On predation in Epicriidae (Gamasida, Anactinotrichida) and fine- structural details of their forelegs
Keywords:
adhesive setae, dermal glands, mites, sensory setae, video recordingAbstract
The present study reveals, based on video-recording, that Epicriidae are predators using their long forelegs provided with a number of long clubbed setae for the capture of small arthropods. The mite walks slowly with raised and probing forelegs. Upon contact with a small isotomid springtail, the forelegs rapidly touch the prey with the tips of the elongated, clubbed setae. The prey evidently adheres to these setae and is drawn back to the mouthparts. The epicriid feeds for a considerable time on its prey whereby the mite can move around until it finds a shelter. The clubs represent spinose setal ends which are loaded with a granular secretion. The origin of the secretion could not yet be clarified definitely. Since the setae contain a lumen it might be that the secretion reaches the club through the seta. The secretion which covers the surface of the mite as a cerotegument is fine structurally distinctly different and is most likely produced by typical anactinotrichid dermal glands, which also occur in the forelegs. Some details of the fine structure of legs I are demonstrated. Since these clubbed setae occur in all Epicriidae it seems likely that all are predators feeding on small, weakly sclerotised arthropods.
Downloads
References
Alberti, G. (1973): Ernährungsbiologie und Spinnvermögen der Schnabelmilben (Bdellidae, Trombidiformes). – Zeitschrift für Morphologie der Tiere 76: 285–338.
Alberti, G. (1980): Zur Feinstruktur der Spermien und Spermiocytogenese der Milben (Acari). I. Anactinotrichida. – Zoologische Jahrbücher. Abteilung für Anatomie und Ontogenie der Tiere 104: 77–138.
Alberti, G. (2006): On some fundamental characteristics in acarine morphology. – Atti della Accademia Nazionale Italiana di Entomologia. R. A. LIII – 2005: 315–360.
Alberti, G. & L. B. Coons (1999): Acari - Mites. – In: Harrison, F. W. (ed.): Microscopic Anatomy of Invertebrates. Vol. 8c. Wiley-Liss, New York: 515–1265.
Alberti, G. & R. Ehrnsberger (1977): Rasterelektronenmikroskopische Untersuchungen zum Spinnvermögen der Bdelliden und Cunaxiden (Acari, Prostigmata). – Acarologia 19: 55–61.
Alberti, G. & G. Nuzzaci (1996): SEM and TEM Techniques. – In: Lindquist, E. E., J. Bruin & M. W. Sabelis (eds): Eriophyoid Mites. Their Biology, Natural Enemies and Control. – World Crop Pests. Vol. 6. Elsevier Science BV, Amsterdam: 399–410.
Alberti, G. & V. Storch (1973): Zur Feinstruktur der ‘Munddrüsen’ von Schnabelmilben (Bdellidae, Trombidiformes). – Zeitschrift für wissenschaftliche Zoologie 186: 149–160.
Alberti, G. & V. Storch (1974): Über Bau und Funktion der Prosomadrüsen von Spinnmilben (Tetranychidae, Trombidiformes). – Zeitschrift für Morphologie der Tiere 79: 133–153.
Alberti, G., Th. Kaiser & A. K. Klauer (1996): New ultrastructural observations on coxal glands (nephridia) of Acari. – In: Mitchell, R., D. J. Horn, G. R. Needham, W. C. Welbourn (eds): Acarology IX, Proceedings. – Columbus, The Ohio Biology Survey, Columbus: 309–318.
Błaszak, C. & G. Alberti G. (1989): Eine neue Epicrius- Art aus Österreich (Acari – Gamasida: Epicriidae) mit einem Schlüssel zur Bestimmung europäischer Arten. – Verhandlungen der Zoologisch–Botanischen Gesellschaft in Österreich 126: 67–75.
Coons, L. B. & G. Alberti (1999): Acari - Ticks. – In: Harrison, F. W. (ed.): Microscopic Anatomy of Invertebrates. Vol. 8b. – Wiley-Liss, New York: 267–514.
Dunger, W. (1983): Tiere im Boden. – Die Neue Brehm-Bücherei. 3rd ed. – A. Ziemsen Verlag, Wittenberg Lutherstadt: 280 pp.
Dunger, W. (2003): 2. Ordnung Collembola, Springschwänze. – In: Dathe, H. H. (ed.): Insecta. Lehrbuch der Speziellen Zoologie – begr. A. Kaestner. 2nd ed., vol. 1: Wirbellose Tiere, 5th part, Spektrum Akademischer Verlag, Heidelberg – Berlin: 71–86.
Evans, G. O. (1955): A revision of the family Epicriidae (Acarina – Mesostigmata). – Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History) (Zoology) 3: 171–200.
Evans, G. O. & W. M. Till (1979): Mesostigmatic mites of Britain and Ireland (Chelicerata: Acari: Parasitiformes). An introduction to their external morphology and classification. – Transactions of the Zoological Society of London 35: 139–270.
Karg, W. (1993): Acari (Acarina), Milben – Parasitiformes (Anactinochaeta) Cohors Gamasina Leach – Raubmilben. 2nd ed. – Die Tierwelt Deutschlands. 59. – G. Fischer Verlag, Jena: 523 pp.
Karg, W. (2006): The systematics of Parasitiformes, especially of Gamasina Leach (Acarina), with new species from Ecuador. Mitteilungen aus dem Museum für Naturkunde in Berlin. – Zoologische Reihe 82: 140–169.
Krantz, G. W. (2009): Form and Function. – In: Krantz, G. W & Walter, D. E. (eds): A Manual of Acarology. 3rd ed. – Texas Tech University Press, Lubbock: 5–53.
Krantz, G. W. & D. E. Walter (eds): (2009): A Manual of Acarology. 3rd ed. – Texas Tech University Press, Lubbock: 807 pp.
Lindquist, E. E., G. W. Krantz & D. E. Walter (2009a): Mesostigmata. – In: Krantz, G. W. & W. D. Walter (eds): A Manual of Acarology. 3rd ed. – Texas Tech University Press, Lubbock: 124–232.
Lindquist, E. E., G. W. Krantz & D. E. Walter (2009b): Classification. – In: Krantz, G. W. & D. E. Walter (eds): A Manual of Acarology. 3rd ed. – Texas Tech University Press, Lubbock: 97–103.
Moraza, M. L. (2005): Revised diagnosis of Epicrius Canestrini and Fanzago, 1877 and description of four new species (Acari: Mesostigmata: Epicriidae). – International Journal of Acarology 31: 341– 354.
Moraza, M. L. (2005) [2006]: Characterization of Berlesiana Turk, 1943 and description of Berlesiana beunzana sp.n. from Spain (Acari, Mesostigmata, Epicriidae). – Acarologia 46: 181–187.
Moraza, M. L. & E. E. Lindquist (1999): Coprozerconidae, a new family of zerconoid mites from North America (Acari: Mesostigmata: Zerconoidea). – Acarologia 39: 291–313.
Reynolds, E. S. (1963): The use of lead citrate at high pH as electron opaque stain in electron microscopy. – Journal of Cell Biology 17: 208 –212.
Richardson, K. C., L. J. Jarrett & E. H. Finke (1960): Embedding in epoxy resins for ultrathin sectioning in electron microscopy. – Stain Technology 35: 313–323.
Spurr, A. R. (1969): A low-viscosity epoxy resin embedding medium for electron microscopy. – Journal of Ultrastructure Research 26: 31–43.
Wachmann, E. (1970): Der Feinbau der sog. Kugelhaare der Fadenkanker (Opiliones, Nemastomatidae). Zeitschrift für Zellforschung 103: 518–525.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Soil Organisms is committed to fair open access publishing. All articles are available online without publication fees. Articles published from Vol. 96 No. 3 (2024) onwards are licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) license. Articles published from Vol. 80 No. 1 through Vol. 96 No. 2 are available under the previous terms, allowing non-commercial, private, and scientific use.
