1), femora III-IV (ad1), and all genua (mostly 1-2 apicodorsal setae), as well as tibia (ad1) and tarsus IV (four dorsals); some macrosetae may be absent, based on an undescribed species mentioned by Clark & Hawke (2012). Tarsi II-IV with several spur-shaped setae, including al1, pl1 but also av2, pv2 and sometimes mv.…”

“…Mumulaelaps can be distinguished from Coleolaelaps by its gently tapered dorsal shield with margins entire (usually narrowed posteriorly and often incised laterally in Coleolaelaps), most dorsocentral setae shorter (setae usually long in Coleolaelaps), seta h3 distinctly longer than h1-2, spur-like setae on tarsi, and perhaps also by the distinctive dentition of male chelicerae, which is reminiscent of Raymentia. Selected reference: Clark & Hawke (2012).…”