Bee

Mite ID

Adult: Palps 5-segmented (Fig. 1). Tarsus I with I recumbent solenidion (Figs. 1, 3). Tibia I with deeply recessed solenidion in sac-like structure connecting to surface by narrow duct (Fig. 3). Femur I with 7 setae (Figs. 1, 2). Prodorsum and legs with netlike ornamentation (Figs. 1, 3, 4). Posterior opisthosomal trichobothria present (Fig. 1). Two pairs of genital papillae in adults (Figs. 2, 5).

A dichotomous key to North American species is available in Hunter and Cross, 1968, which can be used as a starting point. An annotated list of described species is given in Fain and Camerik, 1994. A key to the two species associated with bees is available from the bee-associated mites website.

Nearctic, Palaearctic, Neotropical, Oriental, Australian, and Afrotropical regions. Bee-associated species have been found in the Nearctic and Neotropical regions.

Mites of bee hosts found in nests only: Melipona scutellaris and Nomia melanderi.

facultative

• All stages live in a variety of habitats (soil, dung, galleries of bark beetles, organic substances, and nests of bees) where they feed on small invertebrates.
• Female mites, and occasionally nymphs, may disperse on insect hosts (not recorded for bees).

This genus includes five subgenera and 51 species of free-living predators that live in mosses, lichens, leaf litter, bat guano, dung, scarabaeid beetles, nests of mammals and birds, rotting wood, galleries of bark beetles, and under bark (Fain and Camerik, 1994). Two subgenera and two species have been found in nests of bees: Ereynetes (Anereynetes) meliponae Flechtmann, Fain, and Leal, 1985 (ex Melipona scutellaris, Brazil) and Ereynetes (Ereynetes) boharti Hunter and Cross, 1968 (ex Nomia melanderi, USA). They are probably not specific to bees and may come from the outside environment in search of prey (small invertebrates). For example, Ereynetes boharti preys on acarid mites Sancassania boharti normally occurring in nests of bees of the genus Nomia.

Females or nymphs of some species have been found phoretic on dung beetles, flies, and darkwinged fungus gnats (Fain and Camerik, 1994). A few species are permanent associates of hermit crabs (Coenobita).