ACARI – MITES & TICKS ORDER ACARI (MITES & TICKS) • PHYLUM = ARTHROPODA • SUBPHYLUM = CHELICERATA (Horseshoe Crabs, Arachnida, and Sea Spiders) • CLASS = ARACHNIDA (Spiders, Mites, Harvestmen, scorpions etc.) MITES & TICKS - Acari Mite Synapomorphies Characteristics Mite synapomorphies • Small to very small animals (< 1 mm). • Coxae of pedipalps with rutella. • Predators, scavengers, herbivores, • Max. 3 pairs of lyriforme organs on parasites, and omnivores. sternum. • Approx. 50.000 described species. • Solid food particles can be consumed • Approx. 500.000-1.000.000 estimated (internal digestion)! species. • Pygidium absent (also Araneae) • Approx. 800 species in Denmark. • Spermatozoa without flagellum (also 2 of • Approx. 200 species of mites in 1 m Palpigrada & Solifugae) litter from a temperate forest. • Stalked spermatophore (also Pedipalpi) • To be found everywhere (also in the • Ovipositor (also Opiliones) oceans; down to 5 km depth). MORPHOLOGY - MITES MORPHOLOGY - MITES Pedipalps MiteChelicerae morphology 1 Hallers organ Mite morphology Hypostome Gnathosoma Stigma Genital aperture Anus Classification Mite-morphology Gnathosome Classification2. suborders - suborders Gnathosome • ANACTINOTRICHIDA (Parasitiformes) (approx. 10.000 species) Birefringent setae absent (no optically active actinochetin in setae) ”Haller’s organ” Trichobothria absent • ACTINOTRICHIDA (Acariformes) (approx. 38.000 species) Birefringent setae present Claws on pedipalps absent Legs regenerate within body Classification Infraorder: Opilioacarida – Classification infraorder ”Harvetsmen-Mites”Opilioacarida SUBORD. ANACTINOTRICHIDA • One family, 20 species. (PARASITIFORMES) • Large mites (>1 mm) that Infraord. Opilioacarida (Notostigmata) looks like Harvestmen. Infraord. Holothyrida (Tetrastigmata) • Segmented abdomen Infraord. Gamasida (Mesostigmata) retained. Infraord. Ixodida (Metastigmata) • 4 pairs of dorsal spiracles on abdomen. SUBORD. ACTINOTRICHIDA • Warm temperate and (ACARIFORMES) tropical areas (for Infraord. Trombidiiformes (Prostigmata) instance Middle East area) Infraord. Oribatei (Cryptostigmata) Infraord. Astigmata (Acaridida) Infraorder: Gamasida – Infraorder: Holothyrida – ”Predator Mites/Rovmider” ”Ocean Island Mites” Holothyrida • 77 families,Gamasida-chicken 5.000 species. mite • Small to large mites (<2 mm). • 3 families. • Free living predators, commensals • Large mites (>2-5 mm) and parasites. Look like Predator •Spiracles close to the legs. Mites (Gamasida). • Some species are used for biological • Lives on oceanic control of spider mites. islands in the southern hemisphere. Chicken Mite Infraorder: Gamasida – ”Predator Mites” Infraorder: Gamasida – ”Predator Mites” Spider m ite Tropical predator mites Gamasida-biologicalBiological control! control Gamasidae-tropical Predator m ite Infraorder: Gamasida – ”Predator Mites” Infraorder: Ixodida – ”Blodmider/Flåter” Varroa Mite – Family – Varroidae • 3 families, ca. 800 species • a parasiteGamasidae-Varroa on honey Bees! Ixodida-Blodmider • Include largest known mites. • All species are hematophagous ectoparasites on vertebrates and many species transmit diseases to humans and domestic animals. • Mouth parts with charac- teristic hypostom • The European Castor Bean Tick (Skovflåten) is common in Denmark Ixodes ricinus – ”European Castor Bean Tick/Skovflåt” ”Video” Skovflåt Video video ... Ixodes ricinus – ”European Castor Bean Tick/Skovflåt” ”Lyme disease – Borreliose” Borreliose Berlingske-farlige flåter Borrelia burgdorferi ”Spirochete bacteria” Infraorder: Trombidiiformes (Prostigmata) Infraorder: Trombidiiformes ”Spider mites, Gall mites etc. ” ”Hair follicle mites, Velvet mites m.m.” Trombidiiformes-spindemider Trombidiiformes-hårsækmider • 136 families, approx. 14.000 species Hair follicle mites - Velvet mites – • Predators, plant feeders, fungivores, parasites – of Hårsækmider – Fløjlsmider – Family medical importance and many agricultural pest Family Demodicidae Trombidiidae species. • Check each other! • Red velvet mite is very common • Gnathosome with ”peritre mes” close to spiracles. on the forest floor. Predators. • Spiracles anterior and close to gnathosome Spider mites (spindemider) – Family Tetranychidae w. stilletto-shaped chelicerae and spinning glands on the tip of labrum (gnathosom), serious pest species. Infraorder: Tromidiiformes Infraorder: Trombidiiformes ”Chiggers” larvae – ”Gall mites” Familien TrombiculidaeTrombidiiformes-chiggers Trombidiiformes-galmider • In Denmark only known to be a Gall mites – problem in Thisted (Augustmiden - Family Eriophyidae Augustknopper). • Tiny mites w. only 2 pair of legs • The cause of galls on Maple, Alder, Apple Lime etc. • Some specie s are pe sts. Infraorder: Trombidiiformes Infraorder: Trombidiiformes ”Peacock mites” Trombidiiformes-tracheemider Trombidiiformes-Peacock mites Honeybee tracheal mite – Family Tarsonemidae These ”decorated” peacock mites also belong to the • Tiny small mites that lives in the infraorder. Here represented by the genus Tuckerella from tracheae of bees. the family Tuckerellidae. • Pest on citrus. Infraorder: Oribatei – ”Soil mites Infraorder: Oribatei – ”Soil mites” Mosmider/Pansermider” morphological diversity • 150 families,Oribatei-Pansermider 7.000 species, strongly sclerotized Oribatei - variation (armored), and often sculptured. • Spiracles hidden at the basis of the legs. • Lives in soil and play a major role in decomposition (of dead plant material) • Can act as intermediate hosts for tapeworms. Marie Hammer 1907-2002 Infraorder: Astigmata • 70 families, approx. 5.000 species. Marie Hammer • Many important species,Astigmata several important pest species • Oribatid mites and parasites. • World fauna = 150 families 1000 genera & 7000 species • No spiracles (therefore named Astigmata) • Characteristic deutonymph – called ”Hypopus” w. reduced gnathosoma and ”suckers” used to attach • Field work in USA, Canada, Greenland/Denmark, Iceland, to passing objects such as insects (Phoresi). ”Hypopus” Mexico, Argentina, Bolivia, Peru, Chile, Ecuador, Panama, Hawaii, Fiji, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Pakistan, Indonesia, Tonga, West Samoa, Tahiti, Java, & Bali. • Described 1000 new species • Described 150 new genera Infraorder: Astigmata Infraorden: Astigmata • This also include mites in our homes .... • Scabies/”fnat” og ”skab”, caused by the Astigmata-husmider itch mite/fnatmideAstigmata-fnatmider (Sarcoptes scabei). 0.2-0.4 mm House dust mites/ Feeds on dead Sengemider – epidermis cells Dermatophagoides and other organic debris Storage mites House itch mite/ Husmider – Glycyphagus Infraorden: Astigmata Infraorder: Astigmata • Other strangeAstigmata-fur adaptations …. mites • OtherAstigmata-feather strange adaptations ... mites Koala Fur mite – Feather mites/Fjermider – Family Atopomelidae Family Pterolichoidae Precopulatory mate guarding! ACARI - PHYLOGENY ACARI - PHYLOGENY suborder suborder Order suborderOrder ACARI-phylogeny1 ParasitiformesACARI-phylogeny2Acariformes Prostigmata Mesostigmata Haller’s organ Haller’s organ Trichobothria absent Trichobothria absent Birefringent setae Birefringent setae Claw on pedipalp absent Claw on pedipalp absent Legs regenerate inside body Legs regenerate inside body Rutella Rutella Max 3 pairs of lyriform org. on sternum Max 3 pairs of lyriform org. on sternum Internal digestion Reference: O’Connor (1984) og Lindquist (1984) Internal digestion Reference: O’Connor (1984) og Lindquist (1984).