Authors: Bajerlein, D.¹; Przewoźny, M.²

Source: Canadian Journal of Zoology, Volume 90, Number 3, March 2012 , pp. 368-375(8)

Publisher: NRC Research Press

Abstract:

The aim of our study was to determine the limit of a beetle's body size below which it is not able to carry phoretic mites. We tested the hypothesis that body size of the carrier is the vital factor in selecting a host in mites with facultative and nonspecific phoresy. The study was conducted on beetles of the family Hydrophilidae and deutonymphs of the mite <named-content content-type="species" xlink:type="simple">Uropoda orbicularis</named-content> (Müller, 1776). Among 20 species of hydrophilids collected, only 7 carried deutonymphs. The smallest hydrophilids with body lengths below 2.32 mm did not carry deutonymphs. These were <named-content content-type="species" xlink:type="simple">Cercyon analis</named-content> (Paykull, 1798), <named-content content-type="species" xlink:type="simple">Cercyon nigriceps</named-content> (Marsham, 1802), <named-content content-type="species" xlink:type="simple">Cercyon pygmaeus</named-content> (Illiger, 1801), <named-content content-type="species" xlink:type="simple">Cercyon terminatus</named-content> (Marsham, 1802), <named-content content-type="species" xlink:type="simple">Cryptopleurum crenatum</named-content> (Kugelann, 1794), <named-content content-type="species" xlink:type="simple">Cryptopleurum minutum</named-content> (Fabricius, 1775), <named-content content-type="species" xlink:type="simple">Cryptopleurum subtile</named-content> Sharp, 1884, and <named-content content-type="species" xlink:type="simple">Megasternum concinnum</named-content> (Marsham, 1802). On the contrary, the largest beetles, of the genus <named-content content-type="genus" xlink:type="simple">Sphaeridium</named-content> Fabricius, 1775, were most heavily and frequently occupied by phoretic deutonymphs. Most representatives of the genus <named-content content-type="genus" xlink:type="simple">Cercyon</named-content> Leach, 1817 did not carry mites or had a very low mite burden. Our study indicates that beetle infestation by nonspecific phoretic mites is strongly influenced by beetle body size.

Keywords: Uropoda orbicularis; mites; phoresy; carrier selection; Hydrophilidae; Cercyon; Sphaeridium; Uropoda orbicularis; acariens; phorésie; sélection de porteurs; Hydrophilidae; Cercyon; Sphaeridium

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z2012-005

Affiliations: 1: Department of Animal Taxonomy and Ecology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Umultowska 89, 61-614 Poznań, Poland. 2: Department of Systematic Zoology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Umultowska 89, 61-614 Poznań, Poland.

Publication date: 2012-03-02

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