Histiostomatidae

Sarraceniopus gibsoni

The Histiostomatidae mites are from the group of Astigmatina (formerly Astigmata ) and form a monophyletic group here.

Description

The animals are very small and can reach a length of about 0.6-0.8 mm. The Histiostomatiden characterized by unusually designed mouthparts. Here, the chelicerae are originally more or less stilettförmig, also a comb or a brush shape in more derived taxa. The other mites like scissors against the Digitus Digitus mobilis moving fixus is stunted to immovable residues. The pedipalps are occupied unusually formed powerful in relation to the chelicerae and often at its front end with fringe- like structures ( Palparmembran ). These morphological features may be an adaptation to feeding on bacteria.

Important apomorphies of Histiostomatidae affect the entire unusual structure of the mouthparts ( = " gnathosoma "). These include the modified chelicerae, the pedipalps relatively thickened (which are also usually curved striking outward) and the Palparmembran, which is formed by the Coxalenditen at the distal gnathosoma. In addition, the presence of which is significantly forwardly leg pairs III and IV of a significant deutonymph apomorphy these mites group. Another particularity and possible apomorphy in adult animals and, occasionally, the nymphs (apart from the deutonymph ) are subdivided into symmetric fields Kutikulaverdickungen (clearly identifiable " signs " ) on the top of the front Propodosomas. It is in these Propodosoma signs seem to muscle origin points.

Way of life

The mites are bacterial feeders. You are phoretisch usually and are often transported by insects from one habitat to the next. The typical habitats ( animal manure, compost, animal carcasses ) are rapidly perishable and make this spread way necessary. Representatives of Histiostomatidae are commonly found in Insektenbauten. They are often linked to parental care be operated insects, such as earwigs, gravedigger ( Nicrophorus ), beetles of the genus Heterocerus, bark beetles ( Scolytidae ), ants and bees. Special adaptations in the form of variations of different physical features show living in wood, bark or in various aqueous habitats types of Histiostomatidae. A particularly unusual life inhabiting place as the species that live in the hoses and pitchers of carnivorous plants, Nepenthes and Sarracenia namely. Sarraceniopus gibsoni inhabited for example, as far as known, only the chalices of Sarracenia purpurea.

The mites can usually cultivate ourselves well in the laboratory and require a development time of about 2.5 weeks.

System

The Histiostomatidae are a very diverse group of astigmater mites, in so far, however, only relatively few species have been described. About 300 species from 56 genera are known to date. The family is evolutionarily at the base of Astigmatina that are now regarded as a branch of oribatid mites.