Bee

Mite ID

Phoretic deutonymph: Tarsal setae aa I present, long (Fig. 1). Setae ba I absent, ba II present (Fig. 1). Hysterosomal shield smooth (Fig. 1). Setae ve shorter than vi and smooth (Fig. 1). “Saucer” at the end of tarsal setae e I-II present (Fig. 1). Genu I with two solenidia (σ' and σ'') (Fig. 1). External conoidal setae (ps2) of attachment organ anterior to median suckers (ad1+2) (Fig. 2); ps2 and ps1 accompanied by long, well-developed endosclerites (internal sclerites situated under cuticle) (Fig. 2). Solenidion σ III present. Setae nG III present (Fig. 2). Coxal setae 1a, 3a, 4a conoidal (Fig. 2). Claws I-IV subequal (Fig. 2). Long seta on tarsus IV (d IV) middorsal (Fig. 2).

The two known species can be identified using Zachvatkin, 1941.

Schulzea can be separated from Halictacarus by: 3a represented by conoids (filiform in Halictacarus); ve shorter than vi and smooth (long, as long as vi, and barbed in Halictacarus); hysterosomal shield smooth (with distinct pattern of short longitudinal grooves in Halictacarus); conoidal setae ps2 of attachment organ distinctly anterior to median sucker ad1+2 (slightly anterior in Halictacarus); claws IV subequal with claws I-III (distinctly smaller than claws I-III in Halictacarus), leg setae smooth (many leg setae barbed in Halictacarus); long seta on tarsus IV middorsal (terminal in Halictacarus).

Palaearctic (Klimov, 1997; Zachvatkin, 1941) and Nearctic regions (our data, unpublished).

Known from various families of bees: Hylaeus (Prosopis) (Colletidae); Andrena (Hoplandrena) (Andrenidae); and Megachile (Megachilidae).

permanent

• All stages probably live in nests of wood- and ground-nesting bees and crabronine wasps. Feeding preferences are unknown.
• Phoretic deutonymphs disperse on adult hosts.

Also recorded from wood-nesting wasps Stigmus and Pemphredon (Crabronidae), and a dung beetle Geotrupes sp. (Geotrupidae). Biology is unknown.