probably beneficial; feeds on various mites and probably other microarthropods in bee nests
Neohypoaspis Delfinado-Baker, Baker et Roubik, 1983
Taxonomy
Superorder Parasitiformes » Order Mesostigmata » Suborder Monogynaspida » Hyporder Dermanyssiae » Family Laelapidae » Genus Neohypoaspis
Type species
Neohypoaspis ampliseta Delfinado-Baker, Baker et Roubik, 1983
Female: Some marginal setae of idiosoma and legs with rounded or spatulate ends (Fig. 2). Epigynal shield not enlarged; distance between epigynal and anal shields large; shields distinctly separated from each other (Fig. 2).
Male: Genitoventral and anal shields separate.
This genus includes only a single species, Neohypoaspis ampliseta.
The presence of rounded ends in some marginal idiosomal setae and legs is similar to the genus Eumellitiphis. See the Diagnosis section to distinguish the genera Neohypoaspis and Eumellitiphis.
Neotropical region
necrophagous (corpse- or decaying flesh-feediing) species of the stingless bee Trigona (Meliponini), for example, Trigona hypogea and Trigona fulviventris
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
Neohypoaspis ampliseta is associated with nests of necrophagous species of the stingless bee genus Trigona (Meliponini) in the Neotropics. These mites have been found in the outer sheath of the nest, typically at the base of the nest, often in areas the bees do not reach because of the small passageways connecting them. Large populations of mites (in the thousands) develop in the nest. This species is probably beneficial as it feeds on various mites (and probably other microarthropods) in the nest. Under laboratory conditions, it consumes astigmatid mites (Delfinado-Baker et al., 1983).