ISSN 0373-5680 Rev. SoCo Entomol. Argent. 59 (1-4): 201-"204, 2000

NOTA CIENTÍFICA

------,-_.".." ...._------Predator of dung-breeding flies (: Macrochelidae, ) phoretics on Ontherus sulcator (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae)

PEROTTI, Alejandra", Pedro G. MARIATEGUI** y Claudio SPEICYS~·* "Departamento de Biología, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Funes 3250. 7600 Mar del Plata; Argentina. Present address. Lethbridge Research Station, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canadá, P.O.Box 3000, TIJ 4Bl, AB-Canadá; e-mail: [email protected] ** Cátedra de Zoología Agraria. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Universidad Nacional de Lomas de Zamora. Ruta prov. 4,km 2, 1834, LOIms de Zamora, .Argentina; e-mail: [email protected]

• ABSTRACT" Fly predator mites were observed as phoretics of the dung , Ontherus sulcator (F.). Females ofMacrochelesmamifer Berlese,Macrocheles robustulus Berlese,Macrocheles muscadomesticae Scopol i, Macrocheles sp. unidentified, Glyptholaspis confusa Foa y Holostaspella bifoliatta Tragardh. all of them belonged to the family Macrochelidae, and deutonymphs of Parasitusbeta Oudemans & Voigts, family Parasitidae,were extracted 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 Scopol i, Macrocheles sp. sin identificar, Glyptholaspis confusa Foa y Holostas pella bifoliatta Trágardh, todas ellas de la familia Macrochelidae, y deutoninfas de beta Oudemans & voigts.

PALABRA~S CLAVE" Ácaros depredadores. Ácaros foréticos. Excremento bovino. Scarabaeidae. Ontherus sulcator.

Adult rnites of the farnilies Macrochelidae and eles of rnanure (Halffter & Mathews. 1971). As a re­ Parasitidae associated with dung pats, are rnostly sult of their activity, dung degradation is accelerated predators of several fly species (Krantz, 1983). (Waller, 1992). Many authors recognized Argenti­ Dung pats are ephemeral, the eggs and smalllarvae nean with active participation in dung recy­ of most fly species are present for only a few days cling (potential elements for biological fly control). after deposition. Hence, predatorial rnites count In fact, in the past, the South American Biological with a short 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 collect dung beetles native to the region for intro­ associated to the scarabs and a clase svrnbiotic duction in the United States. Ontherus su/cator (F.) association is suspected (Krantz, 1983). is one of the rnost productive Argentinean species Larvae of paracoprid scarabs feed on the dung and was used for mass rearing in laboratory con­ brood balls, sucking the 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 Macrocheles mamifer females (N == 5) fit the ori­ Macrochelidae sought shelter in the brood balls ginal description and coincided with the typical 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 sampl ing Plata(Argentina) and is considered a cosmopolitan in pastures, vve observed scarabs ernerging frorn species with intraspecific variations (Krantz & Whi­ the breeding tunnels with rnany mires attached taker, 1988). This species has been reponed to be to the ventral parts of the scarabs. Mites, collern­ phoretic on (Wallace, 1986). Halliday boles and nernatodes, are the most cornmon mi-o &l--folm (1987) recorded high predatory rates of cro-inhabitants of the manure (Brady, 1984). this on larvae of the buffalo fly Heemetobi« Brood balls of paracoprids can provide food and itritnns exigua De Meijere. protection for a several variety of organ isrns. Vvith exception of predators, rernaining micro-in.. Mecrocbeles robustulus was first found 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 f rst instar (N =: 4) fit vvith the original description (Ber/ese, larvae of Ilies, while rnite larvae and pro-o 1904) and with the pictures ofAxtell (1963). Costa tonyrnphs mostly feed on the micro-invertebra­ (1966) reported its phoretic habits on dung beetles 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 of two dung­ younger predator mites rnay be responsible for breeding pest flies (l\llusca vetustissime vvalker the regu latian 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 ticae femalcs 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 specimens of the dung beetle, Ontherus su/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 of an unidentified species Lomas de Zamora). AII of the rnites were attac:hed of Mectocheles (N == 3) show sorne similarity in to the hairs of the ventral thorax and abdomen. The the dorsal and ventral shields with the species J'vt sale record of predator mites on O. su/cator, was muscaedomesticae, but they have a small ventral made by Evans ~y.Hyatt (1963) frorn El Salado, Bue­ spur on the trochanter IV which resembles the nos Aires, 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 as mites, is still poorly known. frorn the original material of Berlese (1918) Six species of predator mites of the family about samples collected in La Plata, Buenos Aires. Macrochelidae were identified. These included Glyptholaspis confusa is a cosmopolitan mite, pre­ IV1acrochelesmarnifer Berlese, Macrocheles robus­ 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 predatory rates (in labora­ bifoliatta One of Parasitidae, tory experiments) on immature stages of 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. et al., Predador mites

H%staspella bifo/iatta females (N = 11) fit the Macroche!es robustu/us Berlese 1904, develop­ re-description of Filipponi & Pegazzano (1967), and ment and biology. Acerologle 8(4): 532-550. Halliday's (1988) revision. The forrner recognized COSTA, M. 1969. The association between mesos­ the predatory habit of this 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\ites of the ge­ Arnerica. nus tv\acrocheles Latr. (Mesostigmata) associated with coprid beetles in the collections of the Parasltus beta deutonymphs (N := 7) w'ere the British Museurn (Nat. H ist.). 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. del ge­ tonyrnphs by Hyatt (1980). According to this author, nere Glyptholaspis norn nov. pro Mecrocheles this species is comrnonly phoretic on dung bee­ (Macroche/es) Ber!. 19'18 (Mesostigmata, Ma­ tles, and predatory on a wide range of dung asso­ crochel idae). Redia 45: 133-131 . ciated rnicroarthropods .. FIUPPONl l A. & F. PEGAzzANo.1962.Acari Ma­ crochelidi della collezione Berlese (Acarina, In 1993, records of a new pest fly ínvader, Mesostigmata, Macrochel idae) I-G ru ppo 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 pampas were ínfested (Guglielmone et a/., 1997; conoscenza del genere J-I%staspe//a Berlese Perotti & Bachmann, 1999). The finding of flv­ 1903 (Acari: Mesostigrnata: Macrochelidae). predatory mites on O. su/cator looks promising in Redia 50: 219-259. the search toward new bio--agents for controlling GUGLlELMONE, ,A. A., (J. S. ANZIANI,A. J. MANGOLD, pest fly populations either in Argentina or 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/scarabs not oniy will help to improve the dung regian of Central Argentina. Bu/l. Entomo/. beetle rnass rearing, but also contribute with new Res. 87: 55-59. beneficial elements in the control of filth breeding HALFFTER, G & E. G. MATTHEWS. 1971 . The natural pest flies to be used simultaneously, through the history of dung beetles: a supplement on asso­ same bio-agents, the dung scarabs. ciated biota. Rev. Lat.Arn. Microbio/. (México) The authors wish to thank Dr. Tirn lLysyk who 13: 147-·168. revised the manuscript. HALUDAY, R. B. 1986. Mites of the genus G/yptho­ faspis Filipponi & Pegga.ssano (Acarina: Ma­ crochelidae) in Australia. }. Aust. Entomol, LITERATURE CITED Soco 25: 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. Mites of the family 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. Mites of the subfamily Parasiti­ BRADY, N. C. 1984. The nature and properties of nae (Mesostigmata: Parasitdae) in the British Is­ soils. Macrnillan, New York. les. Bull. Br. Mus. (Nat. Hist.). 38(5): 237-377. CABRERA WALSH, G., H. l\.. CORDO, J. A. BRIANO, D. KRANTZ, G. W. 1967. A review of the genus Holos­ E. GANDOLFO & G. A. LOGARZO. 1997. Labora­ taspella Berlese, 1904 (Acarina: Macrochelidae). torv Culture of Beneficial Dung Scarabs. }. Aceroiogie 9: 91-146. Econ. Entomo/. 90(1): 124·-129. KRANTZ, G.W. 1983. Mites as biological control COSTA, M. 1966. Notes on Macrochelidae associa­ agents of Dung-Breeding flies, with special ted with manure and coprid beetles in Israel. 1. reference to the Macrochelidae. /,1: Proc.

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Conference on Research needs for develop­ PEROTTI, M. t\. & J. A. BACHMANN. 1999. First re­ ment of Biological Control of Pests by Mites, cord and Popu lation ecology of the horn fly, Berkeley, California, Apri11982. Univ. California Haematobia irritans (L.) (Díptera: Muscidae) Special Pub!. 3304: 91-98. on cattle from the south-east of Buenos Aires KRANTZ, G. W. & J. O. \NHITAKER JR. 1988. Mites of province (Argentina). Res. Rev. Peresit. 59(1-2): the genus /vlacrocheles (Acari: lV\acrochel idae) 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. DE CASTRO. 1945. Contribucao australian dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scara­ para o conhecirnento da espécie tipo de iV1acro­ beaidae). Acarologia 27(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 a distancia de presas por G/yptho/aspis confusa (Acari: Ma­ crochel idae). Rev. SOCo Entorno/. Argent. .58 Recibido: 30-V-2000 (3-4):106-108 Aceptado: 17-VIII-2000

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