Macrocheles rodriguezi, a new species of mite from Kansas (Acarina: Macrochelidae) with notes on its life cycle and behavior
1963 - Volume: 5 Issue: 4 pages: 519-525
Keywords
Acari
Nearctic region
Kansas
Machrochelidae
Macrocheles rodriguezi
Development
Life history
new species
Abstract
Macrocheles rodriguezi n. sp. is figured and described. This species was observed in the laboratory for a period of 53 days. During these observations the relative humidity was extremely high (probably 95 percent or more) and the temperature ranged from 23 to 28 °C but was usually approximately 25 °C. The life stages consisted of an egg, larva, protonymph, deutonymph, adult male and female. It was not uncommon for the mites to pass through all the immature stages in 5 days. The approximate duration of each stage was 8 to 24 hours as an egg, the same as a larva, 24 hours as a protonymph and 48 to 72 hours as a deutonymph. The adult female was able to oviposit at the age of 21 days, inclusive of the immature stages. The eggs were laid at intervals of 1 to 8 days. Parthenogenesis and bisexual reproduction occurred: The regular diet of Macrocheles rodriguezi in the laboratory consisted of living acarid mites. Cannibalism was observed between an adult female and her first instar nymph in the presence of numerous acarids. There appears to be no courtship display prior to mating. During mating the male and female may remain embraced for as long as 17 minutes, but usually mating is completed in approximately 6 minutes. Senescence is accompanied by a bloated appearance and the mite becomes lethargic.
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