Proctolaelaps pygmaeus (Müller, 1859), family Ascidae

Bee Mites : Acari : Parasitiformes : Mesostigmata : Ascidae : Proctolaelaps

Proctolaelaps pygmaeus (Müller, 1859)

Gamasus pygmaeus Müller, 1859: 30.

Proctolaelaps pygmaeus: Karg, 1971: 242, Figs 257b, 257h, 258l, 263b; Bregetova, 1977: 213, Fig. 135; Halliday et al., 1998: 37, Fig. 29 (their synonymy)

Identification. See key to species here.

Distribution. USA; Canada; localities outside North America include Palaearctic, Oriental, Afrotropic, Neotropic, and Australian regions (Casanueva et al., 1994; Bregetova, 1977; Haragsim et al., 1978; Karg, 1971; Raut and Bhattacharya, 1999; Westerboer, 1963).

Biology. Proctolaelaps pygmaeus was collected in a very wide range of habitats, including soil, stored food, bulbs, laboratory insect cultures, plant roots, decomposing plant material, under bark, in subterranean nests of small mammals, birds and in beehives. It may be predatory on small arthropods, but is also a fungivore, and unlike most ascid mites, it is able to ingest solid matter. There is circumstantial evidence that it can attack humans and that the results can be severe enough to cause extensive papular dermatosis (Halliday et al., 1998; Haragsim et al., 1978). In North America, this mite has not been found on bees or in bee nests.

References

Bregetova, N. G. 1977. [Family Aceosejidae]. In [Opredelitel' obytayshchikh v pochve kleshchey Mesostigmata = Identification key to soil-inhabiting mites Mesostigmata], eds. M. S. Gilarov & N. G. Bregetova, 169-226. Leningrad: Nauka.

Casanueva, M. E., A. M. Berrios, A. A. Peredo & R. I. Martinez. 1994. Acaros asociados a equinos estabulados 1. Androlaelaps casalis (Berlese), Haemogamasus horridus Michael y Proctolaelaps pygmaeus (Muller), primer registro para Chile y redescripcion de los machos (Acari: Mesostigmata). Gayana Zoologia.58.

Halliday, R. B., D. E. Walter & E. E. Lindquist. 1998. Revision of the Australian Ascidae (Acarina : Mesostigmata). Invertebrate Taxonomy.12: 1-54.

Haragsim, O., K. Samšiňák & E. Vobrázková. 1978. The mites inhabiting the bee hives in ČSR. Zeitschrift für Angewandte Entomologie.87: 52-67.

Karg, W. 1971. Acari (Acarina), Milben. Unterordnung Anactinochaeta (Parasitiformes). Die freilebenden Gamasina (Gamasides), Raubmilben. Die Tierwelt Deutschlands. 59. pp.

Raut, S. K. & S. S. Bhattacharya. 1999. Pests and diseases of betelvine (Piper betle) and their natural enemies in India. Experimental and Applied Acarology.23: 319-325.

Westerboer, I. 1963. Die Familie Podocinidae Berlese 1916. In Beiträge zur Systematik und Ökologie Mitteleuropäischer Acarina. Band II. Mesostigmata 1., ed. H.-J. Stammer, 179-450. Leipzig: Akademische Verlagsgesellschaft Geest & Portig K.-G.