Bee Mites - Family Tydeidae: Melissotydeus, Proctotydaeus, Neotydeolus

mite Proctotydaeus therapeutikos ex stingless bee Scaptotrigona postica

Fig. 1.Proctotydaeus therapeutikos (Tydeidae): female, dorsal view. Modified from Flechtmann and Camargo (1979)

Family Tydeidae Kramer, 1877

This large cosmopolitan family includes mites that have been mostly recorded as predators but also as plant and fungus feeders or scavengers. Probably many species are unspecialized feeders. Tydeidae live in soil, humus, litter, moss, lichens, fungi, grass, on trees (in bark, on leaves and fruits), straw and hay, in stored products, and nests of birds, mammals, and stingless bees (Meliponini).
Several species are of medical, veterinary, and agricultural importance. Tydeus molestus Moniez, 1889 has been recorded as causing itching and irritation of the skin of man and domestic animals. Tydeus interruptus Thor, 1932 has been found in hay from Icelandic sheep pastures, and together with other mite species may represent a self-sustaining reservoir for scrapie-like agents. Tydeus californicus (Banks, 1904) and Lorryia formosa Cooreman, 1958 have been observed to cause damage to citrus. However, the last species is considered to be beneficial as it feeds on various fungi in citrus groves. (Kazmierski, 1998a; Krantz, 1978).
André (1980a, 1980b) listed 42 genera of the family. Kazmierski (1998a) gives a key to 21 genera and 254 species of the subfamily Tydeinae.
Two genera, Melissotydeus André and Proctotydaeus Berlese, have been recorded from nests of stingless bees in Brazil. We chose to describe these genera because the Meliponini occur in North America.

Genus Melissotydeus André, 1985

Melissotydeus André, 1985: 244 (type species Melissotydeus macrosolenus André, 1985 by original designation); Kazmierski, 1998a: 292.

The genus includes two species. Melissotydeus macrosolenus André has been collected from nests of Partamona and Trigona (Apidae, Meliponini) in Brazil. Melissotydeus incarum Kazmierski, 1998 has been found among debris in dense thickets of bamboo in Peru (André, 1985; Kazmierski, 1998a).

Melissotydeus macrosolenus André, 1985

Melissotydeus macrosolenus André, 1985: 244, Fig. 1; Kazmierski, 1998a: 292.

Biology. Eickwort (1994) hypothesized that this species may be mutualistic feeding on fungi in the bee's nests.
Distribution. Brazil: Roraima (type locality), Amazonas (André, 1985).
Hosts. Partamona mourei Camargo, 1980 (type host), Trigona (Frieseomellita) "modesta" (Apidae, Meliponini) (André, 1985).

Genus Proctotydaeus Berlese, 1911

Proctotydaeus Berlese, 1911: 430 (Proctotydaeus viator Berlese, 1911 by original designation); André, 1980b: 146; Kazmierski, 1998b: 35.
Anolina Price, 1972: 794 (type species Anolina lineata by original designation). Synonymyzed André, 1984.
Proctotydeus Momen, 1990: 19; Khaustov, 1996: 90 (lapsus pro Proctotydaeus Berlese).

This genus includes 17 species grouped in four subgenera (number of species in parenthesis): Proctotydaeus (4); Neotydeolus Flechtmann et Camargo, 1979 (3); Proctotyduls Kazmierski, 1998 (6); and Oriolella Baker, 1968 (4).
Species of the nominal subgenus are associated with locusts (Acrididae, Orthoptera). The subgenus Oriolella includes species that have been found in barn straw, nests of hawks and owls or on beetles (Coleoptera: Ipidae, Cucujidae). Mites of the subgenus Proctotyduls are found on different plants, straw, ipid beetles (Ipidae), or on noctuid moths (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). All species of the subgenus Neotydeolus are associated with nests of stingless bees. (Kazmierski, 1998b; Khaustov, 1997).

Subgenus Neotydeolus Flechtmann et Camargo, 1979

Neotydeolus Flechtmann et Camargo, 1979: 317 (Neotydeolus therapeutikos Flechtmann et Camargo, 1979 by original designation) (as genus).
Proctotydaeus: André, 1980b: 146; Rosa et al., 1985: 79; Rosa, Flechtmann, 1983: 273 (as genus).
Proctotydaeus (Neotydeolus): Kazmierski, 1998b: 35.
Proctotydeus Momen, 1990: 19 (lapsus pro Proctotydaeus Berlese) (as genus).

Description. Femur IV not divided. Propodosomal bothridia clavate. Genital papillae absent. Paraproctal suckers (terminal opisthosomal suckers) poorly developed. Tectal setae on tarsus I approximately twice as long as tarsus I; Setae u I minute, spiniform. Males without bifurcate setae, spur on femur IV absent (Kazmierski, 1998b).
Biology. The subgenus includes three species that feed on fungi in nests of stingless bees of the genera Scaptotrigona, Partamona, and Melitoma (Apidae: Meliponini) and, thus, are mutualistic (Flechtmann et Camargo, 1979; Kazmierski, 1998b; Rosa et al., 1985; Rosa, Flechtmann, 1983).

Proctotydaeus (Neotydeolus) therapeutikos Flechtmann et Camargo, 1979

Neotydeolus therapeutikos Flechtmann and Camargo, 1979: 318, Figs 1-2.
Proctotydaeus therapeutikos: André, 1980b: 146.
Proctotydaeus (Neotydeolus) therapeutikos: Kazmierski, 1998b: 35.

Biology. Feeds on fungi in the nests of Scaptotrigona postica (Latreille, 1807). Loss of the bee brood decreases from 50% to 3% if the mite is present in the nest (Flechtmann and Camargo, 1979).
Distribution. Brazil: São Paulo.
Hosts. Scaptotrigona postica (Latreille, 1807).

Proctotydaeus (Neotydeolus) partamonae Rosa et Flechtmann, 1983

Proctotydaeus partamonae Rosa et Flechtmann, 1983: 273, Figs 1-2.
Proctotydeus [sic!] partamonae: Momen, 1990: 20.
Proctotydaeus (Neotydeolus) partamonae: Kazmierski, 1998b: 35.

Biology. Found in a nest of Partamona pearsoni (Schwarz, 1938) (Apidae: Meliponini).
Distribution. Brazil: Roraima.
Hosts. Partamona pearsoni.

Proctotydaeus (Neotydeolus) alvearii Rosa, André et Flechtmann, 1985

Proctotydaeus alvearii Rosa, André et Flechtmann, 1985: 79, Figs 1-2.
Proctotydeus [sic!] alvearii: Momen, 1990: 20.
Proctotydaeus (Neotydeolus) alveari [sic!]: Kazmierski, 1998b: 35.

Biology. Found in a nest of Melipona seminigra Friese, 1903 (Apidae: Meliponini) (recorded as "pernigra").
Distribution. Brazil: Maranhão.
Hosts. Melipona seminigra.

References

André H. M. 1978(1979). A generic revision of the family Tydeidae (Acari: Actinedida). 1. Introduction, paradigms and general classification. Annales de la Societe Royale Zoologique de Belgique 108(3-4): 189-208.

André H. M. 1980a. A generic revision of the family Tydeidae (Acari: Actinedida) IV. Generic descriptions, keys and conclusions. Bulletin & Annales de la Société Royale Belge d'Entomologie. 116(4-6): 103-130.

André H. M. 1980b. A generic revision of the family Tydeidae (Acari: Actinedida) IV. Generic descriptions, keys and conclusions (continued). Bulletin & Annales de la Société Royale Belge d'Entomologie. 116(7-9): 139-168.

André H. M. 1984. 5.7 Redefinition of the Iolinidae (Acari: Actinedida) with a discussion of their familial and superfamilial status. In: D. A. Griffiths, C. E. Bowman (Eds). Acarology 6. Volume 1. Ellis Horwood Limited, Chichester. 180-185.

Berlese A. 1911. Acarorum species novae quindecim. Redia. 7(2): 429-435.

Eickwort G. C. 1994. Evolution and Life-History Patterns of Mites Associated with Bees. In: M. A. Houck (Ed.). Mites: Ecological and Evolutionary Analyses of Life-History Patterns. Chapman & Hall One Penn Plaza, New York. 218-251 pp.

Flechtmann, C. H. W., Camargo, C. A. 1979. Acari associated with stingless bees (Meliponidae, Hymenoptera) from Brazil. In: E. Piffl (Ed.). International Congress of Acarology 4. Akadémiai Kiadó, Budapest. 315-319 pp.

Kazmierski A. 1998a. Tydeinae of the world: generic relationships, new and redescribed taxa and keys to all species. A revision of the subfamilies Pretydeinae and Tydeinae (Acari: Actinedida: Tydeidae) - part IV. Acta Zoologica Cracoviensia. 41(2): 283-455.

Kazmierski A. 1998b. A review of the genus Proctotydaeus Berlese (Actinedida: Tydeidae: Pronematinae). Acarologia. 39(1): 33-47

Khaustov A. A. 1997. Two new species of mites of the genus Proctotydeus (Acariformes, Tydeidae) from Crimea and North Eastern Ukraine. Vestnik Zoologii. 31(5-6): 90-93.

Krantz G. W. 1978. A manual of acarology. 2nd ed. Oregon State University Book Stores, Corvallis. 509 pp.

Momen F. M. 1990. A new species of tydeid mite (Acari: Tydeidae) associated with rusty grain beetle on dried wheat. Entomologische Mitteilungen aus dem Zoologischen Staatsinstitut und Zoologischen Museum Hamburg 10(138): 19-24.

Rosa A. E., André H. M., Flechtmann C. H. W. 1985. Acari domum meliponinarum brasiliensium habitantes. 8. Proctotydaeus alvearii sp. n. (Acari: Acariformes: Tydeidae). Revista Brasileira de Biologia. 45(1-2): 79-83

Rosa, A. E., Flechtmann C. H. W. 1983. Acari domum meliponinarum brasiliensium habitantes. 3. Proctotydaeus partamonae, sp. n. (Acari: Acariformes, Tydeidae). Revista Brasileira de Biologia. 43(3): 273-276.