lives in bee nests and disperses on adult bees, but its effect on bees is unknown
Parascutacarus Baker and Delfinado, 1975
Taxonomy
Superorder Acariformes » Order Trombidiformes » Suborder Prostigmata » Infraorder Eleutherengona » Hyporder Heterostigmata » Family Scutacaridae » Genus Parascutacarus
Type species
Parascutacarus indicus Baker and Delfinado, 1975
Female: Setae c2 long, strong, pectinate (similar to long leg setae) (Fig. 1). Setae c1 absent (Figs. 1, 3). Setae ps3 displaced ventrally (not submarginal) (Fig. 2). Large hooked claw present on tibiotarsus I (Fig. 2). Trochanter IV simple, not modified (Fig. 2). Tibia and tarsus IV not fused (Fig. 2). Empodium IV suckerlike, without claws (Fig. 2).
This genus has only one species, Parascutacarus indicus.
India
While originally described from a single specimen collected from unidentified species of Bombus, we collected a large series of this mite from the halictid bee Lasioglossum albescens, and this is probably the true host of Parascutacarus.
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
permanent