Bionomics of the myrmecophilous oribatid mite Protoribates myrmecophilus (Acari: Oribatida) in the Oriental tropics

Behavioural interactions between the myrmecophilous oribatid mite Protoribates myrmecophilus and the host ant Myrmecina spp. are described and compared to those of Aribates javensis which shows a very specialized myrmecophily. The behaviour of P. myrmecophilous is similar to free-living oribatids: t...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of natural history 2003-10, Vol.37 (19), p.2383-2391
Main Authors: Ito, Fuminori, Aoki, Jun-Ichi
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
ant guest
Ants
Aribates javensis
Formicidae
Myrmecina
myrmecophily
oribatid mite
Oribatida
Protoribates myrmecophilus
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Description
Summary:Behavioural interactions between the myrmecophilous oribatid mite Protoribates myrmecophilus and the host ant Myrmecina spp. are described and compared to those of Aribates javensis which shows a very specialized myrmecophily. The behaviour of P. myrmecophilous is similar to free-living oribatids: they can walk by themselves and can survive without ant attendance. In the ant nests, the mites are sometimes cared for by ants and they are brought by ants into a new nest site. Protoribates myrmecophilus is eaten by non-host species of Myrmecina. Protoribates myrmecophilus is a less specialized myrmecophilous oribatid species.
ISSN:0022-2933
1464-5262
DOI:10.1080/00222930210144361