Wikipedia

Uropodidae

Uropodidae is a family of mites in the order Mesostigmata.[1]

Uropodidae
Oplitis pusaterii (dorsal)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Class:
Arachnida
Subclass:
Acari
Order:
Mesostigmata
Family:
Uropodidae

Kramer, 1881

Description

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As part of superfamily Uropodoidea, Uropodidae are tortoise-like mites with an oval to circular outline, and with armour both dorsally and ventrally. They can be distinguished from other uropodoids by their chelicerae lacking a large, sclerotized node and their genital opening being in an intercoxal position.[2]

Ecology

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Several species in the family commonly infest worm bins and consume food intended for the worms.[3]

An undescribed species of Uropodidae sucks out the hemolymph of pupae of Pheidole megacephala ants, resulting in the death of pupae. It preferentially attacks pupae of soldier and male ants.[4]

Uropodidae are phoretic on larger arthropods, meaning that they attach to larger arthropods to be transported to new places.[5] This attachment is achieved using a pedicel of translucent material extruded from the mite's anus.[5] One known host for uropodid mites is the red palm weevil (Rhynchophorus ferrugineus),[6] though this particular relationship may actually be parasitic, as mite-infested weevils have a shorter lifespan than uninfested weevils.[7]

Species

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References

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  1. ^ Joel Hallan (ed.). "Uropodidae Species Listing". Biology Catalog. Texas A&M University. Archived from the original on August 7, 2010. Retrieved September 10, 2010.
  2. ^ "Uropodoidea". idtools.org. Retrieved 2022-10-13.
  3. ^ "Bugs found in worm bin". bugguide.net. Retrieved 2022-10-13.
  4. ^ Breton, J. Le.; Takaku, G.; Tsuji, K. (2006). "Brood parasitism by mites (Uropodidae) in an invasive population of the pest-ant Pheidole megacephala". Insectes Sociaux. 53 (2): 168–171. doi:10.1007/s00040-005-0854-5. ISSN 0020-1812. S2CID 43824862.
  5. ^ a b "Family Uropodidae". bugguide.net. Retrieved 2022-10-13.
  6. ^ Farmahiny Farahani, V.R.; Ahadiyat, A.; Mašán, P.; Dehvari, M.A. (2016-12-19). "Phoretic uropodine mites (Acari: Mesostigmata) associated with the red palm weevil, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in Iran". Journal of Entomological and Acarological Research. 48 (3): 317. doi:10.4081/jear.2016.5853. ISSN 2279-7084.
  7. ^ Mazza, G.; Cini, A.; Cervo, R.; Longo, S. (2011-03-10). "Just phoresy? Reduced lifespan in red palm weevils Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) infested by the mite Centrouropoda almerodai (Uroactiniinae: Uropodina)". Italian Journal of Zoology. 78 (1): 101–105. doi:10.1080/11250003.2010.509135. ISSN 1125-0003. S2CID 84240263.
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