Bee
Mite ID

Hunteria

HARMFUL | NOT HARMFUL | UNCERTAIN

probably mutualistic or commensal; presumably feed on microarthropods and waste in bee nests

Name and classification

Hunteria Delfinado-Baker, Baker and Flechtmann, 1984

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

Type species
Hunteria brasiliensis Delfinado-Baker, Baker and Flechtmann, 1984

Diagnosis

Adult: Sternal shield expanded anteriorly, forming two tubercles on anterior idiosoma (Figs. 2, 3).

Species identification

This genus includes a single species, Hunteria brasiliensis.

Distribution

Neotropical region

Bee hosts

stingless bee Melipona fasciculata

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

All stages live in nests of bees.
Dispersal on adult bees not documented, but possible.

Biology

Members of this genus are presumably predaceous and coprophilous (growing or living on dung); permanent commensals in bee nests.

Fig. 1. Hunteria brasiliensis holotype female, dorsal view.

Fig. 2. Hunteria brasiliensis holotype female, ventral view.

Fig. 3. Hunteria brasiliensis holotype female idiosoma, ventral view.

Fig. 4. Hunteria brasiliensis holotype female, ventral view showing reduced peritremal shield.

Fig. 5. Hunteria brasiliensis holotype female ventral hysterosoma in region of leg IV showing the absence of exopodal shields IV.

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