Mites coexistent with neotropical hispine beetles in unfurled leaves ofHeliconia: a new genus and family of the Ascoidea (Acari: Mesostigmata: Gamasina)

Abstract

The genus Antennocheles gen. nov. is based on adults and nymphs of two newly described species associated with hispine beetles of the genera Chelobasis and Cephaloleia occupying unfurled leaves of Heliconia in lowland rainforest of Costa Rica. Within the superfamily Ascoidea, this taxon is so distinctive morphologically and behaviourally as to justify its own family, Antennochelidae, fam. nov. These mites bear remarkably elongated cheliceral shafts, which may extend for lengths greater than the body but are fully ensheathed in repose within the body. Other unique attributes include linear arrangement of hypostomatic setae, a pore-like structure beside the corniculus, and adults with a pair of unique sternal invaginations for enlarged muscle insertions. While undergoing their life history in water films of unfurled host leaves, the mites exhibit a slow, swimming-like behaviour in quest for prey. As leaves unfurl, adult mites run quickly off and on their hispine beetle phoronts for dispersal. http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.

Phoretic specialization on insect herbivores facilitates mite transportation to host plants

“…This study represents a first step in understanding the role of scent cues in the detection, recognition, and phoresy of mites associated with rolled‐leaf beetles. At least three genera of mites, in addition to Lasioseius , are known to be phoretic on rolled‐leaf beetles at La Selva (Lindquist & Moraza, 2014; Moraza & Lindquist, 2015). Thus far, no other studies have explored the role that chemical cues might play in host choice by mites associated with rolled‐leaf beetles, or whether mites display similar degrees of phoretic host specialization to the ones we report in this study.…”

“…The genus Lasioseius (Acari: Blattisociidae) is a diverse group of mites that includes at least 206 described species (Lindquist & Moraza, 2014; Moraza & Lindquist, 2015, 2016; De Moraes et al, 2016). At our study site, La Selva Biological Station in Costa Rica (hereafter La Selva), five Lasioseius species are associated with plants of the order Zingiberales, a charismatic group of tropical plants that includes gingers and bananas (Kress, 1990; Lindquist, 2001; Moraza & Lindquist, 2018).…”

Evert E. Lindquist’s approach to the taxonomic impediment in Acarology: Diversity in specialization through 60 years of systematics research and beyond

“…Evert's keen eye for homologizing structures and distinguishing apomorphies from plesiomorphies through broad taxonomic comparisons has been central to his improving the taxonomy of many acarine groups. In particular, he pays attention to ontogeny and immatures stages, recognizing that they contain information that can help elucidate homologies and phylogenetic relationships 11,84,93,117,119,129 : nearly half of his systematics papers include descriptions of one or more immature stages. Furthermore, Lindquist consistently puts his findings into a broader context, including phylogenetic, evolutionary and ecological.…”

“…His curiosity and his clear analytical mind led him to many hypotheses and speculations-often with supporting data-on the nature of host associations, feeding habits and structural functions, many of which he published in Remarks or Discussion sections of his publications. His series of papers coauthored with M. Moraza (2008-2018) on flower-, fungus-, and hispine-associated gamasines is one source of examples 99,105,108,113,117,120,123,127 , but any earlier publication will reveal similar scientific richness.…”

A new genus of mites of the subfamily Platyseiinae associated with Azteca ant galleries in Cecropia trees in Costa Rica (Acari: Mesostigmata: Blattisociidae)

“…This presentation continues a series of papers centered on description of highly distinctive and biologically interesting new taxa of gamasine mites found to exist in one small area of lowland tropical rainforest of the La Selva Biological Station in Costa Rica (Lindquist and Moraza 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014Moraza and Lindquist 2011, 2015. Here, we describe a new genus and species of platyseiine mite that is unusual in having a life history perhaps confined to association with Azteca ants which are mutualistic occupants of the stem hollows of Cecropia trees (Longino 1991a).…”