All stages of these mites are predators of different microarthropods that feed on provisions in the bees' nests (Eickwort, 1994). In the Old World, females of Cheletophyes disperse in mesosomal (axillar) acarinaria of adult female bees (Figs. 5, 6). Acarinaria are absent in male bees. According to the hypothesis of OConnor (1993), the relationships between Cheletophyes and their bee hosts are mutualistic, and the bees have developed mesosomal acarinaria to transfer these predaceous mites that control nest kleptoparasites. Despite the fact that the mites do not directly depend on resources provided by the bees, they are highly specific to their hosts (Klimov et al., 2006). One species, Cheletophyes panamensis, has been recorded for the Neotropical region (Klompen et al., 1984). This species has been found in the nest of its host only. Large carpenter bees from the Neotropical region lack an acarinarium. So far, phoretic specimens of Ch. panamensis have not been discovered on their host's bodies, although it is likely this species can disperse on the bodies of adult female bees.