The Laelapidae are a
family
Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...
of
mite
Mites are small arachnids (eight-legged arthropods). Mites span two large orders of arachnids, the Acariformes and the Parasitiformes, which were historically grouped together in the subclass Acari, but genetic analysis does not show clear evid ...
s in the order
Mesostigmata.
The family is also referred to in the literature as Laelaptidae, which may be the correct spelling.
Description
Laelapidae have a shield covering all or most of the dorsal surface (holodorsal shield). Ventrally, there is a sternal shield with 3 pairs of
setae
In biology, setae (singular seta ; from the Latin word for "bristle") are any of a number of different bristle- or hair-like structures on living organisms.
Animal setae
Protostomes
Annelid setae are stiff bristles present on the body. Th ...
, a tongue- or flask-shaped genital shield (greatly expanded in ''Ololaelaps'') with usually at least 1 pair of setae, and a small anal shield with 3 circumanal setae. The peritremes are typically long and the peritrematal shields often narrow.
Ecology
Laelapidae is the most ecologically diverse group of Mesostigmata.
As of 2012, there were ten laelapid genera known to be free-living
predators
Predation is a biological interaction where one organism, the predator, kills and eats another organism, its prey. It is one of a family of common feeding behaviours that includes parasitism and micropredation (which usually do not kill the ...
in soil, thirty-five that are
ectoparasites on mammals (e.g.
rodents
Rodents (from Latin , 'to gnaw') are mammals of the order Rodentia (), which are characterized by a single pair of continuously growing incisors in each of the upper and lower jaws. About 40% of all mammal species are rodents. They are nat ...
) and forty-three have species associated with arthropods.
Laelapidae are the only family in superfamily
Dermanyssoidea
Dermanyssoidea is a superfamily of mites, including most of the mites which parasitise vertebrates.
Families
Dermanyssoidea contains 21 families:
* Dasyponyssidae
*Dermanyssidae
* Entonyssidae
* Haemogamasidae
*Halarachnidae
* Hirstionyssid ...
to include free-living predators.
Among the arthropod-associated laelapids are taxa associated with bees. ''Raymentia'' are associated with ''
Lasioglossum
The sweat bee genus ''Lasioglossum'' is the largest of all bee genera, containing over 1700 species in numerous subgenera worldwide.Gibbs, J., et al. (2012)Phylogeny of halictine bees supports a shared origin of eusociality for ''Halictus'' an ...
'' sweat bees and may be pollen-feeders, ''Neohypoaspis'' are predators on
astigmatid mites in
stingless bee nests, ''Pneumolaelaps'' feed on pollen and nectar in
bumblebee
A bumblebee (or bumble bee, bumble-bee, or humble-bee) is any of over 250 species in the genus ''Bombus'', part of Apidae, one of the bee families. This genus is the only extant group in the tribe Bombini, though a few extinct related gener ...
nests, ''Melittiphis alvearius'' feeds on pollen in
European honeybee
The western honey bee or European honey bee (''Apis mellifera'') is the most common of the 7–12 species of honey bees worldwide. The genus name ''Apis'' is Latin for "bee", and ''mellifera'' is the Latin for "honey-bearing" or "honey carrying", ...
nests and ''Tropilaelaps'' are obligatory parasites of honeybees.
Other arthropod-associated laelapids include species of ''Hypoaspis''
sensu lato associated with
burrowing cockroaches and ''Julolaelaps moseri'' which was collected from a
millipede of family
Spirostreptidae
Spirostreptidae is a family of millipedes in the order Spirostreptida. It contains around 100 genera distributed in North and South America, the eastern Mediterranean, continental Africa, Madagascar, and Seychelles. It contains the following gene ...
.
Biological control
Several species of Laelapidae are used commercially as
biological control agents of pests, and others are being studied for the same purpose. Examples include ''
Gaeolaelaps aculeifer
''Gaeolaelaps'' is a genus of mite
Mites are small arachnids (eight-legged arthropods). Mites span two large orders of arachnids, the Acariformes and the Parasitiformes, which were historically grouped together in the subclass Acari, but ge ...
'' and ''
Stratiolaelaps scimitus
''Stratiolaelaps scimitus'' (formerly ''Hypoaspis miles'') is a small (0.5 mm) light brown mite that lives in the top layer of soil. As a natural predator of fungus gnat pupae and of the snail parasite ''Riccardoella limacum'' it is used ...
'', used to control various pests in soil (
thrips
Thrips ( order Thysanoptera) are minute (mostly long or less), slender insects with fringed wings and unique asymmetrical mouthparts. Different thrips species feed mostly on plants by puncturing and sucking up the contents, although a few are ...
pupae, fly maggots, bulb mites), and pests of mushrooms (
fungus gnats
Fungus gnats are small, dark, short-lived gnats, of the families Sciaridae, Diadocidiidae, Ditomyiidae, Keroplatidae, Bolitophilidae, and Mycetophilidae (order Diptera); they comprise six of the seven families placed in the superfamily Sciar ...
) and poultry (
poultry red mite).
Genera
* ''
Aetholaelaps
''Aetholaelaps'' is a genus of mites in the family Laelapidae
The Laelapidae are a family (biology), family of mites in the order Mesostigmata. The family is also referred to in the literature as Laelaptidae, which may be the correct spelling. ...
''
Strandtmann & Camin, 1956
* ''
Alphalaelaps
''Alphalaelaps'' is a genus of mites in the family Laelapidae
The Laelapidae are a family (biology), family of mites in the order Mesostigmata. The family is also referred to in the literature as Laelaptidae, which may be the correct spelling. ...
''
Radford, 1951
* ''
Andreacarus
''Andreacarus'' is a genus of mites in the family Laelapidae that are parasitic on small mammals and earwigs in Africa and Madagascar. A number of Australian and New Guinean species were formerly included in the genus, but are now placed in a sep ...
''
Radford, 1953
* ''
Androlaelaps
''Androlaelaps'' is a genus of mites in the family Laelapidae
The Laelapidae are a family (biology), family of mites in the order Mesostigmata. The family is also referred to in the literature as Laelaptidae, which may be the correct spelling. ...
''
Berlese, 1903
* ''
Angosomaspis
''Angosomaspis'' is a genus of mites in the family Laelapidae
The Laelapidae are a family (biology), family of mites in the order Mesostigmata. The family is also referred to in the literature as Laelaptidae, which may be the correct spelling. ...
''
Costa, 1971
* ''
Atricholaelaps
''Atricholaelaps'' is a genus of mites in the family Laelapidae
The Laelapidae are a family (biology), family of mites in the order Mesostigmata. The family is also referred to in the literature as Laelaptidae, which may be the correct spellin ...
''
Ewing, 1929
* ''
Austrolaelaps
''Austrolaelaps'' is a genus of mites in the family Laelapidae
The Laelapidae are a family (biology), family of mites in the order Mesostigmata. The family is also referred to in the literature as Laelaptidae, which may be the correct spelling ...
''
Womersley, 1956
* ''
Berlesia''
G.Canestrini, 1884
* ''
Bewsiella''
Domrow, 1958
* ''
Bisternalis''
Hunter, 1963
* ''
Blaberolaelaps''
M. Costa, 1980
* ''
Bolivilaelaps''
Fonseca, 1940
* ''
Camerolaelaps''
Fonseca, 1960
* ''
Cavilaelaps''
Fonseca, 1935
* ''
Cerambylaelaps''
M.Costa, 1979
* ''
Chalaza
The chalaza (; from Greek "hailstone"; plural ''chalazas'' or ''chalazae'', ) is a structure inside bird eggs and plant ovules. It attaches or suspends the yolk or nucellus within the larger structure.
In animals
In the eggs of most birds (no ...
''
R. Domrow, 1990
* ''
Chamolaelaps''
Hull, in F.Türk & S.Türk 1952
* ''
Chapalania
''Chapalania'' is a genus of mites in the family Laelapidae
The Laelapidae are a family (biology), family of mites in the order Mesostigmata. The family is also referred to in the literature as Laelaptidae, which may be the correct spelling.
...
''
Hoffmann & Lopez-Campos, 1995
* ''
Chelanyssus''
Zumpt & Till, 1953
* ''
Chirolaelaps''
A. C. G. Heath, D. M. Bishop & M. J. Daniel, 1987
* ''
Chrysochlorolaelaps''
Evans & Till, 1966
* ''
Coleolaelaps''
Berlese, 1914
* ''
Conolaelaps''
Womersley, 1959
* ''
Cosmiphis''
Vitzthum, 1926
* ''
Cyclolaelaps''
Ewing, 1933
* ''
Cyclothorax''
von Frauenfeld, 1868
* ''
Cypholaelaps''
Berlese, 1916
* ''
Dianolaelaps''
Y. M. Gu & Q. X. Duan, 1990
* ''
Dicrocheles''
Krantz & Khot, 1962
* ''
Dinogamasus
''Dinogamasus'' is a genus of mites in the family Laelapidae. Most species are associated with carpenter bees in the genus ''Xylocopa'' and are found in their acarinarium
An acarinarium is a specialized anatomical structure which is evolved to ...
''
Kramer, 1898
* ''
Dipolaelaps''
Zemskaya & Piontkovskaya, 1960
* ''
Domrownyssus''
Evans & Till, 1966
* ''
Donia''
Oudemans, 1939
* ''
Dynastaspis''
Costa, 1971
* ''
Dynatochela''
Keegan, 1950
* ''
Dyscinetonyssus''
Moss & Funk, 1965
* ''
Echinolaelaps''
Ewing, 1929
* ''
Echinonyssus''
Hirst, 1925
* ''
Ellsworthia''
Türk, 1945
* ''
Eubrachylaelaps''
Ewing, 1929
* ''
Eugynolaelaps''
Berlese, 1918
* ''
Eumellitiphis''
Türk, 1948
* ''
Gaeolaelaps''
Evans & Till, 1966
* ''
Gammaridacarus''
Canaris, 1962
* ''
Garmania''
Nesbitt, 1951
* ''
Gecarcinolaelaps''
Casanueva, 1993
* ''
Geneiadolaelaps''
Ewing, 1929
* ''
Gigantolaelaps''
Fonseca, 1939
* ''
Gopriphis''
Berlese, 1910
* ''
Halbertia''
Türk & Türk, 1952
* ''
Hunteracarus''
Costa, 1975
* ''
Hunteria
''Hunteria'' is a genus of plants in the family Apocynaceae first described as a genus in 1824. It is native to Africa and to South and Southeast Asia.
;Species
# '' Hunteria ballayi'' Hua - Central African Republic, Republic of Congo, Cameroon ...
''
M. Delfinado-Baker, E. W. Baker & C. H. W. Flechtmann, 1984
* ''
Hyletastes''
Gistel, 1848
* ''
Hymenolaelaps''
Furman, 1972
* ''
Hypoaspis
''Hypoaspis'' is a genus of mites in the family Laelapidae.
Description
''Hypoaspis'' is superficially similar to related genera such as '' Coleolaelaps'', '' Mumulaelaps'' and '' Promacrolaelaps''. It can be distinguished by: a rounded and ova ...
''
G.Canestrini, 1884
* ''
Ichoronyssus''
Kolenati, 1858
* ''
Iphiolaelaps''
Womersley, 1956
* ''
Iphiopsis''
Berlese, 1882
* ''
Jacobsonia
''Jacobsonia'' is a genus of fungi in the family Helotiaceae. This is a monotypic genus, containing the single species ''Jacobsonia glauca''.
The genus name of ''Jacobsonia'' is in honour of Edward Richard Jacobson (1870–1944), who was a Dutch ...
''
Berlese, 1910
* ''
Japanoasternolaelaps''
W. Hirschmann & N. Hiramatsu, 1984
* ''
Jordensia''
Oudemans, 1937
* ''
Julolaelaps''
Berlese, 1916
* ''
Laelantennus''
Berlese, 1903
* ''
Laelaps The name Laelaps is a name attributed to the following:
* Laelaps (mythology) Laelaps ( grc-gre, Λαῖλαψ, ''gen''.: means "hurricane") (Lelaps, Lalaps, Lailaps) was a Greek mythological dog that never failed to catch what it was hunting.
...
''
C.L.Koch, 1836
* ''
Laelapsella''
Womersley, 1955
* ''
Laelapsoides''
Willmann, 1952
* ''
Laelaspoides''
Eickwort, 1966
* ''
Laelaspulus''
Berlese, 1903
* ''
Ligialaelaps''
Radford, 1942
* ''
Liponysella''
Hirst, 1925
* ''
Ljunghia''
Oudemans, 1932
* ''
Longolaelaps''
Vitzthum, 1926
* ''
Lucanaspis''
Costa, 1971
* ''
Lukoschus''
Radovsky & Gettinger, 1999
* ''
Mabuyonyssus''
Till, 1957
* ''
Macrolaelaps''
Ewing, 1929
* ''
Manisilaelaps''
Lavoipierre, 1956
* ''
Meliponaspis''
Vitzthum, 1930
* ''
Melittiphis''
Berlese, 1918
* ''
Melittiphisoides''
M. Delfinado-Baker, E. W. Baker & C. H. W. Flechtmann, 1984
* ''
Mesolaelaps''
Hirst, 1926
* ''
Metaspinolaelaps''
Till, 1958
* ''
Mungosicola''
Radford, 1942
* ''
Myonyssoides''
Hirst, 1925
* ''
Myonyssus''
Tiraboschi, 1904
* ''
Myrmeciphis''
Hull, 1923
* ''
Myrmolaelaps''
Trägårdh, 1906
* ''
Myrmosleichus''
Berlese, 1903
* ''
Myrmozercon''
Berlese, 1902
* ''
Mysolaelaps''
Fonseca, 1935
* ''
Nakhoda''
Domrow & Nadchatram, 1975
* ''
Narceolaelaps''
J. B. Kethley, 1978
* ''
Neoberlesia''
Berlese, 1892
* ''
Neohypoaspis''
M. Delfinado-Baker, E. W. Baker & D. W. Roubik, 1983
* ''
Neolaelaps''
Hirst, 1926
* ''
Neoparalaelaps''
Fonseca, 1935
* ''
Neospinolaelaps''
Zumpt & Patterson, 1952
* ''
Notolaelaps''
Womersley, 1957
* ''
Oloiphis''
Berlese, 1916
* ''
Ondatralaelaps''
Evans & Till, 1965
* ''
Ornitholaelaps''
Okereke, 1968
* ''
Oryctolaelaps''
Lange, in Bregetova et al., 1955
* ''
Parabisternalis''
Ueckermann & Loots, 1995
* ''
Peramelaelaps''
Womersley, 1956
* ''
Phytojacobsonia''
Vitzthum, 1925
* ''
Pililaelaps''
Radford, 1947
* ''
Pleisiolaelaps''
Womersley, 1957
* ''
Pneumolaelaps''
Berlese, 1920
* ''
Podolaelaps''
Berlese, 1888
* ''
Praeparasitus''
Berlese, 1916
* ''
Promacrolaelaps''
Costa, 1971
* ''
Pseudolaelaps''
Berlese, 1916
* ''
Pseudoparasitus''
Oudemans, 1902
* ''
Qinghailaelaps''
Y. M. Gu & X. Z. Yang, 1984
* ''
Radfordilaelaps''
Zumpt, 1949
* ''
Raymentia''
Womersley, 1956
* ''
Reticulolaelaps''
Costa, 1968
* ''
Rhinolaelaps''
Fonseca, 1960
* ''
Rhodacantha''
R. Domrow, 1979
* ''
Rhyzolaelaps''
Bregetova & Grokhovskaya, 1961
* ''
Scissuralaelaps''
Womersley, 1945
* ''
Scolopendracarus''
Evans, 1955
* ''
Scorpionyssus''
Fain & G. Rack, 1988
* ''
Sinolaelaps''
Y. M. Gu & C. S. Wang, 1979
* ''
Sphaeroseius''
Berlese, 1904
* ''
Stamfordia''
Trägårdh, 1906
* ''
Steptolaelaps''
Furman, 1955
* ''
Sternolaelaps''
Zumpt & Patterson, 1951
* ''
Stevelus''
Hunter, 1963
* ''
Stigmatolaelaps''
Krantz, 1998
* ''
Stratiolaelaps''
Berlese, 1916
* ''
Tengilaelaps''
Gu & Wang, 1996
* ''
Tricholaelaps''
Vitzthum, 1926
* ''
Tropilaelaps
''Tropilaelaps'' is a genus of parasitic mites in the family Laelapidae. Their range spans the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, India, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Pakistan. Their primary hosts are the larva of ''Apis dorsata'' and ''Apis laboriosa' ...
''
Delfinado & Baker, 1961
* ''
Tur''
Baker & Wharton, 1952
* ''
Turkiella''
Zumpt & Till, 1953
* ''
Tylolaelaps''
Y. M. Gu & C. S. Wang, 1979
* ''
Ugandolaelaps''
Radford, 1942
* ''
Uroiphis''
Berlese, 1903
* ''
Urozercon''
Berlese, 1901
* ''
Xylocolaelaps''
Royce & Krantz, 2003
* ''
Zontia''
Türk, 1948
* ''
Zygolaelaps''
V. J. Tipton, 1957
References
External links
*
{{Taxonbar, from=Q1934747
Mesostigmata