Eur. J. Entomol. 103 (3): 699-707, 2006 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2006.093

Phoretic relationships between Uropodina (Acari: Mesostigmata) and centipedes (Chilopoda) as an example of evolutionary adaptation of mites to temporary microhabitats

Jerzy BŁOSZYK1,2, Joanna KLIMCZAK1, Małgorzata LEŚNIEWSKA3
1 Department of Animal Taxonomy and Ecology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Umultowska 89, 61-614 Poznań, Poland; e-mail: bloszyk@amu.edu.pl
2 Natural History Collections, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Umultowska 89, 61-614 Poznań, Poland
3 Department of General Zoology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Ulmutowska 89, 61-614 Poznań, Poland

A survey of soil fauna in Poland revealed 30 cases of centipedes carrying mites of the sub-order Uropodina. The 155 phoretic deutonymphs collected belonged to two species of Uropodina - Oodinychus ovalis (C.L. Koch, 1839) and Uroobovella pulchella (Berlese, 1904). These mites displayed a high degree of selectivity in their choice of carrier. The only species of centipede transporting mites was Lithobius forficatus (Linnaeus, 1758), despite the presence of 30 other species in the same habitats. It is possible that the large size and relatively fast speed of movement of this centipede make it a very good mite carrier. The majority of the mites were located on the sides of the centipedes, on segments near the anterior end. The high selectivity in the choice of carrier as well as the point of attachment suggests adaptation by the mites for phoresy by L. forficatus.

Keywords: Acari, Mesostigmata, Uropodina, Oodinychus ovalis, Uroobovella pulchella, Chilopoda, Lithobius forficatus, phoresy, Poland

Received: November 24, 2005; Revised: January 3, 2006; Accepted: January 3, 2006; Published: July 3, 2006  Show citation

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BŁOSZYK, J., KLIMCZAK, J., & LEŚNIEWSKA, M. (2006). Phoretic relationships between Uropodina (Acari: Mesostigmata) and centipedes (Chilopoda) as an example of evolutionary adaptation of mites to temporary microhabitats. EJE, 103(3), 699-707. doi: 10.14411/eje.2006.093
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