• Source: Ascidae

Ascidae is a family of mites in the order Mesostigmata.




Description


Ascidae are mites characterised by: seta st4 usually on unsclerotised cuticle, peritrematic shield broadly connected to exopodal shield beside coxa IV, fixed cheliceral digit with setiform pilus dentilis and movable cheliceral digit usually with two teeth, sternal shield with three pairs of lyrifissures and the third pair usually on the shield's posterior margin, genital shield truncate to convex posteriorly (tapering in some Antennoseius), with an anal shield bearing only circumanal setae (rare) or a ventrianal shield bearing additionally up to seven pairs of setae, and spermathecal apparatus laelapid-type.
This family is morphologically similar to Blattisociidae and Melicharidae, and these families were formerly included within Ascidae.




Life cycle


The life cycle of Ascidae consists of the stages egg, larva, protonymph, deutonymph and adult. Each stage has a duration measurable in days. The total lifespan is similarly short, being on average 27 days in Arctoseius semiscissus and 19 days in Proctolaelaps deleoni.




Ecology


Ascidae include epedaphic species that hunt on the soil surface in the litter layer. These prey on other small arthropods, particularly springtails (Collembola). Nematophagy (consumption of nematodes) is also prevalent in soil-dwelling Ascidae.
Other habitats from which Ascidae have been collected include under bark of dead trees, on small mammals, and in nests of birds and mammals.
Though mostly terrestrial, some ascids live on wet plants and detritus and on the water surface of marginal freshwater habitats. These walk about on the surface film and feed on the floating egg masses of nematocerous flies such as mosquitoes.
Ascidae can disperse to new environments via phoresis: riding on larger arthropods. Species of Arctoseius are phoretic on adults of mushroom sciarid fly, Lycoriella auripila (whose eggs and larvae they consume), while aquatic ascids are phoretic on adult crane flies.




Zoogeography


Ascidae occur in many countries and regions. The highest numbers of species, endemic species and genera occur in the Palearctic. On the other hand, the most speciose genus, Asca, has the most species in the Neotropical and Oriental regions. Ascidae is believed to have originated from the Palearctic.




Genera


Aceoseius Sellnick, 1941
Adhaerenseius G. C. Loots & P. D. Theron, 1992
Africoseius Krantz, 1962
Anephiasca Athias-Henriot, 1969
Antennoseius Berlese, 1916
Anystipalpus Berlese, 1911
Arctopsis Athias-Henriot, 1973
Arctoseius Thor, 1930
Arrhenoseius Walter & Lindquist, 2001
Asca von Heyden, 1826
Blattisocius Keegan, 1944
Cheiroseiulus G. O. Evans & A. S. Baker, 1991
Cheiroseius Berlese, 1916
Diseius Lindquist & Evans, 1965
Ectoantennoseius Walter, 1998
Gamasellodes Athias-Henriot, 1961
Hoploseius Berlese, 1914
Iphidozercon Berlese, 1903
Laelaptoseius Womersley, 1960
Lasioseius Berlese, 1916
Leioseius Berlese, 1916
Melichares Hering, 1838
Mycolaelaps Lindquist, 1995
Neojordensia Evans, 1957
Orolaelaps de Leon, 1963
Orthadenella Athias-Henriot, 1973
Paraproctolaelaps Bregetova, 1977
Platyseius Berlese, 1916
Plesiosejus Evans, 1960
Proctogastrolaelaps McGraw & Farrier, 1969
Proctolaelaps Berlese, 1923
Protogamasellus Karg, 1962
Rettenmeyerius Elzinga, 1998
Rhinoseius Baker & Yunker, 1964
Tropicoseius Baker & Yunker, 1964
Xanthippe Naskrecki & Colwell, 1995
Xenoseius Lindquist & Evans, 1965
Zerconopsis Hull, 1918
Zercoseius Berlese, 1916




References

Kata Kunci Pencarian:

• Ascidae
• Xanthippe
• Antennoseius rugosus
• Zercoseius
• Xanthippe (mite)
• Blattisociidae
• Crane fly
• Antennoseius longisetus
• Arctoseius tschernovi
• Antennoseius calathi