Uropodidae

Uropodidae
Oplitis pusaterii (dorsal)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Mesostigmata
Suborder: Monogynaspida
Infraorder: Uropodina
Superfamily: Uropodoidea
Family: Uropodidae
Kramer, 1881

Uropodidae (from Ancient Greek οὐρά (ourá), meaning "tail", and πούς (poús), meaning "foot") is a family of mites in the order Mesostigmata.

Description

As part of superfamily Uropodoidea, Uropodidae are tortoise-like mites with an oval to circular outline, and with armour both dorsally and ventrally. They can be distinguished from other uropodoids by their chelicerae lacking a large, sclerotized node and their genital opening being in an intercoxal position.

Ecology

Several species in the family commonly infest worm bins and consume food intended for the worms.

An undescribed species of Uropodidae sucks out the hemolymph of pupae of Pheidole megacephala ants, resulting in the death of pupae. It preferentially attacks pupae of soldier and male ants.

Uropodidae are phoretic on larger arthropods, meaning that they attach to larger arthropods to be transported to new places. This attachment is achieved using a pedicel of translucent material extruded from the mite's anus. One known host for uropodid mites is the red palm weevil (Rhynchophorus ferrugineus), though this particular relationship may actually be parasitic, as mite-infested weevils have a shorter lifespan than uninfested weevils.

Species

References

  1. 1 2 Kontschán, Jenő (2024). Uropodina Genera of the World. Plant Protection Institute, HUN-REN Centre for Agricultural Research. ISBN 978-963-8351-53-1.
  2. ↑ "Uropodoidea". idtools.org. Retrieved 2022-10-13.
  3. ↑ "Bugs found in worm bin". bugguide.net. Retrieved 2022-10-13.
  4. ↑ Breton, J. Le.; Takaku, G.; Tsuji, K. (2006). "Brood parasitism by mites (Uropodidae) in an invasive population of the pest-ant Pheidole megacephala". Insectes Sociaux. 53 (2): 168–171. doi:10.1007/s00040-005-0854-5. ISSN 0020-1812. S2CID 43824862.
  5. 1 2 "Family Uropodidae". bugguide.net. Retrieved 2022-10-13.
  6. ↑ Farmahiny Farahani, V.R.; Ahadiyat, A.; Mašán, P.; Dehvari, M.A. (2016-12-19). "Phoretic uropodine mites (Acari: Mesostigmata) associated with the red palm weevil, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in Iran". Journal of Entomological and Acarological Research. 48 (3): 317. doi:10.4081/jear.2016.5853. ISSN 2279-7084.
  7. ↑ Mazza, G.; Cini, A.; Cervo, R.; Longo, S. (2011-03-10). "Just phoresy? Reduced lifespan in red palm weevils Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) infested by the mite Centrouropoda almerodai (Uroactiniinae: Uropodina)". Italian Journal of Zoology. 78 (1): 101–105. doi:10.1080/11250003.2010.509135. ISSN 1125-0003. S2CID 84240263.