Predator mites of dung-breeding flies (Mesostigmata: Macrochelidae, Parasitidae) phoretics on Ontherus sulcator (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae)

4 Pages·2000·0.62 MB·

by  Perotti, Alejandra

ISSN0373-5680Rev.SoCo Entomol.Argent. 59(1-4):201-"204,2000
NOTACIENTÍFICA
--------,-_.".."...._------------
Predator mites of dung-breeding flies
(Mesostigmata: Macrochelidae, Parasitidae) phoretics on
Ontherus sulcator (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae)
PEROTTI, Alejandra",Pedro G. MARIATEGUI** y Claudio SPEICYS~·*
"Departamentode Biología,UniversidadNacionalde Mardel Plata.Funes3250.7600Mardel Plata;Argentina.
Presentaddress.LethbridgeResearchStation,AgricultureandAgri-FoodCanadá,P.O.Box3000,TIJ4Bl,
AB-Canadá;e-mail:[email protected]
**Cátedrade ZoologíaAgraria.Facultadde CienciasAgrarias,UniversidadNacionalde Lomasde Zamora.
Rutaprov. 4,km2,1834,LOImsde Zamora,.Argentina;e-mail:[email protected]
• ABSTRACT" Flypredatormiteswereobserved asphoreticsof the dungbeetle,
Ontherus sulcator (F.).FemalesofMacrochelesmamifer Berlese,Macrocheles
robustulus Berlese,Macrocheles muscadomesticae Scopoli, Macrocheles sp.
unidentified, Glyptholaspisconfusa FoayHolostaspella bifoliattaTragardh.allof
them belongedto the family Macrochelidae, and deutonymphs of Parasitusbeta
Oudemans & Voigts, family Parasitidae,wereextracted and identified.
KEY WORDS. Predator mites. Phoreticmites. Dung. Scarabaeidae. Ontherus
sulcator.
• RESUMEN. Ácaros depredadores de moscas coprófilas (Mesostigmata:
Macrochelidae, Parasitidae) foréticos de Ontherus sulcator (Coleóptera:
Scarabaeidae). Numerosos ácaros depredadores de moscas fueron obser
vados como foréticos del escarabajo estercolero Ontherus sulcator (F.).Fue
ron extraídas e identificadas hembras de las especies: Macrocheles mamifer
Berlese, Macrocheles robustulus Berlese, Macrocheles muscaedomesticae
Scopoli, Macrocheles sp. sin identificar, Glyptholaspis confusa Foay Holostas
pella bifoliattaTrágardh,todas ellas de lafamilia Macrochelidae, y deutoninfas
de Parasitusbeta Oudemans & voigts.
PALABRA~SCLAVE" Ácaros depredadores.Ácarosforéticos. Excrementobovino.
Scarabaeidae. Ontherussulcator.
Adult rnites of the farnilies Macrochelidae and elesof rnanure (Halffter&Mathews. 1971).Asare
Parasitidae associated with dung pats, are rnostly sultoftheiractivity,dungdegradation isaccelerated
predators of several fly species (Krantz, 1983). (Waller, 1992). Many authors recognized Argenti
Dungpatsareephemeral,theeggsand smalllarvae nean beetleswith activeparticipation indungrecy
of most fly species are present for only afew days cling (potential elementsfor biological fly control).
after deposition. Hence, predatorial rnites count In fact, in the past, the South American Biological
with ashort period to lacate their prey, a problem Control Laboratory (United States Department of
solved by using dung-beetles for transportation to Agriculture), in Argentina carried out surveys to
suitable pats. Mites spend rnuch of their lifetime collectdungbeetles nativeto the region for intro
associated to the scarabs and a clase svrnbiotic duction in the United States.Ontherus su/cator (F.)
association issuspected (Krantz, 1983). isone of the rnost productive Argentinean species
Larvae of paracoprid scarabs feed on the dung and was used for massrearing in laboratory con
brood balls, suckingthe juices and smallest parti- ditions (Cabrera Walsh et al., 1997).
201
Rev. Soco Entomot!.Argent.59(1-4),2000
Costa (1969) observed rnites of the family Macrochelesmamiferfemales(N ==5)fitthe ori
Macrochelidae sought shelter in the brood balls ginal descriptionand coincidedwiththetypical M.
where beetle larval developrnent took place. marnifer(Ser/ese, 1918;Krantz & Whitaker, 1988).
The young adult beetles emerged with mites, at It was originally described from samples from La
tached to thern. Coincidentally, during sampling Plata(Argentina)and isconsidered acosmopolitan
in pastures, vveobserved scarabs ernerging frorn species with intraspecificvariations(Krantz&Whi
the breeding tunnels with rnany mires attached taker, 1988). This species hasbeen reponed to be
to the ventral parts ofthescarabs. Mites, collern phoretic on arthropods (Wallace, 1986). Halliday
boles and nernatodes, are the mostcornmon mi-o &l--folm (1987) recorded high predatory rates of
cro-inhabitants of the manure (Brady, 1984). this mite on larvae of the buffalo fly Heemetobi«
Brood balls ofparacoprids can providefood and itritnnsexigua De Meijere.
protection for a several variety of organisrns.
Vvith exception ofpredators, rernaining micro-in.. Mecrocbeles robustuluswas firstfound in Italy
vertebrates, rnost of thern primary consumers (Beriese, 1904). lt has awide range of distribu
(rnicro-herbivores and detritivores) wou!d be tion, rnentioned for Europe, North Arnerica and
competing for the sarne food source with beetle Australia (VVallace, 1986), but it has not been re
larvae. Adults and mature nymphs of predator ported in South Arnerica. The females collected
mites preferentially feed on eggs and frst instar (N =: 4) fit vvith the original description (Ber/ese,
larvae of Ilies, while rnite larvae and pro-o 1904)and with the picturesofAxtell (1963). Costa
tonyrnphs mostly feed on the micro-invertebra (1966) reported itsphoretic habits on dungbeetles
tes, because of predator-prey size relationship while Halliday & Holm (1987) reported its pre
(Krantz, "1983). Therefore, on one hand, the datory activíty on imrnature stages oftwo dung
younger predator mites rnay be responsible for breeding pest flies (l\llusca vetustissime vvalker
the regulatian of phytofagous and detritivorous and H. irritans exigua).
populations associated to brood masses, contri
buting, with the successful development of the The presence of Macrocheles muscaedomes
beetle larva. On the other hand, adult mites rnay ticaefemalcs on scarabs (N ==1) was unexpected
heip to control dung breeding flies. because it is commonly associated with accu
A total of forty rnites were recovered from three mulated manure, as a predator and phoretic of
specimensofthedungbeetle, Ontherussu/cator(F.) filth flíes in confined systems (Axtell, 1963;
(Material examined: ARGENTINA. Buenos Aires: Krantz 1983). It fits with the re-description of
Pdo. San Vicente, 1-·1998, 1 fernale: 11-"1998, 2 fe Pereira &de Castro (1945) and with pictures of
rnales (CZA: Cátedra Zoología Univ.Nac. Axtell (1963). Females ofan unidentified species
Lomas deZamora). AIIof the rnites were attac:hed of Mectocheles (N == 3) show sorne similarity in
to the hairsofthe ventralthoraxand abdomen.The the dorsal and ventral shields with the species J'vt
sale record of predator mites on O. su/cator, was muscaedomesticae, butthey have asmall ventral
madebyEvans~y.Hyatt(1963)frorn ElSalado, Bue spur on the trochanter IV which resembles the
nosAires, Argentina. one isolated and descri spur in M. rnamifer.
bed the species Macrochefes austroamericanus
Evans & Hyatt from one scarab. The relationship Glyptholaspis confusa females (N == 4) fit the
between Argentine beetles with their symbionts, re-description of Filipponi & Pegazzano (1960)
such asmites, isstill poorlyknown. frorn the original material of Berlese (1918)
Six species of predator mites of the family aboutsamples collected in LaPlata, Buenos Aires.
Macrochelidae were identified. These included Glyptholaspisconfusa isacosmopolitan mite, pre
IV1acrochelesmarniferBerlese, Macrochelesrobus viously recorded to be phoretic on coprophilous
tulus Berlese, Macrocheles musceedomesticee beetles (Axtell, 1963; Filipponi & Pegazzano,
Scopoli, an unidentified species of Macrocheles, 1962; and Halliday, 1986). Halliday & Holm
Glyptholaspis confusa Foa, and Hoiosiespette (1987)demostrated high predatoryrates(in labora
bifoliatta One of Parasitidae, toryexperiments)on immaturestagesof H. irritans
Parasitus beta Oudemans & was also and Perotti (1999) recorded a positive 01
identified. Five unidentified mites were destro- response of this mite on the eggs~of the
Heemetobia irritens irritens (L.)
PEROTTI, A.etal.,Predadormites
H%staspella bifo/iatta females (N = 11) fit the Macroche!es robustu/usBerlese 1904,develop
re-descriptionofFilipponi &Pegazzano(1967),and mentand biology. Acerologle 8(4): 532-550.
Halliday's (1988) revision. The forrner recognized COSTA, M. 1969.The association between mesos
the predatory habitofthis species, while Hallidav tigmatic mites and coprid beetles. Acarofogia
(1988) recorded it as phoretic on Scarabaeidae. 11(3): 411-428.
Krantz (1967) rnentioned H. bifofiata for South EVANS, G. O. & K. H. HYATT. 1963. tv\itesof the ge
Arnerica. nustv\acrochelesLatr.(Mesostigmata)associated
with coprid beetles in the collections of the
Parasltusbeta deutonymphs (N :=7)w'ere the British Museurn (Nat. Hist.). Bul/. Brit. Mus.
50112 representative of the farnily Parasitidae. (Nat. Hist.) 9(9): 327-401
These rnatched with the description for the deu FILlPPONI, A. & F. PEGAZZA!'~O. 1960. Acari del ge
tonyrnphsbyHyatt(1980).Accordingtothis author, nere Glyptholaspis norn nov. pro Mecrocheles
this species is comrnonly phoretic on dung bee (Macroche/es) Ber!. 19'18 (Mesostigmata, Ma
tles, and predatoryon awide rangeofdungasso crochelidae). Redia45: 133-131.
ciated rnicroarthropods.. FIUPPONl A. & F. PEGAzzANo.1962.Acari Ma
l
crochelidi della collezione Berlese (Acarina,
In 1993, records of a new pest fly ínvader, Mesostigmata, Macrochelidae) I-Gruppo
hfaematobia irritans (L.) indicated that almost G/ypthofaspis. Riv. Parassit.23: 173-205.
the whole dairy and beef herds of Argentínean FILlPPONI, A. &F. PEGAZZANO. 1967. Contributa alla
pampaswere ínfested (Guglielmone eta/.,1997; conoscenza del genere J-I%staspe//a Berlese
Perotti & Bachmann, 1999). The finding of flv 1903 (Acari: Mesostigrnata: Macrochelidae).
predatorymiteson O. su/catorlooks promising in Redia50: 219-259.
the search toward new bio--agents for controlling GUGLlELMONE,,A.A., (J. S.ANZIANI,A.J. MANGOLD,
pestfly populationseither in Argentinaor in other R. E.GIORGI, M.M. VOLPOCNI & S. G. FLORES.
countries interested in its native beneficial fauna. 1997. Seasonal variation of Haematobia irri
Knowing relevant aspects of the relationship mi tans(Diptera: Muscidae) in a recently infested
tes/scarabsnotoniywill helpto improvethedung regian of Central Argentina. Bu/l. Entomo/.
beetle rnass rearing, butalso contributewith new Res.87: 55-59.
beneficial elements in the control offilth breeding HALFFTER, G &E.G. MATTHEWS. 1971.The natural
pest flies to be used simultaneously, through the historyofdung beetles: asupplementon asso
same bio-agents, the dung scarabs. ciated biota. Rev.Lat.Arn.Microbio/. (México)
The authors wish to thank Dr. Tirn lLysykwho 13: 147-·168.
revised the manuscript. HALUDAY, R.B.1986.Mitesofthegenus G/yptho
faspis Filipponi & Pegga.ssano (Acarina: Ma
crochelidae) in Australia. }. Aust. Entomol,
LITERATURECITED Soco25: 71-74.
~-IALUDAY, R. B. 1988. The genus Hoiostesoell«
AXTELL, R.C. 1963. Acarina ocurring in dornestic Berlese (Acarina: Macrochelidae) in Australia.
anirnal manure. Ann. Entomol. Soco Arner. }.Aust. Entomo/. Soco 27: 149-155.-
56(5): 628-23. HALLlDAY,R.B.& E. HOLM.1987.Mitesofthefamily
BERLESE,A. 1904.Acari Nuovi. Manipulus 1. Redia Macrochelidae as predators of two species of
1:235-252 dung-breeding pest flies. Entomophaga, 32(4):
BERLESE, A.1918. Centuria quarta di acari nuovi. 333-338.
Redia 13: 115-192. HYATT, K. H. 1980. Mitesofthe subfamily Parasiti
BRADY, N. C. 1984. The nature and properties of nae (Mesostigmata: Parasitdae) in the British Is
soils.Macrnillan, NewYork. les. Bull.Br. Mus.(Nat. Hist.).38(5): 237-377.
CABRERAWALSH, G., H. l\..CORDO,J.A. BRIANO, D. KRANTZ, G. W. 1967.A review ofthe genus Holos
E.GANDOLFO &G. A. LOGARZO. 1997. Labora taspellaBerlese, 1904(Acarina:Macrochelidae).
torv Culture of Beneficial Dung Scarabs. }. Aceroiogie9: 91-146.
Econ. Entomo/. 90(1): 124·-129. KRANTZ, G.W. 1983. Mites asbiological control
COSTA,M. 1966.Noteson Macrochelidaeassocia agents of Dung-Breeding flies, with special
ted with manureand coprid beetles in Israel. 1. reference to the Macrochelidae. /,1: Proc.
203
Rev.Soco Entomol. Argent.59(1-4)/ 2000
Conference on Research needs for develop PEROTTI, M. t\. & J. A. BACHMANN. 1999. First re
ment of Biological Control of Pestsby Mites, cord and Population ecology ofthe horn fly,
Berkeley,California,Apri11982. Univ.California Haematobia irritans (L.) (Díptera: Muscidae)
Special Pub!. 3304:91-98. on cattle from thesouth-east of BuenosAires
KRANTZ,G. W. &J. O. \NHITAKERJR. 1988.Mitesof province(Argentina). Res. Rev. Peresit.59(1-2):
the genus /vlacrocheles(Acari: lV\acrochelidae) 47-51.
associated with srnall rnarnrnals in North WALLACE, M. J\~. H. 1986. Some rnacrochelidae
America. Acarología, 29(.3):225-259. mites (Acari: Macrochelidae) associated with
PEREIRA, C. &MI.P. DECASTRO. 1945. Contribucao australian dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scara
paraoconhecirnentodaespécie tipodeiV1acro beaidae). Acarologia27(1): 4-15.
che/es Latr, (Acarina): M. muscaedomesticae VVALLER, P. 1992. Prospects for biological control
(Scopoli, 1772) ernend. Arq. Inst. Bio/. 14: of nematode parasites of rumiants. N. Zea/.
153-186. Vet.}.40: 1-3
PEROTTi, MI.A. 1999. Localización adistanciade
presas por G/yptho/aspis confusa (Acari: Ma
crochelidae). Rev. SOCo Entorno/. Argent. .58 Recibido:30-V-2000
(3-4):106-108 Aceptado: 17-VIII-2000
204