Bee Mites :
Acari :
Acariformes :
Sarcoptiformes :
Chaetodactylidae
Genus Achaetodactylus Fain, 1981
Chaetodactylus (Achaetodactylus) Fain, 1981b: 2; Fain & Pauly, 2001: 125; OConnor, 1993a: 354 (synonymized by Klimov et al., 2007a).
Chaetodactylus (Ochaetodactylus) Fain, 1981b: 2 (type species Chaetodactylus decellei Fain, 1974, by original designation); OConnor, 1993a: 354 (synonymized by Klimov & Connor, 2008).
Chaetodactylus: Fain, 1974a: 214 (part.).
Achaetodactylus: Klimov et al., 2007a: 1370; Klimov et al., 2007b: 119; Klimov & Connor, 2008: 107.
Type species Chaetodactylus leleupi Fain, 1974, by original designation.
Description (unique characters only). Phoretic deutonymph. Free palpi, gnathosomal solenidia and setae absent. Alveoli ve usually weakly developed.
Feeding instars and immobile deutonymph unknown.
Distribution (show map). Afrotropical region.
Biology. Associated with Afrotropical Ceratina spp. Achaetodactylus ceratinae was found in the axillar acarinarium (Fig. 2) (Klimov et al., 2007b) and Achaetodactylus leleupi was found in metasomal acarinarium, suggesting some level of mutualistic relationships between the mites and their hosts.
Species included
- Achaetodactylus ceratinae (Fain, 1974)
- Achaetodactylus decellei (Fain, 1974)
- Achaetodactylus leleupi (Fain, 1974)
Key to species of Achaetodactylus Fain, 1981
Phoretic deutonymphs*
1. Most dorsal idiosomal setae spinform, well developed (e. g. si longer that half of distance si-si). Solenidion ω2 absent. Posterior apodemes IV short, shorter than half of distance between progenital opening and trochanter IV ... Achaetodactylus decellei (Fain, 1974)
- Most dorsal idiosomal setae filiform, thin and short (e. g. si distinctly shorter that half of distance si-si). Solenidion ω2 present. Posterior apodemes IV long, almost reaching progenital opening ... 2
2. Genua I-II with 2 setae very thin and short. Sternum bifid posteriorly. Propodosmal shield triangular anteriorly ... Achaetodactylus ceratinae (Fain, 1974)
- Genua I-II with 2 enlarged setae. Sternum not bifid posteriorly. Propodonotal shield rounded anteriorly ... Achaetodactylus leleupi (Fain, 1974)
* after Fain, 1981b. Our specimens from the Democratic Republic of Congo, ex Ceratina diloensis (BMOC 04-0508-279, 06-0910-006) have cG I is enlarged but cG II and mG I-II are not enlarged; propodosomal shield triangle anteriorly; sternum not bifid posteriorly. A revision of Achaetodactylus, including studying the type specimens, is needed.
References
Fain, A. 1974. Nouveaux hypopes phoretiques d'hymenopteres africains (Acarina: Sarcoptiformes). Revue de Zoologie Africaine.88: 213-219.
Fain, A. 1981. Notes on the hypopi of the genus Chaetodactylus Rondani, 1866 (Acari, Chaetodactylidae). Bulletin de l'Institut Royal des Sciences Naturelles de Belgique Entomologie.53: 1-9.
Fain, A. & A. Pauly. 2001. Notes on phoretic deutonymphs of mites (Acari) associated with Old World Megachilidae and Anthophoridae (Insecta Hymenoptera), mainly from Madagascar 1. Families Chaetodactylidae, Acaridae, Histiostomatidae and Winterschmidtiidae (Astigmata). Belgian Journal of Entomology.3: 125-142.
Klimov, P. B. & B. M. OConnor. 2008. Morphology, evolution, and host associations of bee-associated mites of the family Chaetodactylidae (Acari: Astigmata), with a monographic revision of North American taxa. Miscellaneous Publications Museum of Zoology University of Michigan.199: 1-243.
Klimov, P. B., B. M. OConnor & L. L. Knowles. 2007a. Museum specimens and phylogenies elucidate ecology' s role in coevolutionary associations between mites and their bee hosts. Evolution.61: 1368-1379.
Klimov, P. B., S. B. Vinson & B. M. OConnor. 2007b. Acarinaria in associations of apid bees and chaetodactylid mites. Invertebrate Systematics.21: 109-136.
OConnor, B. M. 1993. Generic relationships in the Chaetodactylidae (Acari: Astigmata) with description of a new genus. Acarologia.34: 345-362.
B. OConnor and P. Klimov ©
Created: May 19, 2011
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