Parasitus

Abstract: Observations on the feeding behavior of Parasitus coleoptratorum (L.) and Glyptholaspis americana (Berl.) revealed that the tritosternum functions in concert with the capitular groove of the gnatho...

Abstract: Fauna of mesostigmatic mites associated with Coleoptera and biodiversity of these mites phoretic on dung beetles were studied in Golestan province (north of Iran). This research was carried out during 2008- 2010. During this period, different beetles were collected from different parts of the province and then examined carefully. Totally 37 species of mesotigmatic mites from 21 genera, 12 families and 7 superfamilies were removed and identified from 16 different host species of Coleoptera. The mites'species were as follows: Diplogyniidae (Celaenopsoidea): Weiseronyssus persicus Kazemi, Klompen & Moraza, 2008; Uropodidae (Uropodoidea): Uropoda copridis (Oudemans, 1916); Trematuridae (Uropodoidea): Trichouropoda elegans (Kramer, 1882), Nenteria stammeri Hirschmann & Zirngiebl-Nicol, 1962; Urodinychidae (Uropodoidea): Uroobovella fimicola (Berlese, 1903), Uroobovella marginata (C.L. Koch, 1839); Eviphididae (Eviphidoidea): Metacryptoseius persicus Kazemi & Moraza, 2008, Copriphis cf. Meyeri, Scarabaspis inexpectatus (Oudemans, 1903), Alliphis cf. Scarabaeorum, Alliphis sp.; Macrochelidae (Eviphidoidea): Macrocheles glaber (J. Muller, 1860), Macrocheles merdarius (Berlese, 1889), Macrocheles insignitus Berlese, 1918, Macrocheles robustulus Berlese, 1904, Macrocheles muscaedomesticae (Scopoli, 1772), Macrocheles scutatus (Berlese, 1904), Macrocheles subbadius (Berlese, 1904), Macrocheles cf. vernalis, Glyptholaspis americana (Berlese, 1888), Glyptholaspis confusa (Foa, 1900), Neopodocinum caputmedusae (Berlese, 1908); Pachylaelapidae (Eviphidoidea): Pachylaelaps pectinifer (G. & R. Canestrini, 1881); Laelapidae (Dermanyssoidea): Coleolaelaps costai Joharchi & Halliday, 2011, Gaeolaelaps nolli Karg, 1965, Gaeolaelaps aculeifer (G. Canestrini, 1884), Pneumolaelaps lubrica Voigts & Oudemans, 1904, Hypoaspis phyllognathi Costa, 1971; Halolaelapidae (Rhodacaroidea): Halolaelaps sexclavatus (Oudemans, 1902), Halolaelaps sp.; Parasitidae (Parasitoidea): Parasitus coleoptratorum (Linnaeus, 1758), Parasitus cf. kempersi, Parasitus fimetorum (Berlese, 1903), Parasitus cf. copridis, Parasitus sp.; Ascidae (Ascoidea): Anystipalpus livshitsi (Eidelberg, 1989); Ameroseiidae (Ascoidea): Ameroseius sp. This is the first record of Nenteria stammeri from Iran. In the second part of the project, for biodiversity calculation of Mesostigmata phoretic on dung beetles different samplings were conducted in livestock dung (including cattle, horse and sheep dung and also poultry manure). A sample unit area of 20×20×10 cm (the length and the width were 20cm and the height was 10cm) was selected. The results were 3 obtained by using the formula of Simpson index. Totally, the greatest number of biodiversity was obtained in cattle dung on Euonthophagus gibbosus (Scriba, 1790).

Abstract: Trophic interactions of cave arthropods have been understudied. We used molecular methods (NGS) to decipher the food web in the subterranean ecosystem of the Ardovska Cave (Western Carpathians, Slovakia). We collected five arthropod predators of the species Parasitus loricatus (gamasid mites), Eukoenenia spelaea (palpigrades), Quedius mesomelinus (beetles), and Porrhomma profundum and Centromerus cavernarum (both spiders) and prey belonging to several orders. Various arthropod orders were exploited as prey, and trophic interactions differed among the predators. Linear models were used to compare absolute and relative prey body sizes among the predators. Quedius exploited relatively small prey, while Eukoenenia and Parasitus fed on relatively large prey. Exploitation of eggs or cadavers is discussed. In contrast to previous studies, Eukoenenia was found to be carnivorous. A high proportion of intraguild predation was found in all predators. Intraspecific consumption (most likely cannibalism) was detected only in mites and beetles. Using Pianka's index, the highest trophic niche overlaps were found between Porrhomma and Parasitus and between Centromerus and Eukoenenia, while the lowest niche overlap was found between Parasitus and Quedius. Contrary to what we expected, the high availability of Diptera and Isopoda as a potential prey in the studied system was not corroborated. Our work demonstrates that intraguild diet plays an important role in predators occupying subterranean ecosystems.