Mating and spermatophore morphology of the freshwater mite Brachypoda versicolor (Müller, 1776) (Acari: Hydrachnidia, Aturidae)

Authors

  • Ronald Olomski

Keywords:

Arrenurus, Aturus, copulation, pairing, phylogeny

Abstract

Morphology of the spermatophore of Brachypoda versicolor (Müller, 1776) has been described for the first time. Males combine two spermatophores into a double spermatophore. Additionally, Halik’s (1955) observations on mating behaviour of this species have been confirmed. In both characteristics, Brachypoda shows obvious congruence with Piona (Pionidae) whose mode of sperm transfer with the aid of a spermatophore cluster is regarded to be more derived (Bücking 2001). The taxonomical classification of Brachypoda as belonging to the family Aturidae (e.g. Viets 1987) cannot be maintained; a close relationship of this genus to the Pionidae is probable.

References

Böttger, K & F. Schaller (1961): Biologische und ethologische Beobachtungen an einheimischen Wassermilben. – Zoologischer Anziger 167: 46–50.

Bücking, J. (2001): Mating behaviour, spermatophore and functional anatomy of the male reproductive organs of Piona carnea (Koch, 1836) (Prostigmata, Hydrachnidia). – Acarologia 41: 372–352.

Cook, D. R. (1974): Water mite genera and subgenera. – Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute 21: 1–860.

Halik, L. (1955): O kopulách vodule Brachypoda versicolor (Müll.). – Biológia 10: 464–474.

Lundblad, O. (1929a): Einiges über die Kopulation bei Aturus scaber und Midea orbiculata. – Zeitschrift für Morphologie und Ökologie der Tiere 15: 474–480.

Lundblad, O. (1929b): Über den Begattungsvorgang bei einigen Arrenurus-Arten. – Zeitschrift für Morphologie und Ökologie der Tiere 15: 705–722.

Mitchell, R. (1957): The mating behavior of pionid water mites. – The American Midland Naturalist 58: 360–366.

Proctor, H. (1992): Mating and spermatophore morphology of water mites (Acari: Parasitengona). – Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 106: 341–381.

Smith, I. M. (1984): Larvae of water mites of some genera of Aturidae (Prostigmata: Hygrobatoidea) in North America with comments on phylogeny and classification of the family. – The Canadian Entomologist 116: 307–374.

Smith I. M. & D. R. Oliver (1986): Review of parasitic associations of larval water mites (Acari: Parasitengonae: Hydrachnidia) with insect hosts. – The Canadian Entomologist 118: 407–472.

Viets, K. O. (1987): Die Milben des Süßwassers (Hydrachnellae und Halacaridae [part.], Acari) 2. Katalog. – Sonderbände des Naturwissenschaftlichen Vereins Hamburg 8: 1–1012.

Witte, H. (1991): Indirect sperm transfer in prostigmatic mites from a phylogenetic viewpoint. – In: Schuster, R. & Murphy, P.W. (eds): The Acari: Reproduction, Development and Life-History Strategies. – Chapman & Hall, London: 137–176.

Witte, H. & D. Döring (1999): Canalized pathways of change and constraints in the evolution of reproductive modes of microarthropods. – Experimental and Applied Acarology 23: 181–216.

Witte, H. & R. Olomski (1991): Grundzüge des phylogenetischen Systems der Süßwassermilben (Acari, Parasitengonae, Hydrachnidia). – Verhandlungen der Deutschen Zoologischen Gesellschaft 84: 450.

Witte, H. & R. Olomski (1999): The evolutionary transformation of functional systems in the Parasitengonae. – In: Mitchell, R., D. J. Horn, G. R. Needham & W. C. Welbourn (eds): Acarolgy IX, Volume 2, Symposia. – The Ohio Biological Survey, Columbus: 125–137.

Downloads

Published

2012-08-01

How to Cite

Olomski, R. (2012). Mating and spermatophore morphology of the freshwater mite Brachypoda versicolor (Müller, 1776) (Acari: Hydrachnidia, Aturidae). SOIL ORGANISMS, 84(2), 423–430. Retrieved from https://soil-organisms.org/index.php/SO/article/view/273

Issue

Vol. 84 No. 2 (2012)

Section

ARTICLES

License

All articles from Senckenberg’s SOIL ORGANISMS Open Access scientific journal that are made available on the Senckenberg website (www.senckenberg.de) and also www.soil-organisms.org may be read, copied, distributed, and (in limited quantity) printed for non-commercial, private, scientific purposes.

In accordance with the German Science Foundation’s „Rules for the Safeguarding of Good Scientific Practice“, references to cited articles are to be complete and correct and furnished with a link to the website of the Senckenberg journal in question.

The Senckenberg Society for Nature Research (Senckenberg Gesellschaft für Naturforschung, SGN) is a member of the Leibniz Association (Leibniz-Gemeinschaft) and is therefore committed to the idea of Open Access as explained in the Berlin Declaration (Berlin Declaration on Open Access to Scientific Knowledge, Berliner Erklärung über den offenen Zugang zu wissenschaftlichem Wissen).

Open Access is understood to mean the charge-exempt public access to scientific results via the internet. The users should be able to read, copy, print, search within, and reference the full text without limitation and to use it in any conceivable lawful manner without financial, legal or technical hindrance.

This applies also to the SGN, which publishes various scientific series. Some scientific journals are made available to the public via Open Acess in addition to printed copies.