neutral or beneficial; habitat generalists that feed on microarthropods and fungi
Lasioseius Berlese, 1916
Taxonomy
Superorder Parasitiformes » Order Mesostigmata » Suborder Monogynaspida » Hyporder Dermanyssiae » Family Blattisociidae » Genus Lasioseius
Type species
Seius musicatus [lapsus pro muricatus] Berlese, 1887 (non Koch, 1839) (=Typhlodromus berlesei Oudemans, 1938)
Female: Dorsal shield undivided and without midlateral incisions (Figs. 1). In most species, sternal shield with 3 pairs of setae: st1, st2, st3 (Fig. 3); st4 situated on metasternal shields (Figs. 3). Ventrianal shield wide, bearing 2 or more pairs of ventral setae (JV and ZV), in addition to the three circumanal setae (Fig. 5). Paranal setae inserted anterior to hind margin of anus (Fig. 5). Peritrematic shield broadly connected to exopodal plate, curving behind coxa IV (Fig. 7). Peritrematic shield clearly wider than diameter of stigma at level of stigma (Fig. 7). Corniculi widely separated (Figs. 8, 9). Fixed digit with filiform pilus dentilis (Fig. 11 ). Tectum convex or triramous (Fig. 12). Median lobe of pulvillus (membranous, pad-like structure) of legs II-IV rounded (Fig. 13).
A dichotomous key is available in Christian and Karg, 2006.
Blattisocius. Lasioseius can be separated from Blattisocius by its wider ventrianal shield (narrower in Blattisocius); metasternal shields present (absent in Blattisocius); corniculi widely separated (narrowly separated in Blattisocius); and peritrematic shield clearly wider than diameter of stigma at level of stigma (barely wider in Blattisocius).
Worldwide; found in association with bees in the Palaearctic, Nearctic, Oriental, and Australasian regions.
found in nests of honey bees (Apis) and bumble bees (Bombus)
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
facultative
Lasioseius is a morphologically diverse genus, with more than 100 described species found on rotting organic substances, under bark, and in forest litter, moss, soil, nests of small mammals and birds, bracket-fungi, tree-holes, stored products, warehouses, and hay. Some species are omnivorous, feeding on microarthropods and on fungi, while others are only predatory (Enkegaard and Brodsgaard, 2000; Walter and Lindquist, 1989). Several species have been collected in beehives. Among them, one species, Lasioseius penicilliger, has also been found in bumble bee nests. These species are habitat generalists and probably do not have a particular preference for bee nests.