Horstiella variabilis Ochoa and OConnor, 2000, family Acaridae

Fig. 1. Horstiella variabilis, phoretic deutonymph, holotype, ex Epicharis metatarsalis, Costa Rica, BMOC 97-0331-015 Click to enlarge

Bee Mites : Acari : Acariformes : Sarcoptiformes : Acaridae : Horstiella

Horstiella variabilis Ochoa and OConnor, 2000

Horstiella variabilis Ochoa and OConnor, 2000: 726, Figs 42-52 (holotype: phoretic HDN, Costa Rica, Heredia: Finca La Selva: near Puerto Viejo, ex Epicharis metatarsalis, BMOC 97-0331-015, in LACM).

Material (show database records).

Identification. Known from phoretic deutonymphs only, see key to species of Horstiella.

Hosts
Epicharis (Parepicharis) metatarsalis Friese, 1899 (type host) (Costa Rica)
Epicharis (Parepicharis) zonata Smith, 1854 (Guyana, Bolivia)
after Ochoa & OConnor, 2000

Distribution (show map). Costa Rica: Heredia (Finca La Selva: near Puerto Viejo) (type locality); Guyana; Bolivia (Ochoa & OConnor, 2000)

Biology. Often co-occurs with Horstiella concentrica on the same host, but topologically segregated from it.

References

Ochoa, R., OConnor, B.M., 2000. Revision of the genus Horstiella (Acari: Acaridae): mites associated with Neotropical Epicharis bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae). Ann. Entomol. Soc. Am. 93, 713-737.