Acarophenacidae
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Acarophenacidae Temporal range: | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Trombidiformes |
| Family: | Acarophenacidae Cross, 1965 |
| Genera | |
| |
Acarophenacidae is a family of mites in the order Trombidiformes that are egg parasitoids and ectoparasites of beetles or thrips.[1] It contains eight genera and around 40 species.[2]
Acarophenacidae are <200 μm in length and elongate to oval in shape. Distinguishing features are the gnathosoma (mouthparts) partially/completely fused into the propodosoma, indistinct palps and the first leg pair being thickest.[1]
Life cycle
Acarophenacidae have a reduced life cycle, in which the larvae complete their development within their mother; the entire life cycle can take only 4–5 days.[1]
- A mated female rides on an adult insect to disperse to new areas. In genus Adactylidium, she also feeds on the insect's body fluids.
- When the insect begins laying eggs, the female drops off to feed on the eggs. Her abdomen swells up greatly (physogastrism).
- Offspring develop within the mother. The sex ratio is female-skewed; in Acarophenax mahunkai for example, an individual female produces 27.2 daughters but only 1.7 sons on average.[3]
- Male offspring develop slightly more quickly than their sisters and inseminate them while still inside the mother's body.
- Females leave the mother's body and seek hosts, beginning the cycle again.
