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Melichares

Harmfulness rating

HARMFUL | NOT HARMFUL | UNCERTAIN

neutral to beneficial; feeds on harmful microarthropods in hives

Name

Melichares Hering, 1838

Taxonomy

Superorder Parasitiformes » Order Mesostigmata » Suborder Monogynaspida » Hyporder Dermanyssiae » Family Melicharidae » Genus Melichares

Type species

Melichares agilis Hering, 1838

Common synonyms

Garmania. In old literature was confused with Blattisocius.

Diagnosis

Female: Dorsal shield entire, not divided, without lateral incisions (Fig. 3). Setae z3 present (Fig. 3). Opisthonotalopisthonotal:
Pertaining to dorsal opisthosoma.
region of dorsal shield with 14–15 pairs of setae (J, S, Z) (Fig. 3). IdiosomaIdiosoma:
Body not including the gnathosoma.
with 7 or more pairs of marginal setae r-R on soft lateral cuticle (Fig. 3). Metasternal plates absent, st4 situated on soft cuticle (Fig. 5). Adanal setae anterior to hind margin of anus (Figs. 6, 7). Anal shieldanal shield:
In Mesostigmata, a ventral shield bearing the anal opening and circumanal setae (adanal or postanal setae), but without any ventral setae or pores (lyrifissures) on it. If ventral setae are present on shield than referred to as a ventrianal shield.
with 3 circumanal setae only (Figs. 6, 7). Epigynial shield rounded posteriorly (Fig. 4). Peritrematic shield at level of stigma less than twice as wide as diameter of stigma (Fig. 8). Peritrematic shield free posteriorly (Figs. 8, 15). Anterior and posterior rows of deutosternal denticles (small, tooth-like processes) different (Fig. 10). Fixed digit of chelicerachelicera:
Anterior, paired appendage of the body. Primary organ for food acquisition, adapted for chewing, piercing, tearing, sucking, or filtering.
with pilus dentilispilus dentilis:
A seta-like or membranous sensory organ inserted ventrolaterally on the fixed digit of the chelicera of many Mesostigmata.
modified to membranous lobe (sometimes poorly visible) (Fig. 16). Movable digit with ventral mucro (pointed process) near base (Fig. 11). Genugenu:
Leg or palp segment (also known as podomere or palpomere) between tibia and femur.
II and III with 11 and 9 setae, respectively (both av1, pv1 present); tibiatibia:
Leg or palp segment (also known as podomere or palpomere) between tarsus and genu.
II usually with 10 setae (pl2 present) (Fig. 13). Legs II–IV with median lobe of pulvilluspulvillus:
a membranous, pad-like structure associated with the claws in Mesostigmata.
 (membranous, pad-like structure) broadly rounded (Fig. 14).

Species identification

This genus includes two species, but only Melichares agilis has been found in association with bees. This species can be identified using Evans, 1958Evans, 1958:
Evans, G. O. 1958. A revision of the British Aceosejinae (Acarina: Mesostigmata). Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London. 131: 177-229..

Distribution

Occuring in human-related habitats, Melichares agilis is expected to be a widely distributed, cosmopolitan species. Records from honey bees are from the Western Palaearctic.

Bee hosts

European honey bee, Apis mellifera

Host association level

facultativefacultative:
can complete entire life cycle without bees or their close relative, wasps

Host associations, feeding, and dispersal

  • All stages are predatory on acarid mites (and probably other microarthropods) in different habitats, including honey bee hives.
  • Mites can enter bee nests by walking if a nest is nearby.

Biology

Melichares agilis is known as a widely distributed predator of acarid mites in stored food, particularly dried fruits. This species has also been found in hives of the European honey bee Apis mellifera (Haragsim et al., 1987Haragsim et al., 1987:
Haragsim, O., K. Samšiňák amp; E. Vobrázková. 1978. The mites inhabiting the bee hives in ČSR. Zeitschrift für Angewandte Entomologie. 87: 52-67.).

Fig. 1. Melichares agilis female, dorsal view.

Fig. 1. Melichares agilis female, dorsal view.
Fig. 2. Melichares agilis female, ventral view.

Fig. 2. Melichares agilis female, ventral view.
Fig. 3. Melichares agilis female dorsal shield.

Fig. 3. Melichares agilis female dorsal shield.
Fig. 4. Melichares agilis female epigynal shield.

Fig. 4. Melichares agilis female epigynal shield.
Fig. 5. Melichares agilis female sternal shield.

Fig. 5. Melichares agilis female sternal shield.
Fig. 6. Melichares agilis female, posteroventral region.

Fig. 6. Melichares agilis female, posteroventral region.
Fig. 7. Melichares agilis female anal shield.

Fig. 7. Melichares agilis female anal shield.
Fig. 8. Melichares agilis female peritreme.

Fig. 8. Melichares agilis female peritreme.
Fig. 9. Melichares agilis female peritreme and exopodal shield.

Fig. 9. Melichares agilis female peritreme and exopodal shield.
Fig. 10. Melichares agilis female gnathosoma, ventral view.

Fig. 10. Melichares agilis female gnathosoma, ventral view.
Fig. 11. Melichares agilis female chelicera, lateral view.

Fig. 11. Melichares agilis female chelicera, lateral view.
Fig. 12. Melichares agilis female corniculi.

Fig. 12. Melichares agilis female corniculi.
Fig. 13. Melichares agilis female genu and tibia II.

Fig. 13. Melichares agilis female genu and tibia II.
Fig. 14. Melichares agilis female ambulacrum II.

Fig. 14. Melichares agilis female ambulacrum II.
Fig. 15. Melichares sp. (ex Artibeus cinereus ) female peritreme and exopodal plate.

Fig. 15. Melichares sp. (ex Artibeus cinereus) female peritreme and exopodal plate.
Fig. 16. Melichares sp. (ex Artibeus cinereus ) female chelicera.

Fig. 16. Melichares sp. (ex Artibeus cinereus) female chelicera.