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Achaetodactylus

Harmfulness rating

HARMFUL | NOT HARMFUL | UNCERTAIN

may be beneficial; hosts have acarinariaacarinarium:
A specialized morphological structure that facilitates retention of mites on the body of an organism, typically a bee or wasp.
to transport mites, but biology not well known

Name

Achaetodactylus Fain, 1981Fain, 1981:
Fain, A. 1981. A revision of the phoretic deutonymphs (hypopi) of the genus Sennertia Oudemans, 1905 (Acari, Astigmata, Chaetodactylidae). Systematic Parasitology.3: 145-183.

Taxonomy

Superorder Acariformes » Order Sarcoptiformes » Suborder Oribatida » Infraorder Desmonomata » Hyporder Astigmata » Family Chaetodactylidae » Genus Achaetodactylus

Type species

Chaetodactylus leleupi Fain, 1974

Common synonyms

Ochaetodactylus Fain, 1971

Diagnosis

Phoretic deutonymphphoretic deutonymph:
An active nymphal stage in Astigmata that serves for dispersal on arthropod or vertebrate hosts. A subtype of heteromorphic deutonymph. See Life stages page for more details.
: Free palpi, gnathosomal solenidiasolenidion:
Thin-walled, terminally rounded or pointed filiform or peglike structure that is not birefringent in polarized light (unlike common setae in Acariformes). Often appears striated because of its internal structure. Found on the palpal tarsus on the gnathosoma and may also occur on the tarsus and tibia, less frequently on the genu, and occasionally on the femur of legs I-IV. In Acariformes, leg solenidia often arise from unsclerotized areas.
, and setae absent (Fig 2).

Species identification

A dichotomous key for phoretic deutonymphsphoretic deutonymph:
An active nymphal stage in Astigmata that serves for dispersal on arthropod or vertebrate hosts. A subtype of heteromorphic deutonymph. See Life stages page for more details.
 is available at the bee-associated mites website.

Distribution

Afrotropical region

Bee hosts

small carpenter bees (Ceratina)

Host association level

permanentpermanent:
associated exclusively with bees or their close relative, wasps; cannot live without these hosts

Host associations, feeding, and dispersal

  • Phoretic deutonymphsphoretic deutonymph:
    An active nymphal stage in Astigmata that serves for dispersal on arthropod or vertebrate hosts. A subtype of heteromorphic deutonymph. See Life stages page for more details.
     disperse in acarinariaacarinarium:
    A specialized morphological structure that facilitates retention of mites on the body of an organism, typically a bee or wasp.
    of female small carpenter bees (Ceratina): Achaetodactylus ceratinae in the axillar acarinariumacarinarium:
    A specialized morphological structure that facilitates retention of mites on the body of an organism, typically a bee or wasp.
    (Figs. 3, 4), and Achaetodactylus leleupi in the metasomal acarinariumacarinarium:
    A specialized morphological structure that facilitates retention of mites on the body of an organism, typically a bee or wasp.
    (Fain and Pauly, 2001Fain and Pauly, 2001:
    Fain, A. amp; A. Pauly. 2001. Notes on phoretic deutonymphs of mites (Acari) associated with Old World Megachilidae and Anthophoridae (Insecta Hymenoptera), mainly from Madagascar 1. Families Chaetodactylidae, Acaridae, Histiostomatidae and Winterschmidtiidae (Astigmata). Belgian Journal of Entomology . 3: 125-142.    ).
  • Adults are unknown, but presumably they live in the host nests. The presence of acarinariaacarinarium:
    A specialized morphological structure that facilitates retention of mites on the body of an organism, typically a bee or wasp.
    indirectly suggests some level of mutualistic relationships between these mites and their hosts.
Fig. 1. Achaetodactylus ceratinae phoretic deutonymph, ventral view .

Fig. 1. Achaetodactylus ceratinae phoretic deutonymph, ventral view.
Fig. 2. Anteroventral region of the phoretic deutonymph of Achaetodactylus ceratinae, showing the absence of the gnathosoma; drawing courtesy of Belgian GTI Focal Point 2009, http://www.taxonomy.be.

Fig. 2. Anteroventral region of the phoretic deutonymph of Achaetodactylus ceratinae, showing the absence of the gnathosoma; drawing courtesy of Belgian GTI Focal Point 2009, http://www.taxonomy.be.
Fig. 3. Phoretic deutonymphs of Achaetodactylus ceratinae at the entrance of axillar acarinarium of the bee Ceratina opaca .

Fig. 3. Phoretic deutonymphs of Achaetodactylus ceratinae at the entrance of axillar acarinarium of the bee Ceratina opaca.
Fig. 4. Closeup of phoretic deutonymphs of Achaetodactylus ceratinae at the entrances of axillar acarinaria of Ceratina opaca .

Fig. 4. Closeup of phoretic deutonymphs of Achaetodactylus ceratinae at the entrances of axillar acarinaria of Ceratina opaca.
Fig. 5. Phoretic deutonymphs of Achaetodactylus leleupi on bee Ceratina diloloensis .

Fig. 5. Phoretic deutonymphs of Achaetodactylus leleupi on bee Ceratina diloloensis.
Fig. 6. Closeup of phoretic deutonymphs of Achaetodactylus leleupi on bee Ceratina diloloensis .

Fig. 6. Closeup of phoretic deutonymphs of Achaetodactylus leleupi on bee Ceratina diloloensis.