Acarophenacidae
Family of mites
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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 Temporal range: | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Trombidiformes |
| Family: | Acarophenacidae Cross, 1965 |
| Genera | |
| |
Morphology
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.
Biological control
Some Acarophenacidae have been suggested as biological control agents as they reduce populations of their hosts. These include Acarophenax mahunkai for the lesser mealworm (Alphitobius diaperinus),[3] and Acarophenax lacunatus for red flour beetle (Tribolium castaneum) and lined flat bark beetle (Cryptolestes ferrugineus).[4]
