Bee
Mite ID

Eumellitiphis

 

HARMFUL | NOT HARMFUL | UNCERTAIN

lives in bee nests, but dispersal and feeding behavior are unknown

Name and classification

Eumellitiphis Turk, 1948

Taxonomy
Superorder Parasitiformes » Order Mesostigmata » Suborder Monogynaspida » Hyporder Dermanyssiae » Family Laelapidae » Genus Eumellitiphis

Type species
Eumellitiphis mellitus Turk, 1948

Diagnosis

Female: Some marginal setae of idiosoma and legs with rounded or spatulate ends (Fig. 2). Epigynal shield enlarged (Fig. 2). Distance between epigynal and anal shields small (shields nearly touching each other) (Fig. 2).

Male: Genitoventral and anal shields fused.

Bee hosts

stingless bees (Lestrimelitta, Geniotrigona, Lophotrigona, and Trigona)

Host association level

Permanent

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

Temporary

some life stages are associated with bees, while others are not

Facultative or opportunistic

can complete entire life cycle without bees or their close relative, wasps

permanent

Host associations, feeding, and dispersal

  • Adults and immatures live in nests of meliponine (stingless) bees.
  • Dispersal on adult bees has not been documented but is possible.