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Rhinopygmephorus

Harmfulness rating

HARMFUL | NOT HARMFUL | UNCERTAIN

lives in bee nests and disperses on bees, but details of biology unknown

Name

Rhinopygmephorus Kurosa, 2001

Taxonomy

Superorder Acariformes » Order Trombidiformes » Suborder Prostigmata » Infraorder Eleutherengona » Hyporder Heterostigmata » Family Neopygmephoridae » Genus Rhinopygmephorus

Type species

Rhynopygmephorus rhopalomelissae Kurosa, 2001 (=Rhinopygmephorus rhopalomelissae Kurosa, 2001)

Common synonyms

Rhynopygmephorus Kurosa, 2001 (original incorrect variant spelling)

Diagnosis

Female: Basal part of gnathosomagnathosoma:
Division of body anterior to the propodosoma bearing two pairs of appendages (palps and chelicerae).
strongly elongated (Fig. 1). Seta d of femurfemur:
Leg or palp segment (also known as podomere or palpomere) between genu and trochanter. In ParasitIformes can be subdivided into telofemur and basifemur.
I modified (wide, tip bent) (Fig. 4). Posterior genital scleritesclerite:
A component section of an exoskeleton; a plate forming the skeleton of an arthropod.
 very small, rounded (Fig. 5). Pinnaculumpinnaculum:
A subapical, dorsal elevation on tibiotarsus I bearing a distinct cluster of 2-3 rodlike sensory setae. Term is used for Heterostigmata only.
on tibiotarsus I absent (Fig. 6).

Species identification

This genus includes only one described species, Rhinopygmephorus rhopalomelissae Kurosa, 2001. However, one undescribed species is known from Africa (our data, Fig. 7).

Distribution

Palaearctic (Japan) and Afrotropical regions

Bee hosts

halictid bees of the genus Lipotriches; phoreticphoretic:
Pertaining to phoresy; using another organism (i.e., a host) for dispersal to new habitats. Phoresy can be distinguished from parasitism because feeding typically does not occur during phoresy.
hosts also include bees of the genus Sphecodes (kleptoparasites of Lipotriches)

Host association level

permanentpermanent:
associated exclusively with bees or their close relative, wasps; cannot live without these hosts

Host associations, feeding, and dispersal

  • All stages live in nests of halictid bees of the genus Lipotriches. Feeding biology is unknown.
  • Mite females disperse on adult host bees or their kleptoparasiteskleptoparasite:
    An animal that takes prey or other food from another animal that has caught, collected, or otherwise prepared the food, including stored food. Both kleptoparasitic bees and kleptoparasitic mites feed on food provisioned in the host bee nest. Kleptoparasitic bees do not make their own nests; they stealthily deposit eggs in the nest of a bee host and can act as phoretic hosts for mites only because they deliver them to nests of actual bee hosts. Variant spelling: cleptoparasite.
    (Sphecodes).
Fig. 1. Rhinopygmephorus sp. female, dorsal view.

Fig. 1. Rhinopygmephorus sp. female, dorsal view.
Fig. 2. Rhinopygmephorus sp. female, ventral view.

Fig. 2. Rhinopygmephorus sp. female, ventral view.
Fig. 3. Rhinopygmephorus sp. female pharyngeal musculature, optical section at propodosoma and posterior gnathosoma.

Fig. 3. Rhinopygmephorus sp. female pharyngeal musculature, optical section at propodosoma and posterior gnathosoma.
Fig. 4. Rhinopygmephorus sp. female anterior propodosoma and legs.

Fig. 4. Rhinopygmephorus sp. female anterior propodosoma and legs.
Fig. 5. Rhinopygmephorus sp. female posterior hysterosoma, ventral view.

Fig. 5. Rhinopygmephorus sp. female posterior hysterosoma, ventral view.
Fig. 6. Rhinopygmephorus sp. female leg I, lateral view.

Fig. 6. Rhinopygmephorus sp. female leg I, lateral view.
Fig. 7. Females of mite Rhinopygmephorus sp. on bee Lipotriches clavata from Africa.

Fig. 7. Females of mite Rhinopygmephorus sp. on bee Lipotriches clavata from Africa.