Table Description: The distribution and feeding behavior of mite species phoretic on Dendroctonus frontalis (SPB) in the United States. Generalist = feeds on multiple fungi, nematodes, and dead invertebrates.  Mycetophagous = feeds on specific fungi, often transports and disperses reproductive structures of fungi.  We categorize phoretic mites abundance on beetles as rare (< 1% of beetles have this species), Infrequent (1-5%), common (5-20%), and frequent (>20%). Mites identified by J.C. Moser and stored as voucher specimens by R. Hofstetter at Northern Arizona University.

Phoretic mite species

Mite Family

Dist. on SPB

S.E. US1 S.W. US2

Feeding guild

Relative abundance

Dendrolaelaps (Longoseius) cuniculus

DigamasellidaeP

      X               X

?

Infrequent

D. neocornutus

DigamasellidaeP

      X

?

Infrequent

D. neodisetus

DigamasellidaeP

      X               X

Nematode predator

Common

D. quadrasetus

DigamasellidaeP

                        X

Nematode predator

Infrequent

D. varipunctatus

DigamasellidaeP

      X               X

?

Rare

Elattoma spp.

PyemotidaeA

      X               X

Mycetophagous3

Infrequent

E. bennetti

PyemotidaeA

      X

Mycetophagous3

Common

Ereynetes scutulis

EreynetidaeA

      X               X

?

Rare

Ereynetes spp.

EreynetidaeA

      X               X

?

Rare

Heterotarsonemus lindquisti

TarsonemidaeA

      X               X 

Mycetophagous

Rare

Histiogaster anops

AcaridaeA

                        X

Generalist4

Common

H. arborsignus

AcaridaeA

      X

Egg & larval predator

Common

Histiostoma varia

HistiostomatidaeA

      X               X

Filter feeder

Common

Iponemus truncatus

TarsonemidaeA

      X               X

Egg parasitoid

Rare

Licnocephalus reticulatus

OribatidaeA

                        X

?

Infrequent

Macrocheles boudreauxi

MacrochelidaeP

      X               X

Predator

Rare

Mexecheles virginiensis

CheyletidaeA

      X               X

Predator

Rare

Nanacarus sp.

HemisarcoptidaeA

                        X

?

Rare

Nentaria sp.

UropodidaeP

                        X

?

Rare

Paracarophanax sp.

PyemotidaeA

                        X

Egg parasitoid

Rare

Paraleius leontonychus

OribatidaeA

      X

?

Rare

Paraleius sp.

OribatidaeA

                        X

?

Rare

Parawinterschmidtia furnissi

WintershniditiidaeA

                        X

?

Infrequent

Proctogastrolaelaps libris

AscidaeP

      X

?

Rare

Proctolaelaps hystrix

AscidaeP

      X                X

?

Rare

Pyemotes parviscolyti

PyemotidaeA

      X

Egg & larval predator

Rare

Pyemotes n. sp.

PyemotidaeA

                        X

Egg & larval predator

Rare

Schwiebia sp.

AcaridaeA

                        X

Generalist

Infrequent

Tarsonemus fuseri

TarsonemidaeA

      X

Mycetophagous4

Rare

T.  ips

TarsonemidaeA

      X               X

Mycetophagous4

Common

T. krantzii

TarsonemidaeA

      X               X

Mycetophagous4

Frequent

T. subcorticallis

TarsonemidaeA

      X               X

Mycetophagous

Rare

Trichouropoda australis

UropodidaeP

      X               X

Generalist

Common

T. hirsuta 

UropodidaeP

      X               X

?

Common

Uroobovella orri

UropodidaeP

      X               X

?

Infrequent

1 SPB populations in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama, USA.; 2 SPB populations in Coronado and Coconino N.F., Arizona, USA.;  3 Mite believed to feed on Entomocorticium sp.; 4 Mite is believed to feed on Ophiostoma sp.; A Order Acariformes; P Order Parasitiformes

 

 

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