Name and classification
Cosmolaelaps Berlese, 1903
Taxonomy
Superorder Parasitiformes » Order Mesostigmata » Suborder Monogynaspida » Hyporder Dermanyssiae » Family Laelapidae » Genus Cosmolaelaps
Type species
Laelaps claviger Berlese, 1883
neutral to beneficial; general predator of microarthropods in bee nests
Cosmolaelaps Berlese, 1903
Taxonomy
Superorder Parasitiformes » Order Mesostigmata » Suborder Monogynaspida » Hyporder Dermanyssiae » Family Laelapidae » Genus Cosmolaelaps
Type species
Laelaps claviger Berlese, 1883
The genus Cosmolaelaps comprises 108 species (Moreira et al., 2014), which are predators of small microarthropods in soil and related habitats. One species, Cosmolaelaps vacuus, a generalist predator, was described and included in a key to British species (Evans and Till, 1966).
By the presence of widened dorsal setae similar to Stratiolaelaps. Cosmolaelaps can be distinguished from Stratiolaelaps by its typical corniculi that reach nearly to middle of palpfemur (Fig. 7). In Stratiolaelaps, corniculi reach anterior level of palpfemur. Also similar to Hypoaspis, but dorsal setae are widened in Cosmolaelaps (simple, not widened in Hypoaspis).
The genus is cosmopolitan. The single species recorded from bees (Cosmolaelaps vacuus) has been found in the Holarctic and Oriental regions.
Cosmolaelaps vacuus has been found, among other habitats, in a bumble bee (Bombus) nest.
associated exclusively with bees or their close relative, wasps; cannot live without these hosts
some life stages are associated with bees, while others are not
can complete entire life cycle without bees or their close relative, wasps
facultative